CHAPTER 10 SEPARATE Y0URSELF
The voice from heaven clearly proclaimed in Rev.18:4 that as to Babylon the Great, we are to "come out of her ... so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues...". Whether it be a false religious system, or simply a worldly based and worldly oriented way of doing things, we are to come out of it. II Cor.6:14-15 first tells us "...not to be yoked together with unbelievers...," and then asks us a series of questions. "(W)hat do righteousness and wickedness have in common?" Or "what fellowship can light have with darkness ... what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" The answer to each of those questions would appear to be `Nothing,' for verse 17 commands us to "... come out from them and be separate." I John1:6 should eliminate any lingering doubt we may have about such separation when it says, "God is light; if we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth."
Since Jesus prayed in John 17:15 that we be protected from the world, as opposed to being taken from it, it would appear that we are to be separate from the wickedness which surrounds us without being removed from the earth. This does not mean that we are to go to the extreme of becoming hermits, totally avoiding all contact with the world and those who live according to its dictates. I believe that the key to our understanding of both the type and amount of contact we are to have with the world is found in the words `yoked' and `fellowship' as found in II Cor.6:14-15.
Those verses deal with our relationship to the things of this world as opposed to those of our brothers who have inadvertently or intentionally realigned themselves with the evil things of this world. That topic will be covered in Chapter 15. I Cor.5:9-11 tells us not to even "associate" with brothers who become or maintain an air of immorality about them, but continues by saying that this direction not to associate does not apply to those who are "... of this world," for then we would have to leave this world, which, as we saw in John 15:15 is not what Jesus desires for us. The point is, the admonition to not be yoked together with unbelievers, or to fellowship with darkness, does not mean that we do not associate with them at all, but rather that our contact be limited. It is this area of limited contact that I would like to discuss here.
Developing an understanding as to why God places limitations upon our contact with those who have not yet accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior would do as much to help us understand some of the limitations God has imposed, as would a detailed discussion of the limitations themselves. Therefore, let's first seek to understand WHY these limitations are present.
Turning to I Cor.15:33 I believe we will see the principle which serves as the answer to that question. "DO NOT BE MISLED: BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER." (emphasis added) We are still human beings who have not totally put to death the Adamic nature with which we were born. As Paul says in Ro:7:19, "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep doing." God clearly recognizes this frailty on our part, for Jesus said to the disciples, "The spirit is willing but the body is weak." It was because of this very weakness that God warned the Israelites "be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare to you." (Ex.34:12, emphasis added)
He specifically told them not to imitate the ways of these people (Deut.18:9) because in so doing they would sin against God (Deut.20:17). A person without the Spirit of God cannot understand God's ways (I Cor.2:14); in fact such a person actually considers in his mind that God is his enemy (Col.1:21 & Ja.4:4). The ways of such people lead to death (Ro.8:6) and God was telling His chosen people not to fellowship with death. We are now chosen, and the admonition not to fellowship with death therefore applies to us also (Eph.3:6 & I Pe.2:9).
The Israelites did not follow God's command, "... they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs ..." and in so doing, they "... defiled themselves by what they did..." (Ps.106:34-39). Do not make the mistake of thinking that we are strong enough to "mingle" with worldly people, ie. have a close companionship with them, and yet not become corrupted by them. Remember, I Cor.15:33 was written to New Testament Spirit filled believers. An unbeliever is an unbeliever no matter how nice they may appear. That really sweet girl you know at school or that nice guy you work with both live in darkness if they do not have Jesus (John 8:12; 12:46; Eph.5:8 & I Pe.2:9). As such, you are not to be yoked with them, for you have nothing in common with the world.
This does not mean that we do not associate with them. But our association is to be limited to telling them, in word and deed, about Jesus and His love for them. We are to be cordial to all people, and we are to walk in an attitude of love towards those in the world who have not accepted Jesus (Matt.5:43-44). It is also true that we must take every opportunity to show them God's love and compassion. After all, there is every possibility that God has you working or in school with unbelievers in order that He may show His love to them through you; however, our companionship is with God (see Chapter 7).
Notice what God told Solomon after he asked for wisdom, "I will give you a wise and discerning heart, SO THAT THERE WILL NEVER HAVE BEEN ANYONE LIKE YOU, NOR WILL THERE EVER BE. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor..." (I Ki.3:12-13, emphasis added). Yet with all his wisdom, he was unable to avoid defiling himself when he became unevenly yoked with those who did not know God.
