Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). It is God's authority and. Oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. ", Because of their sins, as II Kings 17:18-20 indicates, God. His aim is to awaken them from their spiritual lethargy. 9:1-2). The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Your sins brought this warning, and punishment will follow if you continue sinning.". 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 rich and powerful will not be able to escape the dreadful punishment God promises. Amos frames it this way: I [the LORD] hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 6 I will send Assyria to fight against the people who do evil. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. 5 March 2019. . Although God did not allow Moses to cross into the land, in Deuteronomy 34 we read that he had Moses climb Mount Nebo so he could see the land before he died. 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? Shepherds who will protect and restore Israel. It was also what they failed to do for each other. On several occasions God punished the Jews in the wilderness for their disobedience. After articulating all the things that the LORD had done for Israel from Egypt onward, Micah asks Israel a series of stinging rhetorical questions that serve to undermine Israels approach to worship. Although Moses was given consequences for his sinful actions, he still loved and obeyed God. Just listen, you rebels! Moses angrily said to the people. Read Chapter All Versions. 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. The Consequences of Israel's Disobedience Many of us do not get it! but He also punishes the evil. 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. (Ezekiel 36:22-24, 31-32). 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. . However, the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God's conditional promises to them. 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. The Bible documents many periods where the Jews as a nation reverted back to Idolatry. Hebrews 3:8-11 summarizes the matter: "In the day of trial in the wilderness, [the children of Israel] . 2. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people, doing things properly. Clearly, God judges the inhabitants of His creation, and His judgments are not limited to Israel or to "biblical times." First, "gods" are the object of man's worship and service. Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? Exile - the final punishment - Life in a Dying World Hesed is a love so deep it can always be trustedit is the type of love that is foundational to covenant relationships. One tribe after another made slaves out of the people. Around 1615, he dedicated his life to serving the poor. Amos followed Elijah about 90-100 years later. Saith the L, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah. He determines their rise and fall and the times of dominance of every nation. This led to much suffering, as in the holocaust. Israel exhibited again and again its refusal to obey God. Hesed expresses the notion of deep love characterized by loyalty and fidelity, which pours out of one to the other. In all of God's dealings with Israel and Judah, and especially regarding the Second Exodus, we see His perfect application of justice and mercy. Book of Ezekiel: Warning Against the Sin of Idolatry - Learn Religions You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. We can see this pattern in the murder on the streets, bloody crimes like rape and mutilation in our once peaceful towns, AIDS and other sexual diseases rampant among all sectors of society, as well as sexual deviancy, perverse music, self-indulgence, drugs, and alcohol abuse. The idolatry of the northern kingdom went on for nearly two centuries. They began to worship the golden calf, and they . Though, does a great deal to reach out and help those around us, there are always ways to improvesomething encouraged by, . Judges 1 tells of many battles that were fought by the tribes of Israel after Joshua's death. whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."pleas help me guys i will report this tommorow The first thing Amos needed to do, then, was establish his authority to preach against them. Copyright 2022 Faith Community Church. Yosef Eisen, a noted historian and lecturer, tells the miraculous story and history of an eternal nation. 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. This is the first and great commandment. (From Forerunner Commentary). 1. God responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. . 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 of their idolatry (11:8, 10b-11, 13-14, 17; 13:10b, 27) and their evil conduct (11:10a, 11, 15b-16, 19-23; 13:9), God had to punish Israel. Stay up to date on the intersection of faith in the public square. The Israelites' lack of faith while Moses was on Mt. 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. 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. Israel is God's prey, as it were, and He is not roaring yet. . Chapter 1: "Amos" (v. 1). What is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? 25:1-7). In modern-day usage, righteousness is often associated with personal piety. 3. John W. Ritenbaugh A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. 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." 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. The Northern 10 Tribes of Israel have disappeared, never to return. He founded the Confraternity of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and, with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity. is characterized by the idea of proactively caring for those who are disadvantaged or pursuing communal flourishing, even when it comes at the expense of self-interest. The book of Ezekiel is categorized with the writings of the major prophets. In fact, highlighting Israels penchant for a straying focus, a central hope in Jeremiahs view of restoration is that Israel will be given a new heart. All of that is correct. Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?. https://www.learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131 (accessed March 4, 2023). What Can You Do Better? God tacks it onto his upcoming deeds to explain the reason for the action. That is to say, righteousness is an inward. Even Jerusalemthe "Holy City"has an annual "Gay Pride" parade, and is essentially secular. 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. This over-the-top zealousness is not only insufficient but is, itself, a source of Gods disapproval. 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. That is to say: Israel understood itself as keeping the commandments. 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. 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. 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). And that kind of disobedience and idolatry has consequences. . Its what happens to people when they do something wrong; justice is served could be a superheros catchphrase when she nabs the bad guy. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. Aaron also knows which god the Israelites intended the calf to represent: "Tomorrow shall be a festival of YHWH!," ( - ) he proclaims (32:5). 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. of the Sinaic teachings. The book of Ezekiel is about idolatry. The central theme of the first half of the book of Shemot is the enslavement of the Jews in Egypt and their miraculous salvation by the hand of God. His laws, which define His standards of morality, have not changed one iota. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Wealth is being funneled into the hands of the few, and the poor and weak keep becoming poorer and weaker. Why wasnt Aaron punished for making the golden calf? Deut. That specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices were central parts of its covenant with YHWH was beyond doubt. 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. . (The Book of Amos) (Part One). It is no accident that God and Israel have this relationship. 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. Justice: If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive.
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