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Moses then struck the rock twice with his staff, and a huge amount of water began to flow. The Israelites' lack of faith while Moses was on Mt. Further, God has been systematically removed from schools, from government, and from public life. They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). . 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. The LORD wanted the people of Israel to show all of their neighbors the same deep fidelity and covenantal love which they had received from the LORD.So, what is Israel doing wrong? We need to set the record straight. 2 Kings, OLD TESTAMENT. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. The term also occurs in, Some references in Ezekiel have striking similarities to the prophetic. The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. So, they have no excuse they can use for worshiping idols. Except for brief periods when Israel had a judge or king who did right in the eyes of God, the spiritual harlotry continued unabated until God formally divorced her, sending Israel and Judah into captivity. its offerings and sacrifices, and calling its songs and music of praise noise that I will not hear., The prophet Micah takes a different approach but delivers the same basic message as his prophetic contemporaries. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. Because of the peoples' recalcitrance, God withheld His blessings, ultimately separating Himself from them by casting them out of the land He had promised the patriarchs. God punishes the Israelites for their sinfulness After he had freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God wanted to make them a holy people with the help of his servant, Moses. Punishment is imminent, at the very door. Oh, dread the mixed multitude. John W. Ritenbaugh Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to . And then verse 55, it says, but it didn't bring about fruit. Justice: If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. 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. Even Jerusalemthe "Holy City"has an annual "Gay Pride" parade, and is essentially secular. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. But if we keep our part of the agreement, we will reap the benefits that flow with God keeping His. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. His Spirit departed from Saul and a demon possessed Saul. That specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices were central parts of its covenant with YHWH was beyond doubt. . The sin of worshipping another god is called idolatry. Aaron also knows which god the Israelites intended the calf to represent: "Tomorrow shall be a festival of YHWH!," ( - ) he proclaims (32:5). Even after they entered the 'promised' land, as individuals and as a nation the Jews turned back to idolatry. John W. Ritenbaugh On several occasions God punished the Jews in the wilderness for their disobedience. ", More than 90 times, God calls Ezekiel "son of Man," a term used to highlight the prophet's humanity. First, the Israelites began to serve the false gods of the nations that they failed to remove from the land. Amos warns ancient Israel and her modern descendants, however, that no nation is so great that it can stand without God. The prophet begins in the first two verses with a "thus saith the LORD," providing the foundation for all that follows. We each need to ask, "Have I let anything other than God take first place in my life? Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers. 25:1-7). His aim is to awaken them from their spiritual lethargy. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. It is an aspect of His mercy. Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. Israel's sad history is the consequence of peoples' faithlessness, not of their God's weakness. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" First, "gods" are the object of man's worship and service. First: People traveling in the same direction toward exactly the same destination would hardly meet except by appointment. After Satans Temptations, What Do You Do? Observe next the occasion of Israel's sin. The prophet Micah takes a different approach but delivers the same basic message as his prophetic contemporaries. The word we translate as justice (or judgment or justly) comes from the Hebrew word, , in the Hebrew Bibleand as used by Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah in the verses abovereflects the idea of ensuring that the weakest members of society are protected from exploitation. But the Israelites did not kill the enemy, or even drive them out of the land. And when we fully embrace the reality that the covenants we make at baptism and in the temple cannot be kept without walking, a relationship with those who surround us in this earthly existencethat is to say when we fully embrace the recognition that covenants with God are inherently covenants with each otherwe will finally be able to follow the guidance that these 8, Century BCE prophets gave to Israel anciently and which still resonate for us today. St. Vincent de Paul was born in France in 1581. And Isaiah was not alone in portraying Gods displeasure with Israels worship. The people believed them and rebelled against Moses and God. God Eventually Returning to Them and Having Compassion on Them Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period, Prepare to Meet Your God! . Moses did, and God told him to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. In the verses above, tzedeq is the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word righteousness (and its derivatives). Exile, Divorce from God, was the final punishment for a defiant Northern Kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim or Samaria). Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. . 