We see in I Ki.11:1 that he married women from other nations and that these "wives led him astray" and turned him from his devotion to the one true God (I Ki.11:3&4 and Neh.13:26). Note carefully that the problem in these situations is not the gender of the individuals, but the fact that such foreign individuals were non-believers. Perhaps Solomon thought his wives would convert after they married him. Needless to say, it didn't turn out that way for him. He possessed more Godly wisdom than you or I, yet this wisdom did not keep him from being defiled when he failed to separate himself as God had commanded. (Deut.12:4&31).
While Balaam adhered to God's command not to call a curse down upon the Israelites (Nu.22:13), he still succumbed to Balak's bribe (II Pe.2:15). He used a more indirect, but just as effective method of separating the Israelites from God. Balaam instructed the women of Moab to seduce the Israelite men (Nu.31:15-16) which they did. In so doing, the Israelites were led away from God (Nu.25:1-3). God's anger burned against Israel for this failure on their part to remain separate from the world, and a plague broke out upon them (Nu.31:16).
Even the memory of these events did not prevent Israel from again falling into the same error with the same people. In Neh.13:23 we see that the men of Judah were again marrying Moabite women. While some may say that the time span was too great for them to remember, all you need to do is turn to Neh.13:28 and see that they weren't even attempting to consider God's commands at all. They were intentionally fellowshipping with those who practiced the evil ways of the world. Even Joiada, son of the High Priest, married the daughter of Sanballat, the very man who had attempted to kill Nehemiah (Neh.4:1&11) and prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls (Neh.4:7-8). The High Priest himself even went so far as to provide Tobiah, one of Sanballat's cohorts with living quarters in the newly refurbished temple (Neh.13:4-7).
Ezra directed the Israelites to separate themselves from their foreign spouses (Ez.10:10-11). As you read Ezra Chapter 10 note two things. Ezra was not talking to people who were unbelievers and who had married other unbelievers before coming to the Lord. If you are an unbeliever who has recently accepted Jesus as your Savior, do not allow some over zealous person to tell you that you must divorce your unbelieving spouse now that you have accepted Christ.
Secondly, if you are a believer who has married an unbeliever not knowing the admonition against such uneven yoking as found in II Cor.6:14, or perhaps even intentionally ignored it, be aware that it is not God's desire for you to now divorce (Matt.5:32). Two wrongs do not make a right. In regards to divorce, it must be remembered that God allowed the less spiritually mature Israelites who were under the law to do things that we, who are supposed to be more spiritually mature are not to do (Matt.19:8-9). (For a more detailed discussion of progressive spiritual maturity on both the individual and corporate level, see chapters 8 & 10 of The Last Enemy).
The believer who has failed to remain separate should confess his failure as sin, and then, like the new believer who is still married to his/her unbelieving spouse, seek God's comfort, counsel and strength in order to deal with the situation. We are to pray in intercession for such a spouse, bind the forces of hell which are coming against them and show that spouse the love of God which has now filled you with the desire to see them saved. However, remember the lesson of Solomon. Living under those conditions will cause difficulty, and you will have to be continually on your guard lest, like Solomon, you be led away.
Scripture is filled with examples of the dire consequences which have followed God's people's failure to remain separate and apart from the world in this area as well as others. Perhaps the worst example of these consequences would be that of King Ahab. We are told in I Ki.21:25 that he was urged on in his evil ways by his wife Jezebel, who was a Sidonite and worshipper of Baal (I Ki. 16:31). All Israel was to suffer because of Ahab's failure to remain separate and apart from the world. Not only did the country experience drought and famine because of Ahab's activities (I Ki.17: 1), but Jezebell spent her time going around the land slaughtering the Lords prophets (I Ki.18:4) and replacing them with the prophets of Baal and Asherah (I Ki.18:19). Finally, because of Israel's failure to turn from the practices introduced by the neighbors she had failed to totally destroy, she was sent into exile and literally "thrust" from God's presence (II Ki.17:7-8, 15&20).
The northern ten tribes, known collectively as the kingdom of Israel, were not the only ones to suffer because of the ungodly influence that unequal yoking precipitates. The southern two tribes, known as the Kingdom of Judah, would one day also feel the wrath of God for their failure to remain separate. From II Chron.18:1 we see that Jehosaphat, the otherwise Godly king of Judah, allied himself with Ahab by having his son Jehoram marry Ahab's daughter Athaliah (II Chron.21 :6 & 22:2).
