However, while all of this might be true, hypocrisy does not seem to be the core problem that resulted in such strong language from Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. They have been flippantly careless and have no one to blame but themselves. His contemporary was the prophetJeremiah. Yet, in my view, this does not seem to be the primary source of the problem either. 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel. 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. (NIV), Prophesies about doom and destruction (1:1 - 24:27), Prophesies condemning foreign nations (25:1 - 32:32), Prophesies of hope and restoration of Israel (33:1 - 48:35), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. God makes it clear that He has given the command to destroy them. "Therefore, behold, I wilt open the side of Mesh from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers." Tour Start here for a quick overview of the site Help Center Detailed answers to any questions you might have Meta Discuss the workings and policies of this site About Us Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Who Were the Major Prophets in the Bible? 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. When these are considered, we see that he is truly a prophet for our time, when public morality has fallen so low. This is what we confront in decision-making. So Moses and his brother, Aaron, asked God what to do. That is to say: Israel. At least one answer is easily pushed aside. that Israel was commanded to love and worship the L, to keep the Sinai teaching in their respective hearts, and that did not always happen. After Satans Temptations, What Do You Do? We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. Saul started off well and the people loved him. He founded the Confraternity of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and, with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity. Though, does a great deal to reach out and help those around us, there are always ways to improvesomething encouraged by, . Every organization must have a leader, so God lays down instructions as to how the leader should conduct himself in office. Much later, Amos warned Israel, "Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth" (Amos 9:8). God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. If you mean "How did God punish Solomon for having many wives and allowing worship of other gods in Israel " then this is the answer. That day, the seventeenth day of Tammuz, three thousand men of the children of Israel lost their lives, in punishment for their idolatry. What is the meaning of john 8: 12? 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. . 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. The measure for measure punishment for this was that there would now be an intermediary Angel guiding them instead of their being under direct guidance from God Himself. Yes, it was certainly the case that Israel was commanded to love and worship the LORD and to keep the Sinai teaching in their respective hearts, and that did not always happen. The term also occurs in, Some references in Ezekiel have striking similarities to the prophetic. 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. After all, the messages were not for them but for others because they considered themselves to be okay. He will show them mercy because of the promises He made, not because they deserve it. While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites chose to make an idol for themselves and worship it even after hearing the ten commandments from God, seeing His power. David C. Grabbe Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? 16 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. and delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand. II. . 2. What the Bible says about Like mishpat, tzedeq 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. He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. John W. Ritenbaugh Thus, the problem Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah point to is not in regard to the revealed pattern of worship. (From Forerunner Commentary). These nations may look fine on the outside, but the cancer has spread from head to toe, and they have only so long before the disease proves fatal (Isaiah 1:5-6). The overall effect of these sins produced a careless disregard for the simple duties people owe their neighbors, as well as oppression of the weak. We should never forget that God's punishment falls upon Israel because of disobedience, rebellion, and sin. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. However, the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God's conditional promises to them. Wealth is being funneled into the hands of the few, and the poor and weak keep becoming poorer and weaker. In addition to mercy, hesed is also translated in the King James Version variously as kindness, goodness, favor, and lovingkindness. Unfortunately, as President Nelson notes, even these translations do not adequately reflect the power of the word hesed. Given the centrality of these ideas in the Hebrew Bible, it is worth briefly exploring what these terms mean. They will also be blessed numerically, as the remnant begins to multiply. As a punishment for their sinfulness, God sent poisonous seraph serpents to bite the people, and many of them died. 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). . This ties what Amos would say to correct them to their responsibilities within that close relationship. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. July 2, 2022 . According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. On Israel's part, it is a complete rejection of her marriage vows; she wants her Benefactor and HusbandGodto have no say in her life, declaring herself free of Him and to be completely and totally a nation of this world, no longer the type of God's Kingdom on earth. Even after they entered the 'promised' land, as individuals and as a nation the Jews turned back to idolatry. The Israelites failed because they would not put their complete trust in their one true God. And the reason that they were exiled was due to their sin. Israel's Punishment, Searching for Israel (Part Eight): The Scattering of Ten-Tribed Israel, Prepare to Meet Your God! However, the tribe of Judah was hardly better than Israel, as II Kings 17:19 states: "Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made." Our great privilege is to have access to Him and His Spirit, and therefore have a far closer relationship with Him than Israel ever had under the Old Covenant. God is managing it, governing it. 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. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32? 