Outsiders inside

S: 2 Samuel 23-24

O: Back in Deuteronomy 7:1-2, it says “When Yahweh your God brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you—the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—seven nations greater and mightier than you; ² and when Yahweh your God delivers them up before you, and you strike them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them.”

And back in Deuteronomy 23:3, it says “An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into Yahweh’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into Yahweh’s assembly forever”.  

Yet, here in 2 Samuel 23-24 we see, as part of the people of God, Uriah the Hittite, Zelek the Ammonite, and Araunah the Jebusite!

And don’t forget, the whole book of Ruth – Ruth being a Moabite!

How? Did God contradict himself?

Nope. The Book of Jonah is a huge example of this. “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” No ifs, buts or exceptions. Yet, when they repent, God “went back against His word!”

Except that everyone knew that there was that implicit “unless you repent” – Jonah knew, that’s why he refused to go warn them in the first place, and the Ninevites knew, which is why they repented and were saved.

So when we see these seemingly “blanket condemnations”, we must remember, there is always an implicit “unless they repent”.

As Ezekiel 33:11 says, “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!”

A: As Ruth the Moabite declared, “Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

When we sin, we need to confess our sins, for God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Isn’t God wonderful? Let’s repent and turn back to Him!

P: Father, thank You for your wonderful grace and for Jesus’ sacrifice to save us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.