S) "9 When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations."
Deuteronomy 18:9 (NASB)
O) The Israelites were receiving instruction, here, about how to behave in the Promised Land. Moses reminded them again, that the previous inhabitants of the Promised Land were being expelled for their behaviors. Imitating those behaviors (as described in general in vv.10-11) would result in guilt for Israel, just as it had for the Canaanites and everyone else in the region. The root of those sins, is that people are trying to live life apart from God. They are trying to obtain life, knowledge, power, and purpose outside of His rule and reign. All of these detestable practices were an attempt to replace the LORD, usurping His rightful place as King in the lives of each individual.
A) When reading virtually any passage from the Pentateuch regarding the Promised Land, we can almost replace the words "Promised Land" with the words, "life in obedience to Christ." After all, the Promised Land was to be God's people, living under God's sovereignty, to fulfill God's purposes. This is the same as our lives as disciples in Christ. God's Kingdom is no longer a political or military kingdom, but it is no less impactful. In the above verse, there is perhaps no more powerful word than "imitate," as it applies to me here and now. That word covers a lot of ground. This verse falls very much in line with 3 John 11. God wants a holy people, because that glorifies Him. By setting myself apart from culture, different than culture, that is what will shine like a beacon, drawing the world to me so I can share the gospel. By doing things His way, and not the world's way, I am living proof of the power of the gospel. When I try to follow the examples of the world, then I am essentially rebelling against my King, trying to gain some kind of independence from His kingdom. This is a hard and fast line, drawing a clear distinction that I am either with Him, or against Him.
P) Father, I don't want to imitate anything ungodly. I want my life to reflect Your glory, and Yours alone. You are worthy, You are holy, You are good, You are just, You are sovereign. Open my eyes and ears, to know Your ways more and more fully. Give me discernment about my life, and my heart, to know what areas You are calling me to change. If there are areas in my life that I have been keeping as my own false-sovereign area, please make them known to me and give me the courage and strength to give them up to You. Show me any areas in my life that are actually imitations of the world's way of doing things, instead of Your way of doing things. Let Your will alone be done in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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