Deuteronomy 7

Deuteronomy 7:12 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— 2

and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Joshua 3: 9-10 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. 10This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites Covenant refers to any treaty with the Canaanite nations that might undermine God’s covenant with Israel. Intermarriage with the Canaanite population would have tempted the Israelites to adopt Canaanite culture. This would have threatened Israel’s ability to be a countercultural force. They were not to “blend in.” Similarly, the Christian church is called to demonstrate God’s love to the world like sheep in the midst of wolves History of Deuteronomy - Instructions concerning the conquest of the land The book of Deuteronomy is a repetition of very much the history and the laws. With the nation of Israel at the entrance of Canaan, Moses seized one last opportunity to prepare the people for their new life in the land of their inheritance. The law is being represented here not as an enactment but it is being rehearsed and expounded upon. The new generation on the eve of taking possession of Canaan is summoned to hear the law to be instructed in application to have their spirituality quickened and to renew intelligently the covenant made with their fathers. This book contains the events of Israel including the Exodus from Egypt, the revelation of God at Mount Sinai, the rebellious responses of Israel to the Lord’s goodness, and God’s constant protection of them. God had promised Abraham the land of Canaan (thus called the Promised Land) and here the children of Israel to Possess the promise. The heathen tribes that the children of Israel will have to conquer in order to claim there rightly inheritance represent the works of the enemy in our own lives. We must go and conquer them to fully possess the promise. Even though Israel took possession of the land they still have to dispossess it (dispossess is to put out of possession or occupancy). Many of us are in our promise land, but we have not fully taken possession of it. There are some things that are hindering us from taking full possession of it. They things that are still in the land is a hindrance. We must dispossess it. The bible states in 1 Thessalonians. 5:23 – “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly (entirely complete); and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it”. SANCTIFICATION - The process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer. The English word sanctification comes from the Latin word meaning the act/process of making holy, consecrated

God will do His work in his own method and time. Corruption is driven out of the heart of believers little by little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually and will end up in complete victory. NOTE: Growth is gradual. God is more interested in how strong we grow not how fast we grow. There are no short cuts to maturity. Let’s look into the meanings of the names of the dwellers in Canaan.

Canaanites – To press down; materialism (a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things.)

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. St. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you III John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. We live in a world where materialism is prevalent. From the pulpit we preach more about materialistic things then spiritual things. We prophesy to each other about having millions and a better car and a bigger house yet sin is still sticking in the nostrils of God. We have forgotten that it is God that giveth us power to get wealth. Everyone will not be wealthy nor have abundance and when we teach such a thing we keep the Canaanites alive and well. We nurture them by focusing on what we have on earth, which is temporal and not focusing on what is eternal, which are our spiritual beings.

Hittites – Fear an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger b (1) : an instance of this emotion (2) : a state marked by this emotion 2 : anxious concern : SOLICITUDE 3 : profound reverence and awe especially toward God 4 : reason for alarm : DANGER synonyms FEAR, DREAD, FRIGHT, ALARM, PANIC, TERROR, TREPIDATION mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. FEAR is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage . DREAD usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety . FRIGHT implies the shock of sudden, startling fear . ALARM suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger . PANIC implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity . TERROR implies the most extreme degree of fear . TREPIDATION adds to DREAD the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation
Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Hebrews 2: 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook F29 of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook F30 Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men F31 of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Hivites - Compromise 1 a: settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b: something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things 2: a concession to something derogatory or prejudicial 1 obsolete: to bind by mutual agreement 2: to adjust or settle by mutual concessions 3 a: to expose to suspicion, discredit, or mischief b: to reveal or expose to an unauthorized person and especially to an enemy c: to cause the impairment of intransitive senses 1 a: to come to agreement by mutual concession b: to find or follow a way between extremes 2: to make a shameful or disreputable concession (wouldn't compromise with their principles)

Perizzites – Division Division - 1 a : the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided b : the act, process, or an instance of distributing among a number : DISTRIBUTION c obsolete : a method of arranging or disposing (as troops); 2 : one of the parts or groupings into which a whole is divided or is divisible; 3 : the condition or an instance of being divided in opinion or interest : DISAGREEMENT, DISUNITY <exploited the divisions between the two countries>; 4 a : something that divides, separates, or marks off b : the act, process, or an instance of separating or keeping apart : SEPARATION; 5 : the mathematical operation of dividing something Divide - to cause to be separate, distinct, or apart from one another b : to separate into opposing sides or parties The devil wants to bring division and strife to the Body of Christ -- over anything -- in any possible way. We must resist the devil and walk with God in peace and love. 1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1:2 “The church of God” (a phrase unique to Paul in the NT) consists only of those who have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus,” i.e., set apart for Him in regeneration/conversion. They are those who have called upon Him to save them and who have been set apart from sin unto service for the Savior. 1:11 Divisions in the church at Corinth are symptomatic of the spiritual problem found in most churches where such divisions occur. The believers at Corinth had forgotten the foundation of their faith, the atonement of Christ (v. 13), and had turned aside to arguing about peripheral matters. When Christ’s death and resurrection are the focus of church

