Surely the Bitterness of Death is Past?

Compromise is beginning to destroy Israel...

Joshua gathers the people together at Shiloh for one last attempt to rally them that they might possess the land that the Lord has subdued for them. A survey is made and the land is divided by lots. Unfortunately the roots of compromise, accommodation, and inertia are now sunk deep into the tribes of Israel. They will not take what the Lord has promised to give them. And they are resolved to make peace and dwell with the Canaanites instead of driving them out. To Agag's question 'Surely the Bitterness of Death is Past?' They are increasingly willing to answer 'Yes.'

Too often the same problem Israel had then afflicts the church today, the roots of accommodation and compromise are sunk deep into our congregations and we seem hesitant to believe that the Lord really will give us all that he has promised. Therefore we compromise with the world, not realizing that it is neither necessary nor wise and will ultimately lead to our own downfall, just as surely as it was Israel's undoing.