While that may have been a wise thing to do in the world of politics, it was a direct violation of God's direction for the Godly to remain separate from the ungodly. This transgression was to plague Israel for over 15 years after Jehosaphat's death, and resulted in the destruction of most of the royal family of Judah. The first thing Jehoram did when he ascended the throne was to kill his brothers (II Chron.21:4). During the eight years he ruled Jerusalem it is said that he walked in the evil ways of Ahab BECAUSE he was married to Ahab's daughter (II Chron.21:6).
Furthermore, after his death, his son Ahaziah also followed in the ways of Ahab, "... for his mother encouraged him" (II Chron.22:3). This is not the extent of the problem though, for even after God removed Ahaziah from office as recorded in II Chron.22:7 & II Ki.9:27, his mother's influence was felt. First, she "proceeded to destroy the royal family of the house of Judah" (II Chron.22:10) and then ruled Judah herself for six years (vs.12). Had it not been for Jehosheba, one of Ahaziah's sisters (Athaliah's stepdaughter) hiding one of the royal princes in the temple for 6 years, the lineage of David would have been destroyed (II Chron.22:11). The point is, all this disaster fell upon Judah because Jehosaphat failed to keep his son separated from a forbidden marriage and the evil influences such unions bring. (While this is off the topic entirely, please note that the true ruler of Judah was hidden away for 6 years, waiting to be revealed in the 7th year - see II Pe.3:8 & Ro.8:19 and the discussion of the overcomers as found in the book The Last Enemy)
Aside from remaining apart from the world in the area of interpersonal relationships there are other areas in which we must be separate. I Cor.6:1 makes this statement: "If any of you (believers) has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment..." (parenthesis added) But why? Didn't God put government, with its legal system in place, and then direct us to submit to it? That's a fair question in light of Ro.13:1; Dan.2:21 & 4:17; Titus 3:1; I Pe.2:13 and Ps.47:8-9.
There is no question but that God has put such a system into place. It is an absolute necessity for a world which does not know God's ways, and we are clearly directed to submit to it. That means that we are to recognize its authority. However, at the same time, we must never forget that our primary directive is to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). Even though we submit to the government's authority, we are to be like Daniel in Dan.6:10 and Shadrach, Meshach and Abdenego in Dan.3:14 and disobey that authority when it is contrary to God's commands. However, we are not to use or seek out that system when it is contrary to God's ways, or is being used without first having sought God's counsel and received His direction to go in that way.
At all times and in all ways we are to seek God's counsel and wisdom, for it is flawless. Prov.12:5 tells us that "the plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful." That is why Ps.1:1 says that the man who does not seek the counsel of the wicked is blessed. You see, such a man will never end up with deceitful advice because his sole source is the very God of truth (Isaiah 65:16; Ps.31:5 and John 14:6). Remember, the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight (II Cor.3:19). Even the wisest sages in the world gave Pharaoh "senseless advice" (Isaiah 19:11), and we shouldn't expect any better when we seek the world's advice over and above that of God.
King Asa of Judah did what "...was good and right in the eyes of the Lord" (II Chron.14:2), but he did have one shortcoming. According to II Chron.16:12 he became seriously ill, but "...even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." Not only did King Ahaziah of Judah suffer from the counsel he received from his mother, Ahab's daughter, but his other advisors led "to his undoing" (IIChron.22:4). While Joash, the 7th king of Judah, began his rule on a high note, seeking and receiving only Godly counsel from the high priest, that soon changed.
"... After the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, (Joash) and he listened to them ... although the Lord sent prophets to the people to being them back to him ... they would not listen ... Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash." (II Chron.24:17,19 & 4).
Earlier we saw how Ahab listened to his ungodly wife and suffered because of it. However, his final downfall came about as a direct result of his unwillingness to first seek, and then follow the Lord's counsel when it came to him.
Prov.24:6 tells us that many advisors are needed to wage war - Ahab had 400 of them. Prov.11:4 informs us that for lack of guidance a nation fails, but many advisors make victory sure - Ahab had 400 of them. Prov.15:22 says, "plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed" - Ahab had 400 of them. However, Ahab forgot the other verses which we have already seen. Those verses told us that the source of the advice we seek is more important that than the number of counselors who do the seeking.
