1 King 19:18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.
There was a time in Israel's history that the nation had been defiled through the worship of an idol named baal this was a violation of the commandment of GOD
Ex 20:3
"You shall have no other gods before Me.
Ahab, king of Israel, married Jezebel, daughter ofEthba’al, king of the Sidonians, and then served habba’al ('the Ba'al'.)
Ahab married an idol worshiper and caused the entire nation to be unduly influenced by a pagan culture that was aligned against the ways and purposes of GOD.
This is a clear example of how forming mis-matted alliances inconsistent with your faith will cause you to stray from GOD.
Without getting into a long conversation about baal I will use this scenario to illustrate idol worship in general .
What is an idol? I will derive the definition from scripture.
1 Cor 5:11
But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.
idolater = whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God
Any object that usurps the place of GOD in your life.
Our leading scripture relates to the Prophet Elijah being much discouraged about the condition of Israel because Baal was being worshiped more than GOD.
In spite of most people in Israel going along with the influence of the times and turning away from GOD there was still remaining a faithful people who had not bowed their knew to baal and had not kissed baal. God informed Elijah that he was not alone serving HIM but GOD had others as well. The LORD reserved Himself a remnant.
I was drawn to understand why the Spirit of GOD used the word "Kiss" in the subject scripture.
So I looked up the definition, yes i know what a kiss is but reading the definition always seems to contribute to my understanding of the text.
Websters online dictionary ;
Kiss - To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc
Now I relate this definition back to the scripture and it will produce this paraphrase
1 Kin 19:18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed (reverenced baal, is not submissive to baal and does not seek approval through asking baal to forgive them).
Our world in general terms is a world of idol worshipers. We, even many Christians have kissed what the world deems valuable and because of the worlds influences we have comited sin.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Yet as scripture proclaims to the Glory of GOD the Father, there remains a remnant steadfast in their faithfulness to GOD. Are you in that number?
People if you are going to kiss someone, kiss Jesus!!!
Ps 2:12 Kiss the Son [pay homage to Him in purity], lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. O blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!
Ps 2, written by King David is prophetic and it is referring to the Messianic rule of Christ. Anothet topic for another time :)
Back to the subject at hand.
Do not be like an unfaithful spouse kissing others, becoming defiled and then coming home and kissing your husband or wife. What is my point, doing the world's thing all week and then going to church on Sunday saying praise GOD. You are an adulterer if this is your routine .
Jer 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers (forsakers of God, Israel's true Husband). Because of the curse [of God upon it] the land mourns, the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. They [both false prophets and people] rush into wickedness; and their course is evil, their might is not right.