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. Terms and Conditions, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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). Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness (Isa 1:17, 27). God gave the people specific instructions in order to be faithful to the Lord. They did not remember His power. David makes a. Home Posts Tagged "punishment of idol worship" 31 Jul . I am angry with them, and I will command Assyria to fight against them. They even feel a kind of invincibility. So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'". Therefore I was angry with that generation. Linking is encouraged, but content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed including, but not limited to such means as framing or other digital copying and/or distribution method, in whole or in part without the publisher's written consent. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Ezekiel 14:6Therefore say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Herein lies the main theme of the book of Ezekiel. We cannot have it both ways. "Earth" here represents all aspects of His creationincluding manwhich He created for man. Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel. Spiritually, this demand confirms Israel's whorish behavior, and thus God tells Samuel to describe the national effects of her demand. The book of Ezekiel is categorized with the writings of the major prophets. The Bible documents many periods where the Jews as a nation reverted back to Idolatry. We could not trust God if He did not hold to His promises of blessing and cursing (Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). and delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand. In Ezekiels vision of restoration at the end of times, the temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem as part of the restoration of Israel is marked by close ritual observance of the very same requirements which are outlined in Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus (See Ezekiel 42), and apparently being followed at the time Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah voiced Gods frustration with Israel. Amos, a Jew from the southern kingdom, was sent by God to preach against the sins of the northern ten tribes. You shall have no other gods before me." (See, for instance, Exodus 12:14; 13:13; 20:22-23:33; Exodus 34:11-26; Deuteronomy 12-26; Leviticus 17-26 as a start.) Only in, (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. Who Were the Major Prophets in the Bible? Yet, in my view, this does not seem to be the primary source of the problem either. 2. The L, wanted the people of Israel to show all of their neighbors the same deep fidelity and commitmentthat is to say, covenantal lovewhich they had received from the L. . 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). Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. Why A Belief Crisis Need Never Be Fatal To Faith. Using the hints provided, put a T next to the sentences that are true and an F next to the ones that are false. God punished them to bring them to conversion, but in vain. "You shall have no other gods before me. Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? After all of these miracles were done, including the ten plagues on the Egyptians, the Israelites came out of Egypt with a renewed belief in the God of their fathers. "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 8:11). 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. Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions Israel's sin was first neglecting and then departing from God and the relationship. He will show them mercy because of the promises He made, not because they deserve it. Faith Community Church3755 Washington Boulevard, Suite 201Fremont, CA 94538(408) 721-4900info@fccbay.org. A PUNISHMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR SIN. This appears as early as Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve reject God's rule over them. First, Israel and Judah will have perfect leadership: Jesus Christ will be King, and David will be His prince (Ezekiel 37:24-25; Jeremiah 23:3-7; Hosea 3:5; Micah 2:12-13). . As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. Then, God allowed their enemies to gain power over them. Around 1615, he dedicated his life to serving the poor. Fortunately, in the same way that Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were direct with Israel when it came to expressing the LORDs displeasure, these four prophets were similarly direct with Israel when it came to stating what Israel needed to do differently. 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!) 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, . In fact, the term hesed is often used to express how God feels about Israel (for example, hesed is used throughout the Psalms to describe Gods feelings of affection for and commitment to Israel). As part of their recognition that God owned everything, the Israelites were to set apart the seventh day for the Lord. When they came back 40 days later, 10 of the 12 scouts said that the Israelites were not strong enough to take the land from the inhabitants. Once God reveals Himself through His calling, the issue of government comes to the fore. 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. Idolatry Punishment of Exclusion from heaven. To whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. Given the centrality of these ideas in the Hebrew Bible, it is worth briefly exploring what these terms mean. Most of prophecy begins negatively but ends positively because God is confident that what He prophesied will accomplish His end, which is always good! Oracles against foreign countries' rulers. If He allowed Israel and Judah to sin with impunity, His laws would have no authority, and His words would be of no consequence. During that period, Israel's sins continued to mount horribly. Israel and Judah will have the Promised Land, they will have peacebecause this time their enemies will be completely destroyed, which Israel failed to do the first timeand they will have prosperity. This is the responsibility of those who have made a covenant with Him, whether the Old or the New Covenant. Then God responded in Habakkuk 1:4-11 by telling the prophet that He was bringing a nation to conquer and destroy many Israelites because of their sin. But over hundreds of years Israel repeatedly broke the covenant and the penalties eventually kicked-in. