But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors

Deuteronomy 7:1-26

When the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.

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.

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors.

Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.

Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

Moses calls the nation to faith and obedience. Here Moses turns from the past to the present and future. Israel will soon be right in amongst the pagan nations. They will taste the heady glory of victory.

Why?

Moses claims what Israelites have to do when they enter the promised land. Not because they are numerous or strong but because the Lord loves them and kept the oath God swore to their ancestors.

The Lord gives them the victory little by little, for the wild animals will multiply around them. So even the strategy of the step forward to the promised land is full of the love of the Lord.

Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, for God is angry about this. It may turn our hearts away from the Lord.

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前一日：律法的總原則就是愛。守律法是維繫我們與神關係的道路。

因為有關係所以關係愈親我們的責任愈大，所以與神有關係，竟有責任。

縱然我們不去拜偶像，但是世界的人卻會影響我們。要從世界分別出來。不要結親！表面上他們的生活習慣、價值量，宗教都會影響我們，不是殘忍的問題。人與人立約是因為彼此有好處，彼此愛慕。不要想從世界得好處，卻不受其價值觀的影響，必成為網羅。耶和華所賜的福不會加上憂慮。只有來自神的福，才是真正的福。

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How?

Regard idols as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. God is Holy!