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. In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'". And yet, multiple prophets challenged Israels adherence to the very laws and ordinances that were part of this prophetically-given covenant guide. If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. The Assyrian kings Pul and Shalmaneser V invaded Israel, and about 722 BC the latter "captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. It is our part of the deala small part really but a difficult one that must be kept (Matthew 7:13-14). Psalm 99:8-9 reminds us that our holy God forgives! The prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 32:30, quotes God's scathing indictment of the people of both Kingdoms: "[T]he children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil before Me from their youth. i am the light of the world. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. He began priestly formation in 1595 and was ordained in 1600. Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. We see similar language in the book of Amos. ] And, apparently, Israel. "Earth" here represents all aspects of His creationincluding manwhich He created for man. ", More than 90 times, God calls Ezekiel "son of Man," a term used to highlight the prophet's humanity. The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. 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. The reason Moses became so concerned about the Israelites is that they have heard the Word. They did not remember His power. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. But the Israelites did not kill the enemy, or even drive them out of the land. What was God's punishment to the Israelites? Then, the Lord heard and sent a judge to rescue them. 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. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. 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. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. According to the Bible, the commandment was originally given to the ancient Israelites by the Lord after they had escaped from slavery in Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus. 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). 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. The book of Ezekiel is about idolatry. However, the people began to partake in . It is clear from Genesis 17:6 and Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that God anticipated Israel having a king or judge. After escaping his captors, he returned to France and worked in a parish outside of Paris. Mr. Seiglie was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the United States when he was a child. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Has anything else become a god to me?". What is the punishment for idolatry? The strength of this claim over men is seen by the price which men are willing to pay in order to worship their gods. 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. Such power and influence have made both nations feel they have an unlimited reservoir of natural ability and wealth. Given the centrality of these ideas in the Hebrew Bible, it is worth briefly exploring what these terms mean. All through the bible God gave his own people over,into the hands of their enemies and into bondage,for their sins.Judah went into captivty in babylon for 70 years.The Northern Kingdom of israel was carried off by the Assyerians.God is about to give his people over,into the hands of their enemies again and into bondage.Nazi Germany 2 is Amos speaks strongly against public and private indifference toward the keeping of the second of the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). . . Books cost $37, plus $6 shipping - total $43. Spiritually, this demand confirms Israel's whorish behavior, and thus God tells Samuel to describe the national effects of her demand. However, Ezekiel makes it clear that this cannot be the case. Also, every seventh year the land was to lie fallow (Lev. . Ezekiel 36 shows this clearly. ___ God led the Israelites across the Sea of Galilee. 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. John W. Ritenbaugh The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). When they returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, they never turned away from the True God again. God will destroy the nations to which Israel and Judah are scattered, and He will correct Israel and Judah in measure, as verse 11 says. the weightier matters of the Sinaic teachings. I have heard some suggest that there is something wrong (or lacking) in the teachings that God gave at Sinai. Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. 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. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6). Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. Thousands of academic, scientific, and engineering breakthroughs and inventions have sprung from British and American individuals, discoveries which greatly affected the rest of this world. 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. Make a god for us!'. KING JEHU KILLED IDOL WORSHIPERS - 2 Kings. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. Aaron also knows which god the Israelites intended the calf to represent: "Tomorrow shall be a festival of YHWH!," ( - ) he proclaims (32:5). The Bible makes it clear that human nature is violently evil, and when left unchecked as it was before the Flood, it will reproduce similar conditions (Genesis 6:5). but He also punishes the evil. 2 Bible Summary (Numbers 10-36) Departure from Sinai (10) The fire and the quail (11) Miriam's rebellion and leprosy (12) Spying out Canaan -rebellion upon report of spies (13) Moses was gone less than 40 days when the Israelites fashioned a calf of molded gold to substitute for the invisible Creator God. 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). Prophecy is both practical and positive, not all gloom and doom. Second, he makes a veiled warning, contained within the next five verses: Amos' words carry authority. Covenants with God are inherently covenants with each other.The Hebrew word translated into the English mercy in the verses above is heseda word that President Russell Nelson highlighted in his recent Liahona address (which itself felt like an extension of his recent conference talk). Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. But if we keep our part of the agreement, we will reap the benefits that flow with God keeping His. So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? 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. Israel had better heed because his words are not idle. 40:2; Ezek. God Eventually Returning to Them and Having Compassion on Them "You shall have no other gods before me. Angels do not punish in the Bible except under God's command because it is God who can punish. Ezekiel packed his belongings as if heading on a journey. Yet, we can also see God's mercy in His dealings with His people. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. As used by Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah, tzedeq 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. God told them to "get rid of them idola. He must comprehensively know that his own nature is just like those he serves and be humbled. Sinai made them feel insecure. But over hundreds of years Israel repeatedly broke the covenant and the penalties eventually kicked-in. 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. Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. 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. 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. Observe next the occasion of Israel's sin. This led to much suffering, as in the holocaust. Brigham Young called upon modern Saints to examine their own hearts in this regard: If He allowed Israel and Judah to sin with impunity, His laws would have no authority, and His words would be of no consequence. Says Micah: Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? God responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. Every organization must have a leader, so God lays down instructions as to how the leader should conduct himself in office. (2021, December 6). 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. . 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. Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. 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). The LORD 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 LORD. 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. . They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). There are 3 different punishments stated for the sin of the Golden Calf, two of which are ambiguous in nature. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). 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). God had Moses send out 12 scouts to check out the land. 2. They were behaving and worshipping like Baal worshippers but doing it in the name of the Lord. 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. 