Altars...Sacred Stones...Asherah Poles

Deuteronomy 7:5-6 – This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Exodus 34:15 – “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.

Exodus 19:5-6 – Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Genesis 17:7 – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Titus 2:12-14 – It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Exodus 3:5 – “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Application:

• ·         Israel’s unfaithfulness took various forms, but most commonly outright idolatry.
• ·         Holy means separated from all corrupting people or things and consecrated totally to the Lord.
• ·         God’s people, both individually and collectively, are to be “set apart” to do His will.
• ·         God’s commitment to His covenant was forever, but descendants of Abraham could break it.
• ·         Salvation involves the double work of redeeming us from guilt and judgment and of producing moral purity and helpful service to others.
• ·         The ground was not holy by nature but was made so by the divine presence. Holiness involves being consecrated to the Lord’s service and thus being separated from the commonplace.
• ·         God is the Creator and Possessor of the earth and everything in it.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV