WTFMT 74 9FROM HGM 17 MAR 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-74

TEXT:  "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."  (Hosea 11:7)    

 

I.   BACKSLIDING

 

     A.  Historically Israel was withdrawing:  she was sliding back and she was leaving her inheritance.  She was leaving the LORD who was her inheritance and she was sliding back from Him.

            "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."  (Psalm 16:5)

 

     B.  This is whom Israel was leaving.  Hopefully Israel was to be example and a lesson to Judah.  As God moved upon Israel to chastise her for backsliding Judah was able to take note, to take a lesson from her sister.  If Judah was willing to learn she would have been able to correct her ways. 

 

     C.  In the recorded history it is seen that Judah did not learn and repent.  She moved into Bethaven, she joined Israel to leave God, and backslid into wickedness and unbelief.  Finally she went into bondage.Backsliding from God always leads to bondage, which leads to sin, which leads to death.

         "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  (James 1:15)

      D.  Upon her part, as well as Israel's, there was the refusal to move forward in the revelation which God had given her. She went backwards into ignorance the extent of which can be seen in the Gospels where this very tribe calls for and receives the crucifixion of Jesus.  There was the refusal to move forward in true and sincere dedication to God.

 

     E.  Every day people decide to move backward into a dedication to idols and self.  They come to live in the "House of Vanity." a place of wickedness and idolatry in varying forms.  It is not for the faithful.

 II.  LOSS OF REVELATION

 

     A.  With a change of scenery, we will take a look at something else moving in connection with this word "Bethaven."  This second scene is not so much different from the first. More or less it is the same story in 1 Samuel with different characters, activities, and props.  It is the story of Jonathan and the victory which he won and the exceeding victory which followed.  But we will focus on his father and see what King Saul does in this victory.

 

     B.  The scene is set in I Samuel 14:1,

           "Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father."  (I Samuel 14:1)

 

    C.  "He told not his father."  In regards to this escapade, remember that his father at this time was moving, not in revelation, but in ignorance.  Do not focus overly much upon the occasion, but rather upon Saul himself. 

     D.  Some years before that time he began to move in revelation,

          " And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God." (I Samuel 9:27) Thus, in the life of Saul, the revelation of God began to move.  But as Saul failed in his responses to God and became disobedient, he gradually moved into the Wilderness of Bethaven so to speak. 

     E.  He began to backslide to move away from God and consequently out of the revelation which God has given him. Saul seemed to forget.  There was the possibility of Saul's kingdom being established forever.

         " . . . which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."  (I Samuel 13:13)

         F.  But he moved back and withdrew his soul from that possibility.  He did not continue to move in the revelation which he had.  Thus, forward progression was lacking in the latter life of Saul.  He did not move into further revelation and light.  He moved backwards into ignorance, backsliding away for God, away from things he knew.

 

III. PARTING THOUGHTS

     A.  In a glance backward into Chapter 13, before going onward into Saul's life, we pick up evidence of a heart prone toward pride and thus prone to move away from God,

           "And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal."  (I Samuel 13:3-4)

 

     B.  Saul attributed Jonathan's victory to himself because of his selfishness.  He was jealous of Jonathan.  There was no correction in Saul of this form of idolatry (self-worship); it grew.  Self-worship is the core and fullness of Satan.  Sometime later in the life of Saul, it is seen in a much greater magnitude (I Samuel 18:8).  Where his self-worship and selfishness lead to rebellion, disobedience, sin, and unto death by his own hands. 

 

     C.  Backsliding does not happen overnight.  We do not wake up one morning and we have moved backward from God.  Backsliding is a gradual process of slowly moving away from God and His word in our lives.  Backsliding happens in our heart, but is openly manifested for all to see and hear.  Backsliding is something a sinner cannot do.  Paul warns us,

          "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."  (Hebrews 3:12)