PECULIAR PEOPLE?

                                                      Deuteronomy 14:1-2 (159)

  Introduction

       A.  The children of Israel were the chosen people of God and had three distinguishing

              privileges.  1.  They had been adopted by God (v1).  They had been elected by God.

              (v2).  They had been sanctified by God (v2).

       B.  After they settled in the land that God had given them, they forsook God. 

       C.  Let’s consider three reasons the children of Israel lost their identity and determine if

             these factors are a threat to the church.

  I.  The children of Israel lost their peculiarity. 

       A.  God had commanded them not to make any covenants with the nations around them

             because they had a covenant with Him.  Judges 2:1-3 (199)

             1.  There were three dynamics of God’s covenant with Israel.  Joshua 1:1-9 (177)

                  Divine benevolence:  _________________________________________________

                  Human loyalty:  _____________________________________________________

                  Consequence: reward or punishment

            2.  The Israelites broke their covenant with God and made covenants with the nations

                 around them.  Judges 2:20-22 (200); Judges 3:5-6 (200)

                 a.  By living among the foreign nations.  b.  By marrying among the foreign nations.

                 c.  By worshipping and serving  their false gods.

            3.  The children of Israel lost their identity because they desired to be like the other nations.

      B.  The children of Israel became ignorant ( lack of knowledge) of God’s word.

            1.  Hosea 4:6 (664).  The priest had failed to teach God’s law.  (approx. 773 B.C.)

            2.  2 Kings 22:8-13 (322).  The Book of the Law (Pentateuch) had been lost for years.

                 (approx. 622 B.C.)

            3.  A lack of knowledge of God’s law led to their downfall.

      C.  The children of Israel became indifferent.  Isaiah 1:2-4 (514)

            1.  How?  About their relationship, worship, ___________________________________.

Conclusion:  When God’s people desire to be like everybody else, lose their knowledge and become

                     indifferent, what will be the results?

                                WE WILL CONTINUE THIS STUDY TONIGHT.