The LORD says it. "Israel has sinned" Consecrate the People. The people cannot stand against their enemies until things are sorted out. Sin must be put away and the right ways restored before victory is assured. "Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction." [Joshua 7:11-12] Meanwhile: "An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant" [Hosea 8:1] so wars will hover near until the forbidden things are removed from among God's people. We are not upheld as people of God while lies are tolerated on our lips and murder in our hearts. "Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister." [1 John 3:10]