life, gratitude, motivation, and goals remain constant, and contentions do not develop easily. Paul urges harmony in contrast to the divisive attitude prevalent in the church. no divisions—The word here carries the same connotation as of a split or a tear. joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment [opinion]—Paul wanted the Corinthians to be unified both in their inward beliefs and attitudes, and in the outworking of these convictions in practical opinions and decisions. 1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. MARK 3:24 NKJ 24 "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:3 NKJ 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? JUDE 1:19 NKJ 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. TITUS 3:10 NKJ 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, Ro 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them *. Girgashites – flesh; Dwellers in clay soil; it denotes flesh The Girgashites represent the Spirits of weight. This is the type of weights and sins that bog us down. Some definitions of weights might be finances, or unrest in the homes. The definition of weight would be anything that the Devil uses to discourage his people. When the people of God feel discouraged Hebrew 12:1 tells us, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Consequently, our flesh is constantly struggling against the Spirit. Therefore, our outward struggle comes from the war within. Before you came to Christ and received new life, you could sin and get away with it. You could be angry with your neighbor and let them know it, too! The Spirit of God was not living within, convicting you of your sin. However, once you invited Christ to be Lord of your life, and you got angry with someone, the Spirit of God whispered to your spirit, "Love your neighbor." The battle is on, and the choice is yours. Will you obey your own desire or the will of God? Freedom comes when we yield ourselves to the Spirit of God instead of giving in to the desires our flesh. The Spirit of God will always convict you of your sin, but He will not force you to walk in the light of obedience. Sin is not our biggest problem. It is our will. If we will surrender our will to God each day, acknowledging that He is the supreme authority over our lives, and then choose to walk in obedience throughout the day, we will experience victory over sin! I'm not saying you will never sin, but when you are yielded to the Holy Spirit, you have the power not to sin. The result is freedom! How do you know when you are walking in the light, yielded to God? The proof is in the fruit you bear. Galatians 5:19-23 gives us a way to test our fruit, "When you follow the desires of your flesh, your life will produce sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, divisions, feelings that everyone else is wrong but you, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other kinds of sins." On the other hand, if you yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to control your life, "then He will produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Are you daily allowing the Spirit of God to conquer your sin nature? Nail your passions to the cross and crucify them there. Confess to God that you've been the master of your life and crown Him King. Then, follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of your life. Freedom is yours. The battle is won. For whom the Son set free is free indeed.

Amorites – To speak or say which includes murmuring, criticism and complaining (negative speech) Amorites (Bitter; a rebel; a babbler) – highlanders or hillmen; self-boasters, challengers, speak (against of), derived from in the sense of publicity, i.e. prominence; thus a mountaineer Complain – 1: to express grief, pain, or discontent. 2: to make a formal accusation or charge Babble - 1: to talk enthusiastically or excessively b : to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds; 2: to make sounds as though babbling transitive senses; 1: to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner; 2: to reveal by talk that is too free Complaining has been a part of the church since the early days of the church in Acts. A situation arose where the Grecian Jews complained that when it came to food

distribution, their widows were being short-changed while the Hebraic Jews were getting special treatment. This was an important matter because the widows did need to eat, however, the complaining was beginning to be a hindrance to the spreading of the Word of God. The Disciples settled the dispute by selecting deacons to take care of the physical needs of the people in a fair way while they continued to preach and teach the Word of God. What sort of application might there be to our lives today? Is there anything that has become such an important issue of complaint to you that the Word of God is being neglected? Is there anything that you are focused on to the exclusion of planting God's Word into your life and spreading it to those around you? It is easy to get sidetracked by minor issues. All of us do it, but we must remember to keep God's Word as our number one priority. Our complaining serves as a poor witness to other Christians and to the world around us. Paul said in Philippians 2:14-16a: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." Let us purpose to hold in our complaints and hold out the Word of Life to those around us. Jebusites – To trample, lack of confidence and joyfulness; no peace Jebus - trodden under foot, TRODDEN hard, or fastness, or “the waterless hill” Lack - to stand in need of: suffer from the absence or deficiency of Confidence - a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances; the quality or state of being certain Trample - to tread heavily so as to bruise, crush, or injure; 2: to inflict injury or destruction especially contemptuously or ruthlessly -- usually used with on, over, or upon transitive senses: to crush, injure, or destroy by or as if by treading. Poor self-confidence, indecision and low self-esteem can underlie addictive behavior, depression, eating disorders, lack of success and general dissatisfaction with our lives. I Peter 2:9 Psalm 136:5