When Barnabas was sent by the leaders of the Jerusalem church to check out the new
church in Antioch, he was a likely choice. Not only was his disposition as an encourager
important to his task, but he had come from Cyprus, even as had the people who were
responsible for this new church. When he arrived, he rejoiced in what he saw, and urged
the new believers there to "cleave to the Lord" (Acts 11:23, KJV).
It's noteworthy that this idea of "cleaving to the Lord" was not original with Barnabas.
Moses, while preparing the new generation of Israelites to enter into the Promised Land,
used similar language many times. Consider the following references.
The meaning of "cleaving" is simply "to follow hard after", to "join", "to cling to". The
idea is first noted in Genesis 2:24 when marriage is defined as "cleaving" to husband or
wife. It would also be echoed by Jesus Himself when he said (John 15), "Abide, remain in
me".
"But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of
you this day." (Deuteronomy 4:4)
Life itself, spiritual life and eternal life, was contingent on their "cleaving" to the Lord.
"For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I
command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to
cleave unto him;" (Deuteronomy 11:22)
God's promise to expel the ungodly influences was tied to the people's willingness, and
determination, to "cleave" to the Lord. For us, the way to be protected from the evil
influences of the world is not to remove ourselves and live in Christian Communes. After
all, Jesus prayed that we would not be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil.
The key is to "cleave" - to be so determined to abide in Christ that these outside influences
will have no affect.
"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his
commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him." (Deuteronomy 13:4)
The concern here has to do with a prophet who comes with apparently miraculous signs,
but who must be rejected because he is leading the people away from God. Once again,
the people must reaffirm their devotion and "cleave" to the Lord.
"That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey
his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy
days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:20)
At the end of his list of blessings and curses, Moses exhorts the people to choose life
instead of death, blessings instead of cursings. Again, the promises are contingent upon
the people "cleaving" to the Lord.
"But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the
servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his
ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all
your heart and with all your soul." (Joshua 22:5)
This reference is included to point out that the next generation of leaders has picked up the
exhortation.
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