The Contrast The Cultures The

The Contrast The Cultures

• The Philistines were perpetual enemies of Israel – Judges 3, 10, 13 -16—they plagued Israel during the period of the judges • The Philistines were idol worshippers – They worshipped Dagon (I Samuel 5: 1 -4) – They worshipped Ashtaroth (I Samuel 31: 8 -10) • The Philistines were superstitious (I Samuel 5: 5) • The Philistines were aware of God (I Samuel 6: 6) • The Philistines were winning (4: 2, 10 -11)

• The Israelites were still kingless – Judges 21: 25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes • The Israelites were idol worshippers – I Samuel 7: 3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

• The Israelites were superstitious – I Samuel 4: 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again There was not enough difference between Israel and the Philistines

• We must raise our children in the land of the Philistines – I Corinthians 5: 9 -10 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world – John 16: 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world

• We must combat idolatry – Colossians 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…covetousness, which is idolatry • We must combat superstition – Beware of the God is in the box syndrome • “But I bring them to church!” • “They know the truth!” Is the world winning?