In the biblical narrative, forming alliances or maintaining societal ties with the enemies of God is consistently portrayed as a grievous error, often leading to severe consequences. The Scriptures provide numerous examples where such alliances result in divine punishment, underscoring the importance of faithfulness and separation from ungodly influences.

Old Testament Examples

1. Israel and the Canaanites: The Israelites were explicitly commanded to avoid making covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan. In Exodus 23:32-33 , God instructs, "You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you." Despite this clear directive, Israel's failure to fully drive out the Canaanites led to idolatry and eventual subjugation, as seen in Judges 2:1-3.

2. King Solomon: Solomon's alliances through marriage with foreign women led him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-4 recounts how Solomon's heart was turned after other gods because of his foreign wives, resulting in God's anger and the division of the kingdom: "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."

3. King Jehoshaphat and Ahab: Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahab, king of Israel, through marriage and military cooperation. This alliance nearly led to disaster at the battle of Ramoth-gilead (2 Chronicles 18). Later, Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahaziah, Ahab's son, in a shipping venture was condemned by God, resulting in the destruction of the ships (2 Chronicles 20:35-37).

New Testament Principles

The New Testament continues to emphasize the dangers of forming alliances with those opposed to God. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 , Paul warns believers, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

Theological Implications

The biblical injunctions against alliances with the enemies of God highlight the principle of holiness and separation. God's people are called to be distinct, set apart for His purposes. The consequences of disobedience in this area serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of maintaining spiritual purity and allegiance to God alone.

Divine Punishment

The punishment for forming alliances with God's enemies often manifests as both immediate and long-term consequences. These can include military defeat, loss of divine favor, and spiritual decline. The narratives serve as a warning to remain vigilant and faithful, avoiding entanglements that compromise one's commitment to God.

In summary, the biblical record is clear: alliances and societal ties with the enemies of God lead to divine punishment. The call to holiness and separation is a recurring theme, urging believers to remain steadfast in their devotion to God and His commandments.Numbers 33:56
Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do to you, as I thought to do to them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 7:4
For they will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 23:13
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 2:3
Why I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 3:5-8
And the children of Israel dwelled among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 9:7,14
Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 106:41,42
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 2:16,22,23
Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Divided Kingdom.
... This shatters the alliance between the two nations and causes a ... (7) The different
enemies with which ... The sins of cruelty and injustice in society and government ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... men, as worthy members of civil society, the servants ... the nature of the statute
forbidding alliance with the ... treaties, of whatever kind with the enemies of God ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

Herod and Peter.
... and rulers, there were not wanting enemies to the ... were, distinguished by their station
in society, or their ... The alliance between Church and State is conceived ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiv herod and peter.htm

Calvin's Work.
... He conceived the idea of a general Evangelical Alliance which, though ... [876] He regarded
them as worse enemies of God ... of God and the good of society: the Church ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 57 calvins work.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... been engaged in repressing and punishing God's enemies"this had ... Judah; Josiah, bound
perhaps by an alliance to the ... raising us to the unseen society of Saints ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

The Reign of David.
... He also made an alliance with Hiram, the king ... Primitive society followed the course
of nature in condemning ... times David showed kindness to his enemies, II Sam.9 ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xi the reign of.htm

Massillon -- the Small Number of the Elect
... the ordinances, and broken the alliance which should ... Repasts"those innocent ties
of society"degenerate into ... which God afflicts you, the enemies He raised ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/massillon the small number.htm

Progress of Calvinism
... believing as he did that it was a society complete in ... towards the Catholic side and
toward an alliance with Spain ... him safely from the midst of his enemies (1567 ...
/.../chapter iii progress of calvinism.htm

Wagner -- I am a Voice
... Speech was held between friends and enemies alike, more ... value, there is no longer
any society possible. ... indeed that eternity has concluded an alliance with him ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/wagner i am a.htm

Of the Incapacity of an Unregenerate Person for Relishing the ...
... when the apostle speaks of our alliance to the ... the heavenly oratory of this holy
society would have ... the punishment of his implacable and incorrigible enemies. ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse v of the incapacity.htm

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Alliance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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