Ahab's rejection of Godly counsel in favor of worldly advice is not the only example we have of such foolishness. Solomon's own son Rehoboam rejected the advice of his father's counselors even though they had an established track record of seeking God. Instead he chose the advice of his friends who spoke without first seeking the Lord (IIChron.10:6-11). As a result of doing things based upon worldly advice, Rehoboam lost control of the northern 10 tribes and the nation of Israel was split into 2 parts (II Chron.10:16).
Doing things in a worldly way, which may seem quite sensible at first, may not truly be sensible, for the "foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (I Cor.1:25). As we saw earlier, Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab made perfect political sense, but in addition to being disastrous for his family and Judah, it almost cost him his life (II Cor.18:31-32). His actions were not in line with God's directions to us to separate ourselves from the world and to do things exclusively His way.
But even this brush with death did not impress Jehoshaphat, for we see in IIChron.20:35 that he again entered into an alliance with one of Israel's wicked kings. This time it was to build a fleet of trading ships. While this would again appear to be a sensible thing to do in order to build up Judah's economy, it was a second violation of God's direction to be separate from those who do things in a worldly manner. God showed his displeasure by destroying the ships, thereby ending this alliance (II Chron.20:3)
One of Judah's other Godly kings, Asa, also succumbed to doing something "sensible." However, in so doing he not only violated the command to separate ourselves from the world's way of acting, but he actually took that which belonged to God and gave it to the King of Syria. According to II Chron.16:2-4 Asa took gold and silver from the temple and used it to pay the Syrian king to enter into an alliance with him and thereby repel an attack by the king of Israel. The result of this failure to remain separate was God's refusal to totally deliver Asa from future warfare (II Chron.16:8-9).
Notice that what Asa did worked, but if he had done it totally God's way, and trusted in Him, not seeking other forms of protection, it would have been BETTER. Another king of Judah did the same thing. This time however, it did not work. King Ahaz gave gold to the king of Assyria, only this time the recipient of the bribe gave Judah trouble instead of help (II Chron.28:20-21). I can almost hear God calling out to His people, "If My people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies" (Ps.81:13-14).
The Godly king Amaziah also acted rationally by hiring one hundred thousand mercenaries from Israel to strengthen Judah's army for an upcoming battle with the men of Seir (II Chron.25: 6 & 11), but he failed to seek Godly counsel before spending his money. Even though he heeded the prophet's advice to dismiss thee hired soldiers, Judah suffered because they were hired in the first place. You see, on their way home, these ex-mercenaries raided the villages of Judah along their path even though they still had the king's silver (vs. 7-10 & 13). Where Amaziah really missed the boat however was in seeking counsel from the gods of the people of Seir whom he had just defeated in battle.
As the prophet of God said to him, "Why do you consult this people's gods which could not save their own people from your hand?" (II Chron.25:14-15). It was this combination of seeking counsel outside of God's kingdom and ignoring God's own counsel when given, that led to his eventual downfall (II Chron.25:16). Similarly, the wicked king Ahaz of Judah met his downfall because he sought counsel from the gods of king Aram (II Chron.28:23). Now, I am not to concerned about any of you seeking guidance from some stone idol which is half fish and half man, such as Dagon, but how many greedy people (idolators - Eph.5:5) seek first the Wall Street Journal or some stockbroker without FIRST seeking God. The images may be different, but the principles are the same.
There can be no doubt that God commands separation from such things as sorcery, witchcraft, divination, mediums & astrologers (such as psychic phone counselors) (Lev.19:26 & 31; Deut.18:10-11; Isaiah 8:19 and I Sam.28:6), but many people have tried to mix these practices with the ways of God. Balaam is a prime example of this. He had knowledge of the Most High God (see Chapter 11 in The Last Enemy for the importance of such knowledge). What's more, he was an oracle of God (Nu.23:7), but he also practiced divination (Nu.22:7) and sorcery (Nu.24:1). His refusal to separate himself from the world and its practices eventually led to his death. Had he actually joined with Israel in Numbers Chapter 23 he would not have advised the Moabites (Nu.cha.23), and would not have been in Canaan to die along with it's inhabitants when Joshua attacked (Joshua 13:22).
How many Christians "harmlessly" glance at their horoscopes just before or after they read "Dear Abby"? Remember, the deceitfulness of mixing the world and it's advice many times appears gradually. How many Christians depend upon Valium for one's nerves without knowing that the Greek word for sorcery is pharmakia, from which we derive the word `pharmacy' from whence comes `drugs.' Our reliance is to be on God. Note carefully, I am not saying that we should not go to doctors (Luke was a physician) or use prescriptions. That is a matter of faith for each person to deal with AFTER they have seen what God says about it to them. However, when we use man's methods we are to be on guard lest we begin to actually depend upon them. For a more detailed discussion of the area of healing see Chapter 7 of Needful Things.
Mixing God's methods with those of the world proves almost as fatal as doing it strictly the world's way. For the most part Israel's 19 kings (Tibni not included - I Ki.16:21) are listed as having walked in the ways of Jeroboam, her first king, and all are specifically mentioned as being evil. See the following chart:
1) Jeroboam
2) Nadab I Ki.15:25
3) Baasha I Ki.15:34
4) Elah * I Ki.16:9
5) Zimri I Ki.16:18
6) Omri I Ki.16:25
7) Ahab I Ki.16:31
8) Ahaziah I Ki.22:52
9) Joram II Ki.3:2
10) Jehu II Ki.10:28 & 31
11) Jehoahaz II Ki.13:2
12) Jehoash II Ki.13:11
13) Jeroboam II II Ki.14:24
14) Zechariah II Ki.15:9
15) Shallum **
16) Menahem II Ki.15:18
17) Pekahiah II Ki.15:24
18) Pekah II Ki.15:28
19) Hoshea *** II Ki.17:2
* Elah = While not specifically listed as having walked in the ways of Jeroboam, he is listed as being killed w while drunk in the home of Arza (I Ki.16:6) which definitely indicates a failure to separate from the world.
** Shallum = 15th king only reigned as King one month (II Ki.15:13) and again is not listed as having walked in the ways of Jeroboam, but is listed as being the one to conspire against and associate, Zechariah.
*** Hoshea = 19th king is merely listed as having done evil in the the eyes of the Lord, although not as much as his predecessors (II Ki.17:2)
Keeping in mind Jeroboam's preeminent position among the evil kings of Israel, a careful look at what he did is called for. It is recorded that the first thing Jeroboam did when he was made ruler of the Northern Kingdom was to seek advice from anyone but Godly counselors. They apparently suggested that he get into idolatry, for immediately afterwards he constructed two golden calves (I Ki.12:28). Needless to say, "this thing became a sin" (I Ki.12:30). His decision to seek ungodly counsel and worship other gods in detestable ways is the sin all subsequent kings of Israel partook in to some degree or another.
The best thing that can be said for some of these rulers is that every once in a while some of them momentarily turned from their wicked ways and temporarily (and I emphasize the word `temporarily') did things God's way. There appeared to be no attempt on their part to walk wholeheartedly in God's ways. As a result, God decreed destruction on them (I Ki.13: 33-34; 16:12-13; 21:19 & 23-24; II Ki.1:16; 9:26: 13:3 and 17:20). In fact, the only reason Israel itself was not totally destroyed for her failure to separate herself from the world was because God had sworn to Abraham that his descendants would continue forever (II Ki.14:27 and 13:23). The point is, Israel was sent into exile because she worshipped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them as well as the practices which the kings of Israel introduced (II Ki.17:7-8).
There can be no doubt that Jeroboam's seeking advice from other than Godly sources was a purposeful and flagrant violation of God's direction to him (and to us) to seek only after the ways of God. In I Ki.11:29-31 the prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam that God was going to give him the northern ten kingdoms of Israel. In verse 38 we are shown that God also made a tremendous promise to him that "I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you."
But there was a condition to that promise which Jeroboam had to fulfill, and that was to "... do whatever I command and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands..." Immediately Jeroboam forgot this condition - but we must not. While we may not have a prophet of God personally tell us to do it God's way and remain separate from the world, we do have II Chron.6:14-17 as well as all the examples we have already seen which graphically depict disastrous results for non-compliance on one hand, and blessings for obedience on the other.
The Parable of the Servant, as recorded in Lk.19:13 (KJV) gives us this direction, "occupy till I come." But we are to occupy, indeed rule over this world without mixing God's ways with the ways of the world. No one said it would be easy to do this, for the temptations are great, but it is not impossible. Many of Judah's kings were for the most part successful in their attempts to walk as Godly men. They did it God's way, and He blessed them.
