“I’ve discovered I cannot fight the demons of busyness directly. I cannot continuously say “No” to this or “No” to that, unless there is something ten times more attractive to choose. Saying “No” to my lust, my greed, my needs, and the world’s powers takes an enormous amount of energy. The only hope is to find something so obviously real and attractive that I can devote all my energies to saying “Yes.” In effect, I don’t have time to pay any attention to the distractions” (Henri J. M. Nouwen).
Holiness affects every part of your life to help you live skillfully. Other benefits of holiness include power to defeat spiritual enemies, gain God’s blessings, prevent divorce, freed from bondage to sin, live long, forget bad memories and overcome weaknesses.
Defeat Spiritual Enemies
No one with his male organ cut off or a forbidden marriage, including descendants to the tenth generation, could enter the assembly of Lord. No Ammonite or Moabite could enter assembly of Lord to the tenth generation, because they did not meet Israel with food and water when they came out of Egypt, but hired Balaam to curse them. The Lord did not listen to Balaam, but turned his curse into blessing because of His love. They could not seek their peace or have good relations with them. Do not detest an Edomite or Egyptian since they were brothers and lived as aliens in their country. The sons of the third generation could enter the assembly of the Lord. Avoid evil things as Israel’s army faced its enemies. An unclean man went outside the camp and when evening came, he bathed and removed waste. Because God walked with them to defeat their enemies, they were holy and prevented indecency so He would not turn away from them (Deut. 23:1-14). Maintain physical and spiritual holiness so God’s power can defeat your spiritual enemies.
Gain God’s Blessings
Do not mistreat a slave who escaped from his master, but let him live where he wanted. No children could be a cult prostitute or bring their wages into the house of the Lord to pay a vow. Do not charge brothers interest so God could bless them in the land they would possess. Pay vows made to the Lord and not be guilty of sin. They could eat grapes from a neighbor’s vineyard, but not carry them away (Deut. 23:15-25). Pursue sexual purity, fulfill verbal promises and treat people fairly in financial matters to gain God’s blessings.
Prevent Divorce
If a man found his wife displeasing and then divorced her so she married someone else, the first husband could not take her as his wife since it was sinful. A man was exempt from military duty during his first year of marriage so he could stay home and bring happiness to his wife (Deut. 24:1-5). Spend extra time with your wife in the first year to build a strong marital foundation and prevent divorce.
Freed From Bondage to Sin
Refuse an upper millstone as pledge for a debt since it took a man’s livelihood as security. If a man kidnapped an Israelite who was treated as a slave or sold, the kidnapper must die to purge away evil. Follow carefully what Levitical priests instructed concerning leprous diseases while remembering what God did to Miriam coming out of Egypt. Show patience in collecting loans from a poor neighbor by allowing him to sleep in his cloak leading to thanks for this righteous act in God’s sight. Do not take advantage of a needy Israelite or alien servant, but pay his wages daily and not be guilty of sin. Fathers did not die for their sons nor sons for their fathers since each would die for their own sin. Leave some grain during harvest and do not deprive the alien, fatherless or widow by taking their cloak as pledge to remember how God redeemed them from slavery in Egypt (Deut. 24:6-22). Be financially kind to the needy and stress personal accountability since God freed you from the bondage of sin.
Live Long
Judges decided a dispute in court acquitting the innocent and condemning the wicked in proportion to his guilt. Do not muzzle an ox while he was threshing. The wife of a deceased brother living together would marry his brother to fulfill his duty and carry on the name of his dead brother. If a wife seized the private parts of a man struggling with her husband, cut off her hand and not show pity. Have accurate and honest weights or measures to live long in the land God gave since He hated dishonesty (Deut. 25:1-16). Use accurate and fair guidelines to decide court verdicts, set wages, show considerations toward extended family and determine pricing of goods and services to live long.
Forget Bad Memories and Overcome Weaknesses
Remember what Amalek did when they attacked the Israelites who lagged behind after leaving Egypt. Amalek showed they lacked the fear of God. After the Lord gave rest from their enemies, they blotted out the memory of the Amaleks (Deut. 25:17-19). Spiritual victory and strength enables you to forget bad memories and overcome weaknesses.
Which of the following benefits of holiness are most meaning to you right now: power to defeat spiritual enemies, gain God’s blessings, prevent divorce, freed from bondage to sin, live long, forget bad memories and overcome weaknesses?