1. Far less known are the ten times the released Israelites put God to the test in the days following their exodus. Such punishment precipitated Israel being scattered, taken into captivity into foreign lands, and losing their homeland, to which they have never returned. God made the Sabbath principle central to his creation. Why A Belief Crisis Need Never Be Fatal To Faith. In carrying out judgment on Ahab, God commissioned Jehu to destroy Ahab, the king of Israel, and his family. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions 31 Moses returned to the Lord and said, "The people have committed a terrible sin. Further, God has been systematically removed from schools, from government, and from public life. He is just, because He does not allow their sin to go unpunished. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. (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.) God gave the people specific instructions in order to be faithful to the Lord. 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. We can infer that Amos did not choose to be there before them. However, He has chosen not to do this with Israel and Judah, though not because they are righteous in any way. Does that not sound familiar to an informed observer of our modern, American scene? whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."pleas help me guys i will report this tommorow ", Third: One cannot snare a bird unless a trap is set, and then somethingin this case a birdhas to cause the trap to spring shut. 2. God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. Ezekiel lived during the time of the Babylonian exile. Rather, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah suggest that Israel needed to do a better job practicing what Jesus would call (eight centuries later!) 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). Moses then struck the rock twice with his staff, and a huge amount of water began to flow. 44:29 ), and God did so in judging his son on behalf of his people. Mercy is used to describe the act of helping those whose behavior might not otherwise justify such magnanimity. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. 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. 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. Books may be ordered directly from the author. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Only in Amos (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. 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). 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. (The Book of Amos) (Part Two), Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. He shaved his beard and head and used the hair as traditional symbols of humiliation. Saith the LORD. This question, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah, put Israel in an uncomfortable position. 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. strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water. 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. What the Bible says about The phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" occurs about 60 times in the book. All rights reserved. Exodus 20:2-6 ESV / 899 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 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. In their own minds, they had reduced God to something they could control and call upon when convenient. This over-the-top zealousness is not only insufficient but is, itself, a source of Gods disapproval. American influence has since exceeded even that of Britain, making English the universal language of business and politics. 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. 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). 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, "The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are blunted"? 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. Prepare to Meet Your God! Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance. Moses had a pretty tough job. 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. This can only mean that God inspires and empowers the Assyrian nation to punish the nations of Israel for their flagrant disobediences. 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. When his wife died, he was told not to mourn her. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. 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. And what was that? Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. Someone is righteous when they follow the prophet and keep the commandments; these actions indicate their inward commitment. Much of the thrust of Amos is an education for catastrophe. Mishpat, 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. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. We could not trust God if He did not hold to His promises of blessing and cursing (Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). naturalizer vera silver. 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. Forms of the situation described here appear frequently in the history of Israel's relationship with God. They were still "lost" in His day, not having returned to Canaan. They have made a gold idol to be their god. 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. It wasnt just apathy or failure to perform religious ceremonies for which ancient Israel faced Gods judgments. "The great house" refers to the noble or wealthy family in society, and these "big names" will certainly be destroyed along with the common folk. Terms and Conditions, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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." 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. Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, the southern kingdom, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. Because God is holy and righteous, what He proclaimed to do against the heathen in the first chapter of Amos, He will also do to Israela people who had forsaken their covenant with Him. Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. 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. God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. David makes a. According to the Bible, the worship of these gods was often promoted by kings and members of the royal court. 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 delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand. Israel had been exiled by the Babylonians for a while at the time that Jeremiah was ministering. 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). . We need to set the record straight. The punishment for David's sin: "The Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from that morning until the appointed time; and seventy thousand of the people died" (2 Samuel 24:15). His laws, which define His standards of morality, have not changed one iota. 3. 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. So, they have no excuse they can use for worshiping idols. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. 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. God would now destroy Israel as a political power, saying, in effect, "enough is enough." God told Moses to take his staff and assemble the people. Moses had a pretty tough job. Its what happens to people when they do something wrong; justice is served could be a superheros catchphrase when she nabs the bad guy. (Amos 9:13-15). Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? 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. . Who Were the Major Prophets in the Bible? 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. So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you, they said. It was this underlying fear of a direct relationship with God that was responsible for the terrible course of events that culminated in the Golden Calf. The problem, according to these prophets, seems to be that Israel had failed to recognize that being Gods people required more than adherence to specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices. (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.) But God certainly knew about them. Because He does not want His name to be profaned in any way, He is very concerned about those who bear it (Exodus 20:7). The sin of worshipping another god is called idolatry. But though God punishes, there is always the hope of repentance and restitution: "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. God punished Israel for its disobedience by deferring the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. He sets out two things that construct a basis for what he says. (The Book of Amos) (Part Two). 2:8-9) and judgment upon those who don't ( John 3:18 ). Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period, Prepare to Meet Your God! God's Glory Fills the Tabernacle (Exodus 33:134:35; 40:138), God Tells Israel Where to Worship (Exodus 25:1-27:21; 30:1-10, 17-21), Faith Community Church, 3755 Washington Blvd, Suite 201, Fremont, CA 94538, God Punishes Israel's Idolatry (Exodus 32:1-35). Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation?
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