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The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Having a king was not the real issue because God had already planned for Israel to have a king. 13-71shemot.doc. They have made a gold idol to be their god. And what was that? . In the book of Jeremiah, God told the people that he would exile them from the land for 70 years, because this was the amount of time that the Sabbath rest had been disobeyed (490 years total). The book of Ezekiel is about idolatry. John W. Ritenbaugh In those from the north, there would be a natural resistance to such an arrangement. Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period. Mercy is used to describe the act of helping those whose behavior might not otherwise justify such magnanimity. Their desire for flesh was a desire springing up amidst abundance. All through the bible God gave his own people over,into the hands of their enemies and into bondage,for their sins.Judah went into captivty in babylon for 70 years.The Northern Kingdom of israel was carried off by the Assyerians.God is about to give his people over,into the hands of their enemies again and into bondage.Nazi Germany 2 is Oh, dread the mixed multitude. 1996 daihatsu midget ii top speed donkey kong country 2 endings how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. 3. December 30, 2018 ; By James . (The Book of Amos) (Part Two), Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. Amos. Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. In Psalm 78:59-62, the psalmist Asaph relates that God, when He became aware of the idols of Israel. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. Although Yahweh was the national god to whom every Israelite owed allegiance, biblical and extra-biblical evidence demonstrate that the worship of additional gods had strong popular support. I have heard some suggest that there is something wrong (or lacking) in the teachings that God gave at Sinai. "The great house" refers to the noble or wealthy family in society, and these "big names" will certainly be destroyed along with the common folk. During that period, Israel's sins continued to mount horribly. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.. Second, he makes a veiled warning, contained within the next five verses: Amos' words carry authority. When his wife died, he was told not to mourn her. Ezekiel packed his belongings as if heading on a journey. Learn Religions. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are blunted"? This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. According to the Bible, the worship of these gods was often promoted by kings and members of the royal court. Though not to blame because His sins did not cause these tragedies, He is responsible for them because He at least allowed them to occur. Nadab and Abihu did not abide by God's commandments for worship, but did as they saw fit (Leviticus 10). Finally, God's people cried out to him for help. 17 They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Zavada, Jack. Oddly enough, about 3,000 were buried around on the Western side of Mount Sinai (Jebel al Lawz) in Arabia. Ezekiel was called to be a watchman for God with the chief task of warning his people about the terrible consequences of the sin of idolatry. God appointed him to this task and "caused" him to speak. In I Kings 14:15, God warns that He will ultimately. God wanted Israel to serve as a model nation. . God tacks it onto his upcoming deeds to explain the reason for the action. They began to worship the golden calf, and they . So why did God choose Israel? And yet, multiple prophets challenged Israels adherence to the very laws and ordinances that were part of this prophetically-given covenant guide. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. But God certainly knew about them. The Northern 10 Tribes of Israel have disappeared, never to return. In fact, I think a key indication that Israel felt like its adherence to sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices was in-line with its covenant requirements is the very fact that Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah had to use such dramatic language to get Israels attention. Central to both the punishment and the restitution is loving and living the truth of God. Terms and Conditions, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. He promises good health (Exodus 15:26), prosperity (Malachi 3:8-12), children (Psalm 127:3-5), security (Psalm 46), and many other blessings besides His greatest gift, eternal life in His Kingdom (John 17:1-3; Romans 6:23)! So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. We will be submissive either to God's will or to our own fickle drives. Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. After Sinai there were many instances of disobedience. In the time of Moses God made a contract (the Bible calls it a "covenant") with the people or nation of Israel, and initially they agreed to abide by it. (Amos 9:13-15). Why A Belief Crisis Need Never Be Fatal To Faith. In fact, highlighting Israels penchant for a straying focus, a central hope in Jeremiahs view of restoration is that Israel will be given a , , while all of this might be true, hypocrisy does not, problem that resulted in such strong language from Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. The prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 32:30, quotes God's scathing indictment of the people of both Kingdoms: "[T]he children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil before Me from their youth. Only in, (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. Israel's Punishment 1. shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?. Even after all of the warnings from the Prophets, after receiving curse upon curse, Israel would NOT turn . Also, every seventh year the land was to lie fallow (Lev. For example, a couple of years after being freed from slavery, God led the people to the border of Canaan, the land which God had promised them. Indeed, Malachi 3:6 proclaims, "I am the Lord, I do not change," while Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus "is the same yesterday, today, and forever.". Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols., And Hosea says simply: They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not., Like Isaiah, Amos and Hosea portray the LORD as more than just critiquing the act of worshipwith the Lord very clearly despising Israels feasts, refusing to accept (or even regard!) , put Israel in an uncomfortable position. We are disgusted with this wretched food! they cried. Jesus emphatically asserts in the Sermon on the Mount that we should not think that He came to destroy the law or the prophets (Matthew 5:17). This is made more explicit in Judges 2:11-13: "Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and worshipped the Baals, and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who . Look at the cause or spring of Israel's sin. M. David Huston lives and works in the Washington DC metro area. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. Despite this, they became very wealthy and self-indulgent, even oppressively so. Charles Whitaker was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, . What sort of pagan revelry did the Israelites indulge in (Exodus 32:6)? First, God and Israel have a special relationship: "You only have I known." Using the hints provided, put a T next to the sentences that are true and an F next to the ones that are false. (Ezekiel 36:22-24, 31-32). The captivating story of the Exodus is one of the pivotal narratives of the Torah and is fundamental from both national/historical and religious/theological perspectives. This scathing condemnation concludes with the L, saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. Tzedeq is often the companion virtue to mishpat. How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. Wealth is being funneled into the hands of the few, and the poor and weak keep becoming poorer and weaker. In about AD 31, Christ says He was "not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). The covenant people, Israel, had profaned His name by their conduct among the other nations. The people believed them and rebelled against Moses and God. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! It is placed between the book of Lamentations and the book of Daniel in the Old Testament Canon of Scripture. The Chronicler writes: But God was not pleased with what Moses had done. Ezra records that God moved King Cyrus to let . The problem, according to these prophets, seems to be that Israel had failed to recognize that being, required more than adherence to specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices. At least one answer is easily pushed aside. keeping the commandments. God punished them to bring them to conversion, but in vain. They joined because of their great respect for the God of Moses and the morality of Moses and his followers. The British produced a great empire far out of proportion to their population, native wealth, and abilities. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. 30 Dec . In Numbers 20, we read that the people were complaining about not having water to drink. Idolatry is the subject of the first three of the Ten Commandments and its practice is one of three cardinal sins which one is supposed to die rather transgress (along with murder and illicit sex). Books cost $37, plus $6 shipping - total $43. What type of animal bit the Israelites? Our regard for humanity is so low that in America alone during the last three decades, an estimated 40-50 million pre-born children have been killed for the sake of convenience. Because He does not want His name to be profaned in any way, He is very concerned about those who bear it (Exodus 20:7). It had its origin, not in their necessities, but m their vile affections, their own unsubdued, carnal minds. Instead, he is to be thoroughly familiar with and guided by the attitudes and laws of God. "Earth" here represents all aspects of His creationincluding manwhich He created for man. God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). Picking up where the question above leaves off, Isaiah continues voicing Gods view of these practices: I [the LORD] am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. God is angry and will destroy the Israelites but Moses begs God to have mercy and remember His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob). Justice: If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. God told Moses to take his staff and assemble the people. So Moses and his brother, Aaron, asked God what to do. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people, doing things properly. Usually, the term is used in connection with groups like widows, orphans, resident aliens, or poor, and often in contexts where there are clear power differentials. What is the meaning of john 8: 12? However, the key to understanding the significance of Israel's demand in I Samuel 8 is that she desires a king just like the other nations. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. . . Herein lies the main theme of the book of Ezekiel. So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? After Moses comes down from the mountain, the idol is destroyed and God punishes the people but having compassion, or caring for the Israelites, He does not destroy everyone. . It was this underlying fear of a direct relationship with God that was responsible for the terrible course of events that culminated in the Golden Calf. This deferment did not make Him unfaithful to the people, because His promises to them were conditional, based on their obedience to His revelation. Israel's sad history is the consequence of peoples' faithlessness, not of their God's weakness. This appears as early as Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve reject God's rule over them. Facts about King Saul. Critics assert that Israel's history demonstrates the weakness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in that their God could not keep His promises. An important overall warning from Amos for those of us who have made the New Covenant with God is that great privileges must not be abused, or they will bring great penalties. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? Israel exhibited again and again its refusal to obey God. This also applies on a smaller but more immediate scale: Amos has been sent by appointment, and he does not speak promiscuously. God was going to punish the evil doers - the wicked - for their evil deeds. tested Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. God tells every individual bitten by a snake that they will live if they look at a bronze snake made by Moses at God's command. This led to much suffering, as in the holocaust. Fortunately, in the same way that Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were direct with Israel when it came to expressing the L. displeasure, these four prophets were similarly direct with Israel when it came to stating what Israel needed to do differently. Christ's death is an eschatological event, offering life to those who trust him ( John 3:16; Eph. There are two basic reasons: God was fulfilling a promise to Abraham. And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunders, until He had cast them from His sight. Though, does a great deal to reach out and help those around us, there are always ways to improvesomething encouraged by, . Someone is righteous when they follow the prophet and keep the commandments; these actions indicate their inward commitment. Moreover take for yourself an iron plate, and set it as an . This was considered a grave sin by God. Ezekiel was called to be a watchman for God with the chief task of warning his people about the terrible consequences of the sin of idolatry. Exodus 12:38 indicates that many non-Jews decided to become Jews and join the blood descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the exodus from Egypt. The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Ezekiel, Israel's leaders, Ezekiel's wife, and King Nebuchadnezzar. Zavada, Jack. Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. To violate the Sabbath day was a serious sin because it denied God's sovereignty. In the modern Latter-day Saint community, that notion is broadened a little, and justice is something closer to a synonym for fair or equitable. For example, the phrase God is just for many Latter-day Saint folks means something like God gives you what you deserve (good or bad). However, both uses are worlds away from what the 8. century BCE prophets Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah meant when they used that word. i am the light of the world. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood., To be clear, the LORD does more than just summarily dismiss Israels worship practice; the LORD says that these practicesthe sacrifices, rituals, and feasts they are under obligation to do as part of the covenantare iniquity and an abomination, and that my soul hateth them. Mercy is used to describe the act of helping those whose behavior might not otherwise justify such magnanimity. But though God punishes, there is always the hope of repentance and restitution: "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance. Since the One who judged during Old Testament times is the same One who judges today, we can be certain that He uses the same standards now that He did then. Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They once again complained to Moses. My sense, especially in light of Ezekiel and Ezras view of the importance of Israels ritual practices referenced above, is that God is not rejecting Israels method of worship, nor is God (for the most part) impugning the motivation behind Israel keeping of the required sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices. . Other themes include the sovereignty of Godover the entire world, God's holiness, right worship, corrupt leaders, the restoration of Israel, and the coming of a Messiah. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 establish that, if one does well, God will bless him. So, they have no excuse they can use for worshiping idols. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. If their moral and ethical foundation has eroded, the natural process of strong nations displacing weaker ones will take place (Leviticus 18:28; 20:22). American influence has since exceeded even that of Britain, making English the universal language of business and politics. 1. Thus, the problem Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah point to is not in regard to the revealed pattern of worship. Second: Lions do not roar unless they have taken their prey because they do not want to scare their intended prey away. In short, the people of Israel needed to live into the reality that acovenant with God isinherently connected to and reflected by how we treat each other. After Moses comes down from the mountain, the idol is destroyed and God punishes the people but having compassion, or caring for the Israelites, He does not destroy everyone. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. All Rights Reserved. The clear answer to Micahs questions about whether God is pleased by the prospect of thousands of rams, ten thousands of rivers of oil, or even my firstborn is no. That is to say: Israel understood itself as keeping the commandments. Since the people sinned by not trusting God, he made them wander the desert for 40 years before entering the land. Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" That day, the seventeenth day of Tammuz, three thousand men of the children of Israel lost their lives, in punishment for their idolatry. In fact, it is not perverse to assert that God was completely faithful to the children of Israel, doing to them exactly what He promised He would do if they persistently sinned against Him. God gave the people specific instructions in order to be faithful to the Lord. One tribe after another made slaves out of the people. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. Besides giving oral warnings, Ezekiel performed physical actions which served as symbolic plays for the exiles to learn from. II Kings 17:7-8 speaks of the sins of the Kingdom of Israel, up north: For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, . The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Additionally, the apostles will be resurrected and sit as judges over the twelve tribes, ensuring that proper judgment is given (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). Copyright 2022 Faith Community Church. Yosef Eisen, a noted historian and lecturer, tells the miraculous story and history of an eternal nation.