STEPS IN THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL

TEXT: Judges 3:5-8,

I.          israel failed to drive out the idolators

A.        God covenanted with Abraham that He would give His seed to the land of Canaan

Genesis 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

B.        Moses in his last address to the children of Israel recalled this wonderful heritage

Deuteronomy 11:22-24 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; 23 Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. 24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

C.        After Moses death the Lord appeared to Joshua and renewed the promise

Joshua 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

D.        One would think that such a bright promise would have stirred the ambition of the nation to obey God

1.      In Judges Chapter 2 we read that one tribe after another neglected to drive the idolatrous races out of the land

E.        We today are failing to drive out the idolaters

1.      Idolatry in our personal lives

a)      What is most important in your life

b)      If it is not God, then you are guilty of Idolatry

2.      Idolatry in general

a)      Music

b)      TV

c)      Sports

d)      Movies

II.       israel dwelt among the heathen

A.        Dwelling among the enemies of God was the cause of Lot’s problems

1.      If we don’t influence and change them, they will change us

B.        Choose your companions, and do not like the Israelites of old, settle down among the enemies of God

2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

1.      Who are you friends

2.      Who do you enjoy being with

C.         May God help those who are parents to pray continually for our children that God will preserve them from the corrupting influences of those amongst whom they are thrown

III.    israel intermarried with god’s enemies

A.        From the very beginning of the history of the chosen people we see the intermarriage with the heathen always brings disaster

B.        How can Christian men and women expect God’s blessing when they go in the face of His commandments and join themselves in marriage to some ungodly person

IV.    israel served the heathen gods

A.        Instead of raising the heathen and converting them to the knowledge of the true God, Israel was dragged down into idolatry

B.        What man needs is to have his worship directed aright

1.      He needs to directed to worship the true God in spirit and truth

2.      Not let his heart run after other Gods

V.       Israel forgot her own god

A.        Israel forgot how God had delivered her out of the land of Egypt and how He had brought her through the Red Sea on foot

B.        There is not room in the heart for two thrones

1.      If Satan is enthroned, there is not room for Christ

C.        God’s altars were neglected while the children of Israel crowed to the groves of Baal

VI.    Israel was sold into bondage by god

A.        Six times in the book of Judges we find that the children of Israel did evil in God’s sight, and six times they were given over to their enemies to be chastised

B.        No Christian has ever bought the friendship of the world without disloyalty to Christ