Abigah - 2nd king: "The men of Israel were subdued on that occasion, and the men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their Father." (II Chron.13:8)
Asa - 3rd king: "... the Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him he will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." (II Chron.18:2)
Jehosahaphat - 4th king: "If calamity comes upon us, whether sword, or judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand in your presence before the temple that bears your name and will cry out to you in our distress and You will hear us and save us." (II Chron.20:9)
Uzziah - 9th king: "As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success." (II Chron.26:5)
Jotham - 10th king: "Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God." (II Chron.27:6)
Hezekiah - 12th king: "...he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered." (II Chron 31:21) Josiah -15th king:"... while he was still young he began to seek the God of His father David" (II Chron.34:3)
While these men were not always successful in their efforts they made a concerted effort to avoid temptations which came against them, and do things God's way.
Judah had its failures in leadership, make no mistake about that. But those who did evil in the eyes of the Lord were in the minority, and because of this fact Judah enjoyed an additional period of freedom. But there were still problems. Rehoboam, Judah's first king after Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord "because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord" (II Chron.12:14) and God's saving grace came upon him only after he "humbled himself..." (II Chron.12:12). As we saw earlier, Jeroram, Judah's 5th king, was yoked with Ahab's daughter and caused much trouble for Judah, but he also suffered personally for "... after all this, the Lord afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease." (II Chron.21:18). Likewise, his son Ahaziah, the 6th ruler of Judah (not to be confused with Ahaziah, son of Ahab, the 8th king of Israel) "... walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord ... for he was related by marriage to Ahab's family (II Ki.8:27 - as we saw earlier, his moth her greatly influenced him). Because of this "God brought about Ahaziah's downfall." (II Chron.22:7). Judah's 8th king, Amaziah made the mistake of not "wholeheartedly" doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord (II Chron.25:2) because he consulted with the gods of Seir (vs.14-15) and God thereby "determined to destroy ..." him (vs 16).
Ahaz, Judah's 11th king "... made cast idols for worshipping the Baals ... but they were his downfall and the downfall of Israel" (II Chron.28:2 & 23). The same thing was done by Manasseh with the same results (II Chron.33:2,6,10 & 11), but he repented, cried out to God, and returned to the ways of the Lord (vs 13 & 15-16). The 14th ruler Amon, the 17th ruler Jehoiakim, the 18th ruler Jehoiachin, and Zedikiah her 19th and final ruler all did evil in the eyes of the Lord and thereby suffered (II Chron.32:33; 33:22; 36:5; 36:9 and 36:12). Finally, Judah came to the same end that had come upon Israel 135 years earlier. "...(T)he people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations ... God handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar" (II Chron.36:15 & 17).
Carefully note that this failure to separate became progressively worse, and finally led to disaster. Don't take that first step. God's ways and the world's ways are like oil and water - they are not intended to mix. It is possible to do it strictly God's way. Joseph could have chosen the world's way, but he would not stray from God's path. To Potiphar's wife he said "...how then could I do a wicked thing and sin against God?" His refusal to mix the world's standards with God's standards led him to a position of authority (Gen.41:40-41).
Daniel also would not take that first step (Dan.1:8), and because of his willingness to do it God's way he also was blessed (Dan.1:17). However, we must remember that both Joseph and Daniel were rulers in the midst of the most carnal men in existence (Dan.2:48 & 5:11). They associated with these men, but that association did not lead them to become unevenly yoked or fellowship with darkness. They sought God at all times and would not be deceived into thinking that the world's methods exceeded or even equaled God's way.
As we will see in Chapter 13, the fear of the Lord is learned through the reading and understanding of His word (Deut.17:19 & 31:12). To fear God is to hate evil (Prov.8:13). We are to know without the slightest doubt that God can and will root out all evil from His presence. The study we have just completed has shown us that the evil kings of Israel did things their way - they refused to separate themselves from the methods of the world. They did evil in the eyes of the Lord and were eradicated. Judah's kings were blessed when and only when they forsook the ways and means trusted in by mankind and do it God's way no matter what the physical circumstances told them was sensible. We are to be like the good kings of Judah and come out from the Babylons of this world, not like those of Israel who yoked themselves to it. That yoke leads to death.