OK, I'm going to confess up front that this is a bit of a stretch, but this is the thought that presents itself when I read this: Why do denominations fight? Why does one local church come into conflict with another?
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Is there a conflicting message here? On several occasions prior to this God has instructed Israel to completely destroy specific nations residing in Canaan. In fact, at this point they've already done so to the nations east of the Jordan to which the lands were given to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The difference between these two instances is that on the one hand there is judgment at God's command, and on the other the warning not to commit murder, an act undertaken on one's own. It's an example of the difference between God's will and man's will.
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Would you give a recovering alcoholic a job in a bar? Would an apartment next door to a brothel be acceptable for someone trying to overcome sexual addiction? Would you assign a pyromaniac as the security guard for the dynamite factory? Then why would you continue to associate in any manner with the things and people and places of the old life that caused all of your sinful problems in the first place?
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In reading these verses I can't help but wonder about how good a steward I am with all that God has given me in this life. Beyond all the physical comforts, a means of income, and all manner of earthly needs more than adequately taken care of, He is providing eternal security and heavenly riches in the life to come as well. And just as these men went to war and came back to discover they were all completely intact and standing before God, so my life continues in a battle whose success is wrought by Him with the added assurance of victory for the future as well. So why, from time to time, do I become so obsessed with "my" stuff, with "my" share to such a degree that I want to ensure "my" right to enjoy and spend and consume it as befits whatever desire I have? In truth, I have already secured—for both THIS life and the NEXT—all that is needed or required.
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The biblical definition of an oath is something specifically uttered out loud. It's not a thought, wish, desire or goal, but an expression of the heart, made purposefully aloud. Once pronounced, it becomes as binding as the Word and commandments of God upon that person. They are under obligation to be obedient for its fulfillment with the same seriousness and obedience of all of God's Law.
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What is the path of succession? A pastor or leader retires or passes away and a process is undertaken by which to replace them, or in some cases a specific plan of succession kicks into action. It's interesting to no small degree that in most matters Christians profess and often encourage the need to pray and seek God's guidance for most things in life both personally and corporately within the church. However, in the case of leadership they seem to operate on a parallel level with corporate America in this regard: They pray, but they also want to see the resumé. They seek God's guidance, but they keep referring back to the individual's listed qualifications, to what appeals to them most on a personal level.
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Most often it's the end result of a very long sequence of events, conscience choices at every step leading to the inevitable result of adultery. It begins as a thought and matures into infatuation wherein one chooses to spend more time discovering more about the object of interest. Interest grows and gives way to desire that is evidenced by choices of where to go, how to be in their company more, how to nurture the possibilities into something greater. All of these dozens if not hundreds of conscience, willful decisions lead to grasping the opportunity to separate and leave one's spouse and do what the Bible calls "being joined" to another. That is, the physical act of adultery. But in truth, adultery has been committed in each step of this dance all along the way, what the Bible calls "playing the harlot".
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