The down-grade towards, and in evil and error, IS no modern practice.
1. A Saint out of Communion. "Abram went down into Egypt" (Gen 12:10).
2. A Backsliding Worker. "Jonah went down to Joppa" (Jon 1:3); "went down into it" (Jon 1:3); "went down to the bottoms" (Jon 2:6).
3. A Self-willed Actor. "Samson went down to Timnath…She is right in mine eyes" (Jdg 14:1-3, M.).
4. A Disobedient Alliance. Jehoshaphat "went down to Ahab" (2Ch 18:1-2; 2Cr 6:14).
5. A Robbed Man. "Went down from Jerusalem" (the place of blessing) "to Jericho" (the cursed place), "and fell among thieves" (Luk 10:30). An illustration of what sin has done for man.
6. Cleansed Leper. Naaman "went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan—and he was clean" (2Ki 5:14). Jordan means judgment; Christ went down into the Jordan of God's judgment, that we might be cleansed from sin (Mat 3; Rom 8).
7. Punished Rebels. "Korah…went down alive into the pit" (Sheol, Num 16:32-33).