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. Oracles against foreign countries' rulers. Its what happens to people when they do something wrong; justice is served could be a superheros catchphrase when she nabs the bad guy. Exile, Divorce from God, was the final punishment for a defiant Northern Kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim or Samaria). The Israelites were given the unpleasant task of carrying out the Lord's judgment against the Canaanites.The Israelites waged war against the Canaanites because the Lord commanded them to. Malachi 2:14. Even after all of the warnings from the Prophets, after receiving curse upon curse, Israel would NOT turn . 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. Like. We see similar language in the book of Amos. 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. And then verse 55, it says, but it didn't bring about fruit. The most explicit is that Moses and the Levites kill about 3,000 men: "kill each man his brother, each man his neighbor, and each man his relative.". Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" What the LORD desired and required of Israelthe things that the LORD also wanted Israel to dowas to protect and bless the people in their community. Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. They began to worship the golden calf, and they . In Latter-day Saint vernacular, the term that comes closest to expressing this ideal is probably charity. 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 our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. Look at the cause or spring of Israel's sin. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Moses obeyed God, and, just as God had promised, those who were bitten and gazed upon the bronze serpent recovered. The prophet Ezekiel was born around 622BCand preached for about 22 years. Afterward, however, the sense of being innocent victims of a sneaky and undeserved attack made the hearers feel that the messages were demeaning and insulting. As early as the days of the founder of the Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam I, God understood the direction Israel was taking. . They were still "lost" in His day, not having returned to Canaan. In those from the north, there would be a natural resistance to such an arrangement. 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. God will remember His covenant because He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). It is clear from Genesis 17:6 and Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that God anticipated Israel having a king or judge. GOD SEEKS REPENTANCE OR PUNISH ISRAELITES - Amos. Israel had already deviated from faithfulness, but here, she formally rejects God as her Ruler, taking a major step toward being exactly like all the nations around her. The Israelites were sinking into the worship of other gods. After escaping his captors, he returned to France and worked in a parish outside of Paris. Further, God has been systematically removed from schools, from government, and from public life. 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. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. 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). To violate the Sabbath day was a serious sin because it denied God's sovereignty. Answer (1 of 4): If my memory serves me correctlyof the approx 2M Israelites, only about 3,000 odd participated is some sort of a drunken orgy fest. Reflecting on the history of the British Commonwealth and America in the last two hundred years, we see two nations quickly rising to prominence along with unparalleled accomplishments. Amos is declaring that God is involved in His creation; He has not gone way off. 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!) He must comprehensively know that his own nature is just like those he serves and be humbled. Several hundred years after this, God inspired Isaiah to write, "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. We cannot have it both ways. 1. Facts about King Saul. 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. 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. The reason Moses became so concerned about the Israelites is that they have heard the Word. But God was not pleased with what Moses had done. Prophecy is both practical and positive, not all gloom and doom. That specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices were central parts of its covenant with YHWH was beyond doubt. The patriarchs were, as God attests again and again, faithful. "Earth" here represents all aspects of His creationincluding manwhich He created for man. To help Moses prove the existence and power of God, he was given a number of miraculous signs to help the Israelites believe. Amos speaks strongly against public and private indifference toward the keeping of the second of the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). In the verses above, tzedeq is the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word righteousness (and its derivatives). 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 8th century BCE prophets Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah meant when they used that word. (When the act of worship becomes more important than the purpose of worship, what I have previously called, , we stray into potential idol worship, a practice many Hebrew Bible prophets condemn.) How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! When God rejected Saul, it is swift and decisive. In the New Testament, Paul declared of those who tried to make representations of God: "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible manand birds and four-footed animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). Read Chapter All Versions. We see similar language in the book of Amos. ] For instance, during some sort of civil dispute, a person who exercises, will take the side of widows or orphans and defend them against those who are more powerful. So, in Jeremiah 2:14-19 God details the devastating price that Israel will pay . Tzedeq is often the companion virtue to mishpat. 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. 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. (2021, December 6). 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). (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.) Second: Lions do not roar unless they have taken their prey because they do not want to scare their intended prey away. 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). Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micha all make clear that, despite Israels apparent devotion to the sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices which were central parts of its covenant with YHWH, God is displeased with Israel. 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. All who had been bitten would be healed if they gazed upon the bronze serpent, God said. They have made a gold idol to be their god. 40:2; Ezek. A PUNISHMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR SIN. Faith Community Church3755 Washington Boulevard, Suite 201Fremont, CA 94538(408) 721-4900info@fccbay.org. