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). So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time. Although Moses was given consequences for his sinful actions, he still loved and obeyed God. He did as God asked and led the people to the Promised Land. Thus, the problem Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah point to is not in regard to the revealed pattern of worship. The people realized they were sinning and begged Moses to help them. Although God always forgave his people, he also gave them consequences for their sinful actions. The Old Testament is a chronicle of Israel's repeated failure to obey God, of its refusal to keep His commandments and statutes. What was God's punishment to the Israelites? 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. God lives and He always rules and judgesjust as surely today as He did thousands of years ago. Prophecy is both practical and positive, not all gloom and doom. Picking up where the question above leaves off, ] 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. Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? Herein lies the main theme of the book of Ezekiel. . 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. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131. God said to speak to a rock and water would flow out of it. Revelation 21:8ESV / 10 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful Moses obeyed God, and, just as God had promised, those who were bitten and gazed upon the bronze serpent recovered. The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Download PDF. M. David Huston lives and works in the Washington DC metro area. They began to worship the golden calf, and they . (The Book of Amos) (Part One). 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 Bible prophesies scores of horrific punishments: epidemics of incurable diseases; wars; fires burning fields, forests, and homes; earthquakes; famines; floods from raging seas; violent weather patterns; and infestations of insects and wild animals. Searching for Israel (Part Eight): The Scattering of Ten-Tribed Israel. God responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. Here in Ezra, we see that this 70 year period had elapsed, as Daniel had also anticipated (Dan. Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). Further, God has been systematically removed from schools, from government, and from public life. So Moses and his brother, Aaron, asked God what to do. 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 frequently gloss over the truly important part of this as we read through it. . Make a god for us!'. In the Hebrew Bible, justice most often points to a social obligation to protect the weak and powerless from exploitation. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God. God is most certainly not to blame if He reacts in accordance with what He has told man He will do. (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.) At least one answer is easily pushed aside. When God rejected Saul, it is swift and decisive. Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. 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. 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 punished Israel for its disobedience by deferring the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. (NIV), Ezekiel 34:23-24I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 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. As the Bible has recorded in great detail, mankind has shown that it wants to retain this authority to itself. Hebrews 3:8-11 summarizes the matter: "In the day of trial in the wilderness, [the children of Israel] . ___ Caleb was chosen to lead the people into the Promised Land. 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. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. They have made a gold idol to be their god. ___ Moses sister, Miriam, was blind for seven days. Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers. In those from the north, there would be a natural resistance to such an arrangement. did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them. 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). Moses had a pretty tough job. The reason Moses became so concerned about the Israelites is that they have heard the Word. . Isaiah 10:5-7 Easy-to-Read Version God Will Punish Assyria's Pride 5 The Lord says, "I will use Assyria like a stick. The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? "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 Book of Amos) (Part Two). Amos frames it this way: I [the LORD] hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Oracles against foreign countries' rulers. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. https://www.learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131 (accessed March 4, 2023). 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. If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. 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. . I am angry with them, and I will command Assyria to fight against them. We see similar language in the book of Amos. ] Tzedeq is often the companion virtue to mishpat. Only in, (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. 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. This appears as early as Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve reject God's rule over them. 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. Why did God punish the Israelites for 40 years? 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. As a result, it has yet to enter into the peace, prosperity, and eternal possession of the land He promised the patriarchs. All rights reserved. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. 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. Malachi 2:14. God's punishment, though, is never an end in itself, nor does He punish in wild anger or frustration. The title is of little importance. That is to say, that in offering sacrifices or participating in festivals, Israel was not actually worshiping God but instead simply fulfilling outward requirements without any deeper covenantal connection. John W. Ritenbaugh 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. 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. It is as if he is saying, "Think about the practical ramifications of this." 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. So, they have no excuse they can use for worshiping idols. Moses had a pretty tough job. But this time the peace and prosperity will last, because two factors will be different. This is the first and great commandment. He shaved his beard and head and used the hair as traditional symbols of humiliation. He is a husband and father of four who has previously written for poetry, international affairs, and LDS-related publications. . The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? He will also destroy the works of our hand (Isaiah 1:15; 59:2-3; Psalms 28:5). Like. . The Sign. Hesed is a love so deep it can always be trustedit is the type of love that is foundational to covenant relationships. In Psalm 78:59-62, the psalmist Asaph relates that God, when He became aware of the idols of Israel. GOD SEEKS REPENTANCE OR PUNISH ISRAELITES - Amos. 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. His contemporary was the prophetJeremiah. . Another explanation for Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahs critique, which does not seem to fully capture what was taking place, is the notion that Israel was knowingly going through the motionsthey were guilty of willful hypocrisy. Has anything else become a god to me?". Only in Amos (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. Zavada, Jack. 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. What type of animal bit the Israelites? They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. This scathing condemnation concludes with the L, saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. Clearly, God judges the inhabitants of His creation, and His judgments are not limited to Israel or to "biblical times." Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. There are two basic reasons: God was fulfilling a promise to Abraham. Who Were the Major Prophets in the Bible? 44:29 ), and God did so in judging his son on behalf of his people. Home Posts Tagged "punishment of idol worship" 31 Jul . God would be unfaithful to His own promises if He annihilated Jacob's descendantseven though, by all accounts, it is exactly what they deserve. 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!) 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. 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. Stephen in the Bible Was the First Christian Martyr. God does not sin, men do. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? . 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. A number of other prophecies concerning the Second Exodus relate how God will bless the land, which will once again produce abundantly. However, the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God's conditional promises to them. So, in Jeremiah 2:14-19 God details the devastating price that Israel will pay . December 30, 2018 ; By James . Is that so? The British produced a great empire far out of proportion to their population, native wealth, and abilities. 32 But I beg you to . 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. 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. Righteous is sometimes synonymous with orthodox. In the Latter-day Saint community, righteousness may be associated with maintaining a current temple recommend and studying the scriptures, and praying regularly. 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. 2. its offerings and sacrifices, and calling its songs and music of praise noise that I will not hear.. That is to say, righteousness is an inward. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people, doing things properly. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. 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. First, the Israelites began to serve the false gods of the nations that they failed to remove from the land. 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). But if we keep our part of the agreement, we will reap the benefits that flow with God keeping His. 1996 daihatsu midget ii top speed donkey kong country 2 endings how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. But God certainly knew about them. And then verse 55, it says, but it didn't bring about fruit. Corresponding to the 40 days that the spies toured the land, God decreed that the Israelites would wander in the wilderness for 40 years as a result of their unwillingness to take the land .God brought victories where needed, and his promise to Abraham was . "Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel." Sinai made them feel insecure. In the verses above, is the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word righteousness (and its derivatives). Does that not sound familiar to an informed observer of our modern, American scene? 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 people would repent and ask Moses to pray to God for forgiveness, which God always granted. The prophet Ezekiel was born around 622BCand preached for about 22 years. Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Amos. John W. Ritenbaugh What happened to the Ark of the Covenant. 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. . i am the light of the world. 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 (, 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. In Judges 3, we read: So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites . The covenant people, Israel, had profaned His name by their conduct among the other nations. Israel is God's prey, as it were, and He is not roaring yet. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Chapter 1: "Amos" (v. 1). 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. God Knew Israel's True Thoughts He knew that idolatry reached farther than just having an object on the mantle. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Copyright 2022 Faith Community Church. In Latter-day Saint vernacular, the term that comes closest to expressing this ideal is probably. Many of us do not get it! Fifth: It is illogical to think that God would punish without first warning His people. He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. KING JEHU KILLED IDOL WORSHIPERS - 2 Kings. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. We see similar language in the book of Amos. 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. We are disgusted with this wretched food! they cried. 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. Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. 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. Email him at Email or write to Yosef Eisen, 2337 Sherbrook St., Pittsburgh PA, 15217. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? Christ's death is an eschatological event, offering life to those who trust him ( John 3:16; Eph. Ezekiel packed his belongings as if heading on a journey. Before, they just tuned them out. After some time, the Israelites thought that Moses had left them. 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. God remarks in II Kings 17:18, after providing a long list of Israel's sins, "Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.". He began priestly formation in 1595 and was ordained in 1600. 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. Brigham Young called upon modern Saints to examine their own hearts in this regard: Faith Community Church3755 Washington Boulevard, Suite 201Fremont, CA 94538(408) 721-4900info@fccbay.org. Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, the southern kingdom, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. He determines their rise and fall and the times of dominance of every nation. Having a king was not the real issue because God had already planned for Israel to have a king. St. Vincent de Paul was born in France in 1581. He establishes this through a series of illustrations posed as challenging questions that can logically be answered only one way. Saith the LORD. This question, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah, put Israel in an uncomfortable position. As used by Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.. However, the people began to partake in . Forms of the situation described here appear frequently in the history of Israel's relationship with God. Thousands of citizens of Israel, including Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, had been captured and taken to Babylonabout 597 BC. Terms and Conditions, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 1. God repeats several times that He is bringing Israel back for His name's sake, and not for Israel's sake: "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this [restoring Israel and blessing the land; verses 6-15] for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 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. However, Ezekiel makes it clear that this cannot be the case. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Stay up to date on the intersection of faith in the public square. "Therefore, behold, I wilt open the side of Mesh from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers." God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. The strength of this claim over men is seen by the price which men are willing to pay in order to worship their gods. 2 Kings, OLD TESTAMENT. Look at the cause or spring of Israel's sin. God Eventually Returning to Them and Having Compassion on Them The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. 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. Prepare to Meet Your God! It had its origin, not in their necessities, but m their vile affections, their own unsubdued, carnal minds. The prophet begins in the first two verses with a "thus saith the LORD," providing the foundation for all that follows. It is an aspect of His mercy. This over-the-top zealousness is not only insufficient but is, itself, a source of Gods disapproval.