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. Oddly enough, about 3,000 were buried around on the Western side of Mount Sinai (Jebel al Lawz) in Arabia. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel was theson of Buzi and member of a priestly family. Is that so? In carrying out judgment on Ahab, God commissioned Jehu to destroy Ahab, the king of Israel, and his family. This ties what Amos would say to correct them to their responsibilities within that close relationship. The people may have felt like they were worshiping God through the required performances. "Gods," then, have a certain authority and claim over men, which men acknowledge by their worship and service. Themes in Ezekiel. To help Moses prove the existence and power of God, he was given a number of miraculous signs to help the Israelites believe. The punishment of Israel had not ended even in Christ's time, more than 700 years after Israel's fall. Facts about King Saul. In Judges 3, we read: So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites . Corrupt or ambivalent leadership will no longer lead Israel astray; instead, the leaders will set the example of righteousness for the people to follow. He sets out two things that construct a basis for what he says. So why did God choose Israel? Punishment For Idolatry Leviticus 26:1ESV / 11 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful "You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lordyour God. Today's Western culturea product of the nations of Israelis not so very different from Sodom and Gomorrah. . Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness (, But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream (, For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (, He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (, 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. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people believed that they were doing things properly. How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! What follows is a general pattern of God's operation in His people's behalf. (See, for instance, Exodus 12:14; 13:13; 20:22-23:33; Exodus 34:11-26; Deuteronomy 12-26; Leviticus 17-26 as a start.) Judah Didn't Learn from Israel's Punishment In Jeremiah 3:6-10 we see that Judah did not learn from Israel's sin and subsequent punishment. (When the act of worship becomes more important than the purpose of worship, what I have previously called ecclesiolatry, we stray into potential idol worship, a practice many Hebrew Bible prophets condemn.) The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. He has not forgotten His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but He will correct their descendants so that He can eventually save His people and give them the promises. In Psalm 78:10-11, 40-42, 56-57, the psalmist mentions that Ephraim (meaning Israel at large). This is the first and great commandment. The Northern 10 Tribes of Israel have disappeared, never to return. God appointed him to this task and "caused" him to speak. 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993, God punishes the Israelites for their sinfulness. 30 Dec . Understanding what mishpat, tzedeq, and hesed suggest put us in a better place to understand the remarkable prophetic guidance of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Or, as another example, if a member of the community had to sell their familys land or becomes subject to debt bondage a person who exercises mishpat will redeem the property that had been sold or free Israelites from their debt bondage. Israelites provoked God with sin, and the Creator promised to m. Continue reading. Where justice is protecting the weakest members of society from exploitation (defending them), righteousness is taking steps to help those who need it (uplifting them). Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. . All of these occur as punishments for sin as God exacts His vengeance on "those who destroy the earth" (Revelation 11:18). And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. connotes a social obligation. 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. 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. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" A number of latter-day prophecies of various peoplesthe Edomites, for exampleforetell that God will make a complete end of them (Jeremiah 46:28). After all, the messages were not for them but for others because they considered themselves to be okay. Every indication is that we live during that time now. So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8). In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. Near the end of this time, the Israelites were getting worn out from the journey. Mr. Seiglie was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the United States when he was a child. This phrase indicates a very close bond, as in a marriage, from which ensues the sharing of life's experiences. Has anything else become a god to me?". If we do not keep it, God must correct us. DISINFECT COVID-19; OUR SYSTEM; GET FREE QUOTE; 888-584-6999; Then, the Lord heard and sent a judge to rescue them. American influence has since exceeded even that of Britain, making English the universal language of business and politics. Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. Zavada, Jack. While it was certainly not perfect in every respect, Israel seems to have been keeping Sabbath, practicing temple rituals, including sacrifices, and holding many of the appropriate festivals. 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. . 18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. And, apparently, Israel. That is to say, righteousness is an inward. 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.". But when the punishment is done, He will bring His people back to the land that He promised them and give them rest and peace. Says, 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. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. 1. What the Bible says about Israel's Punishment Moses obeyed God, and, just as God had promised, those who were bitten and gazed upon the bronze serpent recovered. . What the Bible says about Despite this, they became very wealthy and self-indulgent, even oppressively so. 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. Judges 1 tells of many battles that were fought by the tribes of Israel after Joshua's death. God would be unfaithful to His own promises if He annihilated Jacob's descendantseven though, by all accounts, it is exactly what they deserve. Chapter 1: "Amos" (v. 1). Amos was a godly layman (i.e., with no formal ministry training or position) who earned his living as a shepherd and a grower of sycamore figs (7:14). ___ Aaron and his sons were consecrated as Gods priests. Revelation 21:8ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful 2. In those from the north, there would be a natural resistance to such an arrangement. . (The Book of Amos) (Part Two), Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. Ezekiel's writings indicate that he was familiar with the duties and regulations of the priests regarding sacrifices and rituals. After some time, the Israelites thought that Moses had left them. (From Forerunner Commentary). 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. . In the verses above, righteousness points to ensuring that those who are on the margins of society are given what they need to prosper and flourish. . To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? July 31, 2022 ; By James Taiwo; . The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). As used by Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. It had its origin, not in their necessities, but m their vile affections, their own unsubdued, carnal minds. Moses was gone less than 40 days when the Israelites fashioned a calf of molded gold to substitute for the invisible Creator God. The book of Ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the Bible, a vision of God raising an army of dead men's bones from their graves and bringing them back to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Idolatry is among the most serious sins in Judaism and its rejection is core to the Jewish worldview. He will uproot Israel from this good land which He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the [Euphrates] River, because they have made their wooden images, provoking the LORD to anger. Israel exhibited again and again its refusal to obey God. The Chronicler writes: and they had feared other gods, and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel. God would now destroy Israel as a political power, saying, in effect, "enough is enough." John W. Ritenbaugh The phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" occurs about 60 times in the book. And when we fully embrace the reality that the covenants we make at baptism and in the temple cannot be kept without walking out of the baptismal font and outside of the temple and into a relationship with those who surround us in this earthly existencethat is to say when we fully embrace the recognition that covenants with God are inherently covenants with each otherwe will finally be able to follow the guidance that these 8th Century BCE prophets gave to Israel anciently and which still resonate for us today. Zavada, Jack. God told them to "get rid of them idola. People in high places are claiming we all worship the same God; they say the God of Islam and the God of Christianity are the same! Instead, he is to be thoroughly familiar with and guided by the attitudes and laws of God. Deut. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. Introduction to the Book of Job and Its Themes, Major and Minor Prophetic Books of the Bible, 13 Articles of Faith: Simple Overview of What Mormons Believe, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University, Ezekiel's name means "God strengthens" or "may God strengthen. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. God responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. They were still "lost" in His day, not having returned to Canaan. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets" (Isaiah 10:5-6). Nadab and Abihu did not abide by God's commandments for worship, but did as they saw fit (Leviticus 10). Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period. keeping the commandments. 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. In this sense, the modern-day usage (perhaps especially in the Latter-day Saint community) of mercy is that it is the opposite of justice. If justice is getting what you deserve, then mercy is getting what you do not deserve. (The Book of Amos) (Part One). Atonement The next day Moses again told the people that they had gravely sinned against Gd, and that he would now go to pray for atonement. His utterances are not his own words; they began with God, who sent them because the close relationship is seriously threatened. Indeed, God forecasts that exactly those conditions will face those living just before Christ's return (Matthew 24:37). The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time. In about AD 31, Christ says He was "not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so.