“In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of
Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of
Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the
language of each people.” –Nehemiah 13: 23-24
The consequence
of an action, will not always immediately follow the action itself. In many cases, consequence comes much
later. After the action or decision has
been baked in the annals of time. It is
then we look back and see the error of our ways, and perhaps grasp the realization
of our mistake. Only to desperately hope
there is time for reconciliation.
The
scripture tell us that the Jews had married the wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and
Moab; and their children spake half in
the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language. God has always wanted a separate people. Unlike certain clubs and organizations, the
separation is not for pride or arrogance sake, but for the sake of love,
goodness, and holiness. Ashdod, Ammon,
and Moab were pagan lands, with pagan beliefs and practices. The Jews were a people of one God. The true God, and their beliefs and practices
reflected the desires of Almighty God.
The language they spoke, the food they ate, the way they: lived,
dressed, and believed was in total contrast to the nations around them. They were a peculiar people. Within these beliefs and practices it was
mandated that they could not marry “strange” women; meaning women of other
nations. Marriage is an intimate
relationship. In my opinion, it is the
most intimate relationship that exists on earth between two people. When two people are grafted together, they
will undoubtedly take on the characteristics of one another. It is like two fruit trees that are grafted
together. The union is formed in hopes
to create a better overall variety (though it doesn’t always), but when they
bear fruit; the seeds of that fruit will not reflect the parent type, how can
it? The union was not ordained by God,
only man. So it was, the children of
these unholy union’s within the Jewish nation did not reflect their parent type,
i.e. God. They reflected the marriage of
the church and the world. They were a
lost generation, torn between the world and the church. A casualty of choice by those gone before,
who loved the world. Why did they love
the strange women so? Was it the exotic
dress? The liberal lifestyle? The promise of extravagance? The scripture doesn’t say; but this we know,
they were lost and the children were lost.
Therefore, this action was met with stern rebuke; exhorting them to
change. Desperately hoping for a realization
of the consequences of their actions, hasten towards immediate reconciliation. The people of God cannot expect to be intimate
with the world and there not be consequences.
The apostle Peter tells us that sanctified people are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people. When
the Holy Ghost convicts you, forgives you, and sanctifies you; he calls you out
of the world. You cannot love what they
love, go where they go, and worship what they worship (i.e. lust of flesh, of
the eyes, and pride of life). When you
are filled with all the fullness of God, your heart cleansed from all sin, and
daily walking in the light, you cannot, it doesn’t draw you. “The
full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is
sweet” (Proverbs 27:7)
If
the only Christianity that the generation coming behind us sees, is one that is
married to the world; then they will see no Christianity. What is worse still, if the only Christianity
that the generation behind them sees, is one predicated by the worldliness they
saw in us; then that generation will think that is Christianity. This is the consequence of marriage to the
world.
