(08) - Student Choice #1: Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

In Deuteronomy 20:17, the Lord identified the nations of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  The Lord commanded Israel to destroy these nations, make no covenant with them, and show them no mercy.  He also told them to destroy their altars, pillars, groves, and graven images of their Gods.  The Lord wanted these nations destroyed because they were wicked and not keeping His commandments.  It was also so that the word of the Lord would be carried out.

I think we can protect ourselves from sins, particularly the sins that we have in common with the Canaanites, by deciding early that we will not commit them, especially the serious sins.  If we make a commitment early on in life that we won't do certain things, we will be more inclined to keep the commandments.  I think this is the most important way to not commit sins and be the best we can be.