Topical Bible: Fellowship: The Evil of Fellowship With the Wicked Exemplified by Israel

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Fellowship, in the biblical context, refers to the sharing of common interests, activities, and purposes, particularly in a spiritual or religious sense. The Bible frequently warns against forming alliances or engaging in fellowship with those who are wicked or ungodly, as such associations can lead to spiritual corruption and disobedience to God. The history of Israel provides numerous examples of the dangers and consequences of fellowship with the wicked.

Israel's Alliances with Pagan Nations

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is repeatedly cautioned against forming alliances with pagan nations. These nations often worshiped false gods and engaged in practices that were abominable to the Lord. In Deuteronomy 7:2-4 , God commands Israel, "And when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following Me to serve other gods, and the anger of the LORD will burn against you and will swiftly destroy you."

Despite these clear instructions, Israel often fell into the trap of forming alliances with surrounding nations. These alliances led to the adoption of idolatrous practices and a turning away from the worship of Yahweh. The consequences were severe, resulting in divine judgment and punishment.

The Influence of Foreign Wives

One of the most notable examples of the evil of fellowship with the wicked is seen in the life of King Solomon. Although Solomon was granted wisdom and wealth by God, his heart was led astray by his many foreign wives. 1 Kings 11:1-4 states, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been."

Solomon's alliances through marriage led to the introduction of idolatry into Israel, which ultimately contributed to the division of the kingdom after his death.

The Downfall of Israel and Judah

The history of both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah is marked by periods of apostasy and idolatry, often as a result of alliances with pagan nations. The prophets repeatedly warned the people of the dangers of such associations. In Isaiah 30:1-2 , the Lord declares, "Woe to the obstinate children, declares the LORD, who carry out a plan that is not Mine, forming an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. They set out to go down to Egypt without consulting Me, to seek help from Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade."

These alliances often led to the worship of foreign gods and the adoption of practices that were detestable to the Lord. The eventual consequence was the destruction and exile of both kingdoms, as God allowed foreign powers to conquer them as a form of judgment.

The Call to Separation

The biblical narrative consistently calls God's people to be separate from the wicked and to avoid fellowship with those who do not follow the Lord. In Psalm 1:1 , the psalmist writes, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers." This call to separation is not only a physical separation but also a spiritual and moral one, urging believers to maintain purity and devotion to God.

The history of Israel serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of fellowship with the wicked. It underscores the importance of heeding God's commands and remaining faithful to Him, avoiding the spiritual pitfalls that come from aligning with those who do not honor the Lord.

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Ezekiel 44:7
In that you have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Broad Wall
... Lot, vexed with the conversation of the wicked, and you ... the chaste, the holy, the
devout, the edifying fellowship of the ... the powers of hell or the evil of our ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 57 1911/the broad wall.htm

Index of Subjects.
... as administered by the evil within and without, [1185]448, [1186 ... receives Donatists
by fellowship, [1453]595 ... wicked, although members, have no part in, [1527]458 ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /index of subjects 2.htm

The Conversion of Zaccheus
... What if wicked men may sometimes have laughter amongst them? ... and to have all manner
of evil spoke against ... Your fellowship would then be with the Father and the ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the conversion of zaccheus.htm

Saul's Conversion
... are yet in their sins) how much evil he hath ... a wretch as I the right-hand of fellowship,
who intended ... especially of you have been remarkably wicked before your ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/sauls conversion.htm

The Seventh Book
... Their fault was still more serious and wicked than this ... people saw and applauded,
and thus when fellowship in disgraceful ... at length an end to the evil and some ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1828 to the Beginning ...
... is thus: Jude means that those wicked people had ... lent our aid to exterminate the
evil from among ... them were converted to God and brought into church fellowship. ...
/.../chapter 10 from the close.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... reference to the means by which the wicked heart is ... shall eventually be exempt from
death and evil, and partake ... from the history of Abel, is exemplified in a ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

The Situation after the Council of Nic??a.
... like manner Origen quaintly notes that only wicked men are ... Yet the problem of evil,
in which he merges the ... first Apostles gave the right hand of fellowship to S ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 3 2 the situation.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1836 to the ...
... of the Ohio conference readmitted him into their fellowship as a ... of God in Christ
Jesus as exemplified in his ... authority for saying that "the wicked shall not ...
/.../chapter 14 from the close.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1820 to the Beginning ...
... it brings with it all kinds of evil " it destroys ... for we believe some white men are
wicked yet, that ... own request, restored to their former fellowship, in a ...
/.../chapter 6 from the close.htm