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. As used by Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Zavada, Jack. Their rise or fall is largely dependent upon His purpose for them and their significance in prophecy (e.g. Prophet after prophet challenged Israel even as Israel apparently kept the laws and ordinances it was given. 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. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. It is our part of the deala small part really but a difficult one that must be kept (Matthew 7:13-14). Much negative, indeed inflammatory commentary, arose in America's newspapers and radio and television programs when some suggested that we are not as innocent as we like to think we are and that we must consider the attacks of September 11 to be a judgment from God and repent. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. Ezek 4:1-3 "You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. What Can You Do Better? 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. 13-71shemot.doc. Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). Idolatry is among the most serious sins in Judaism and its rejection is core to the Jewish worldview. That the LORD is displeased with Israels adherence to the requirements of (what Latter-day Saints call) the Mosaic Law because the Mosaic Law is itself displeasing. However, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were talking about something different when they used this word. This in turn produced great moral corruption through self-serving idolatry, illustrated as and called "fornication" in other books. It is no accident that God and Israel have this relationship. Chapter 1: "Amos" (v. 1). That's just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of Israel and the idolatrous nations around it. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. Oddly enough, about 3,000 were buried around on the Western side of Mount Sinai (Jebel al Lawz) in Arabia. We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you, they said. However, just like the words mishpat and tzedeq, this modern-day usage is not necessarily what Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were expressing in the 8th Century BCE. Many of us do not get it! Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. They are designed to ensure that the king does not elevate himself above the people and rule as a despot. We've seen in Jeremiah chapter 2 that in spite of some good times in the past between the Lord and Israel, Israel rejected and forsook the Lord and attempted to exchange the living and real God for idols. (The Book of Amos) (Part Two), Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. (Amos 9:13-15). Israel's Punishment Even Jerusalemthe "Holy City"has an annual "Gay Pride" parade, and is essentially secular. They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). The people may have felt like they were worshiping God through the required performances. But I will go back to the Lord to see if I can do something to keep this sin from being held against you.". Similarly, the first six chapters of the Book of Ezrawhich chronicle Israels return from exile to the promised landare focused on the re-establishing of the sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices that served as markers of Israels faithfulness to God. Books may be ordered directly from the author. And what was that? . Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. Only in Amos (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. July 31, 2022 ; By James Taiwo; . Your sins brought this warning, and punishment will follow if you continue sinning.". 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. Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers. However, Ezekiel makes it clear that this cannot be the case. This means, "Take heed! The Chronicler writes: However, the people began to partake in . Aaron also knows which god the Israelites intended the calf to represent: "Tomorrow shall be a festival of YHWH!," ( - ) he proclaims (32:5). He sets out two things that construct a basis for what he says. John W. Ritenbaugh This illustration is declaring a cause-and-effect relationship, meaning, "Israel, you are already in the trap, and you, through your conduct, are just about to spring it shut on yourself. Despite its frightening oracles, Ezekiel concludes with a message of hope and restoration for God's people. ", More than 90 times, God calls Ezekiel "son of Man," a term used to highlight the prophet's humanity. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. Life will soon become a violent free-for-all (Ecclesiastes 8:11). "You shall have no other gods before me. tested Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. 2. 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). The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? Israel had better heed because his words are not idle. If God does not punish for sin, then righteousness loses all meaning. In addition to the undisputed fact of God's sovereignty over Israel, ample additional evidence exists to show that He exercises equal dominion over the other nations of the world. His holiness and righteousness required this punishment. . Once God reveals Himself through His calling, the issue of government comes to the fore. God tacks it onto his upcoming deeds to explain the reason for the action. keeping the commandments. He began priestly formation in 1595 and was ordained in 1600. ", Because of their sins, as II Kings 17:18-20 indicates, God. 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. It is God's authority and. As Numbers 14:20-23 says: Then the Lord said: "I have pardoned, according to your word, but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord because all these men who . This also applies on a smaller but more immediate scale: Amos has been sent by appointment, and he does not speak promiscuously. And Isaiah was not alone in portraying Gods displeasure with Israels worship. (Dt 31:7-8). Amos warns ancient Israel and her modern descendants, however, that no nation is so great that it can stand without God. In their own minds, they had reduced God to something they could control and call upon when convenient. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions 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. the weightier matters of the Sinaic teachings. A number of latter-day prophecies of various peoplesthe Edomites, for exampleforetell that God will make a complete end of them (Jeremiah 46:28). David makes a. 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. As part of their recognition that God owned everything, the Israelites were to set apart the seventh day for the Lord. Download PDF. Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. DISINFECT COVID-19; OUR SYSTEM; GET FREE QUOTE; 888-584-6999; Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance.