Second, Israel and Judah will both make the New Covenant, meaning that they will be given the Holy Spirit, which will enable them to keep the law in its spiritual intent (Jeremiah 31:31-34). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period. God punished them to bring them to conversion, but in vain. In those from the north, there would be a natural resistance to such an arrangement. keeping the commandments. What the L, desired and required of Israelthe things that the L, wanted Israel to dowas to protect and bless the people in their community. 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. His contemporary was the prophetJeremiah. And, apparently, Israel. 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"? 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. God wanted Israel to serve as a model nation. They once again complained to Moses. And then verse 55, it says, but it didn't bring about fruit. 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. Even Jerusalemthe "Holy City"has an annual "Gay Pride" parade, and is essentially secular. What is the meaning of john 8: 12? On several occasions God punished the Jews in the wilderness for their disobedience. (When the act of worship becomes more important than the purpose of worship, what I have previously called ecclesiolatry, we stray into potential idol worship, a practice many Hebrew Bible prophets condemn.) 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. (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.) 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). Oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt. God's punishment, though, is never an end in itself, nor does He punish in wild anger or frustration. The Moabites had rejoiced in the overthrow and exile of the Jews, and they also should be overthrown and their land possessed by others. the . Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people believed that they were doing things properly. Its what happens to people when they do something wrong; justice is served could be a superheros catchphrase when she nabs the bad guy. God didn't. strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water. will redeem the property that had been sold or free Israelites from their debt bondage. His Spirit departed from Saul and a demon possessed Saul. The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). God makes it clear that He has given the command to destroy them. . God lives and He always rules and judgesjust as surely today as He did thousands of years ago. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions Since the people sinned by not trusting God, he made them wander the desert for 40 years before entering the land. Ezekiel packed his belongings as if heading on a journey. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. 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. Saith the LORD. This question, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah, put Israel in an uncomfortable position. Home Posts Tagged "punishment of idol worship" 31 Jul . . 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. He is a husband and father of four who has previously written for poetry, international affairs, and LDS-related publications. its offerings and sacrifices, and calling its songs and music of praise noise that I will not hear., The prophet Micah takes a different approach but delivers the same basic message as his prophetic contemporaries. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. Just listen, you rebels! Moses angrily said to the people. 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. You shall have no other gods before me." God's punishment, though, is never an end in itself, nor does He punish in wild anger or frustration. In Psalm 78:10-11, 40-42, 56-57, the psalmist mentions that Ephraim (meaning Israel at large). Stay up to date on the intersection of faith in the public square. After articulating all the things that the L, had done for Israel from Egypt onward, Micah asks Israel a series of stinging rhetorical questions that serve to undermine Israels approach to worship. (From Forerunner Commentary). Atonement The next day Moses again told the people that they had gravely sinned against Gd, and that he would now go to pray for atonement. His laws, which define His standards of morality, have not changed one iota. 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. The Old Testament is a chronicle of Israel's repeated failure to obey God, of its refusal to keep His commandments and statutes. Books cost $37, plus $6 shipping - total $43. In the Hebrew Bible, justice most often points to a social obligation to protect the weak and powerless from exploitation. 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). Every indication is that we live during that time now. However, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were talking about something different when they used this word. Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). That day, the seventeenth day of Tammuz, three thousand men of the children of Israel lost their lives, in punishment for their idolatry. This occurred between 1100 and 1000 BC or roughly 350 years after the original making of the covenant. Aaron said: 'Give me your gold.'. Zavada, Jack. 31 Moses returned to the Lord and said, "The people have committed a terrible sin. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. ___ Aaron and his sons were consecrated as Gods priests. Its what happens to people when they do something wrong; justice is served could be a superheros catchphrase when she nabs the bad guy. 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. Before, they just tuned them out. 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. Download PDF. As early as the days of the founder of the Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam I, God understood the direction Israel was taking. 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) John W. Ritenbaugh The fact remains that, long before the attacks occurred, critics of American moralityAmericans themselveshave been calling upon their fellow citizens to change their immoral ways. 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. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. ESSAY: Why is it important to trust in God? So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. They stuck to their own ways. Ezekiel 14:6Therefore say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! One tribe after another made slaves out of the people. 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. When these are considered, we see that he is truly a prophet for our time, when public morality has fallen so low. Righteousness: In modern-day usage, righteousness is often associated with personal piety. As a result, it has yet to enter into the peace, prosperity, and eternal possession of the land He promised the patriarchs. This also applies on a smaller but more immediate scale: Amos has been sent by appointment, and he does not speak promiscuously. Themes in Ezekiel. (This is the same reason why Nephi killed Laban.) Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, the southern kingdom, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. 1. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel was theson of Buzi and member of a priestly family. And when we fully embrace the reality that the covenants we make at baptism and in the temple cannot be kept without walking, a relationship with those who surround us in this earthly existencethat is to say when we fully embrace the recognition that covenants with God are inherently covenants with each otherwe will finally be able to follow the guidance that these 8, Century BCE prophets gave to Israel anciently and which still resonate for us today. The issue between God and man is simply a matter of governmentof sovereignty and providence. If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. "You shall have no other gods before me. The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Saith the L, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah. Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. . God's punishment Finally, after so many years of warnings, God brought upon the people of Judah the judgment about which Moses spoke. So, they have no excuse they can use for worshiping idols. 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. But when the punishment is done, He will bring His people back to the land that He promised them and give them rest and peace. And what was that? 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. (The Book of Amos) (Part One). In the time of Moses God made a contract (the Bible calls it a "covenant") with the people or nation of Israel, and initially they agreed to abide by it. Devil does not punish sinners because he wants everyone to sin. He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time. Someone is righteous when they follow the prophet and keep the commandments; these actions indicate their inward commitment. "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). Every organization must have a leader, so God lays down instructions as to how the leader should conduct himself in office. The strength of this claim over men is seen by the price which men are willing to pay in order to worship their gods. He establishes this through a series of illustrations posed as challenging questions that can logically be answered only one way. 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. 5 March 2019. Psalm 99:8-9 reminds us that our holy God forgives! He did as God asked and led the people to the Promised Land. Assyria will defeat them and take their wealth. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! There are 3 different punishments stated for the sin of the Golden Calf, two of which are ambiguous in nature. Besides giving oral warnings, Ezekiel performed physical actions which served as symbolic plays for the exiles to learn from. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. The word we translate as justice (or judgment or justly) comes from the Hebrew word mishpat. Israel is God's prey, as it were, and He is not roaring yet. . The patriarchs were, as God attests again and again, faithful. Using the hints provided, put a T next to the sentences that are true and an F next to the ones that are false. Beware, for the margin of safety is very slim. 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. A ban on idolatry is also one of the Noahide commandments, the seven laws that Judaism teaches . 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. Having a king was not the real issue because God had already planned for Israel to have a king. Copyright 2022 Faith Community Church. 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. 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. 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. (The Book of Amos) (Part One). Learn Religions. God told Moses to take his staff and assemble the people. 17 They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. To help Moses prove the existence and power of God, he was given a number of miraculous signs to help the Israelites believe. Given the centrality of these ideas in the Hebrew Bible, it is worth briefly exploring what these terms mean. 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. According to the Bible, the worship of these gods was often promoted by kings and members of the royal court. Post-Christian Europe has transgressed even further. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. 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). But God certainly knew about them. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131. God told them to "get rid of them idola. 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. Rather, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah suggest that Israel needed to do a better job practicing what, would call (eight centuries later!) Does that not sound familiar to an informed observer of our modern, American scene? Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon. He will show them mercy because of the promises He made, not because they deserve it. He is stalking you, and you are in mortal danger. Israel had been exiled by the Babylonians for a while at the time that Jeremiah was ministering. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Says Micah: Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? 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). So why did God choose Israel? According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993, God punishes the Israelites for their sinfulness. 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. Ezekiel, Israel's leaders, Ezekiel's wife, and King Nebuchadnezzar. 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. Yet, we can also see God's mercy in His dealings with His people. Israel's sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. Herein lies the main theme of the book of Ezekiel. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. It is as if he is saying, "Think about the practical ramifications of this." Through her commercial power, the United States became the single richest nation that has ever existed. Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. 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). Why wasnt Aaron punished for making the golden calf? GOD SEEKS REPENTANCE OR PUNISH ISRAELITES - Amos. but He also punishes the evil. The first thing Amos needed to do, then, was establish his authority to preach against them. He will also destroy the works of our hand (Isaiah 1:15; 59:2-3; Psalms 28:5). Punishment is imminent, at the very door. 32 But I beg you to . What follows is a general pattern of God's operation in His people's behalf. He began priestly formation in 1595 and was ordained in 1600. 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. What is the punishment for idolatry? . The prophet Ezekiel was born around 622BCand preached for about 22 years. The same sins are committed in the same brazen manner. Despite this, they became very wealthy and self-indulgent, even oppressively so. , put Israel in an uncomfortable position. 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. He had to eat disgusting bread, drink rationed water, and use cow dung for fuel. The prophet Micah takes a different approach but delivers the same basic message as his prophetic contemporaries. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" It is an aspect of His mercy. 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.". . First: People traveling in the same direction toward exactly the same destination would hardly meet except by appointment. Although Moses was Gods faithful servant, even he once sinned against God. Thus, the problem Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah point to is not in regard to the revealed pattern of worship. (Nm 12:10-14), 4. 2. Such power and influence have made both nations feel they have an unlimited reservoir of natural ability and wealth. Zavada, Jack. Brigham Young called upon modern Saints to examine their own hearts in this regard: . 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. During that period, Israel's sins continued to mount horribly. The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? God was going to punish the evil doers - the wicked - for their evil deeds. Oracles against foreign countries' rulers. Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. Someone is righteous when they follow the prophet and keep the commandments; these actions indicate their inward commitment. 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. This in turn produced great moral corruption through self-serving idolatry, illustrated as and called "fornication" in other books. They were still "lost" in His day, not having returned to Canaan. Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. Wealth is being funneled into the hands of the few, and the poor and weak keep becoming poorer and weaker. Forms of the situation described here appear frequently in the history of Israel's relationship with God. However, the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God's conditional promises to them. 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 . Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. II Kings 17:7-8 speaks of the sins of the Kingdom of Israel, up north: For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, . In Latter-day Saint vernacular, the term that comes closest to expressing this ideal is probably. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. Exile, Divorce from God, was the final punishment for a defiant Northern Kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim or Samaria). However, He has chosen not to do this with Israel and Judah, though not because they are righteous in any way. It is clear from Genesis 17:6 and Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that God anticipated Israel having a king or judge. 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. "Therefore, behold, I wilt open the side of Mesh from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers." The Israelites must not allow themselves to be self-deceived. If He allowed Israel and Judah to sin with impunity, His laws would have no authority, and His words would be of no consequence. 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. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. 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. In Ezekiels vision of restoration at the end of times, the temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem as part of the restoration of Israel is marked by close ritual observance of the very same requirements which are outlined in Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus (See Ezekiel 42), and apparently being followed at the time Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah voiced Gods frustration with Israel. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131. Our regard for humanity is so low that in America alone during the last three decades, an estimated 40-50 million pre-born children have been killed for the sake of convenience. And that kind of disobedience and idolatry has consequences. (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.) 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., summarily dismiss Israels worship practice; the L, 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 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. 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. Isaiah writes that Jerusalem, symbolizing all the tribes of Israel, will receive double for her sins because of her privileged position under the covenant (Isaiah 40:2). 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. 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. Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance. "Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel." That is to say: Israel understood itself as keeping the commandments. God Knew Israel's True Thoughts He knew that idolatry reached farther than just having an object on the mantle. God would be unfaithful to His own promises if He annihilated Jacob's descendantseven though, by all accounts, it is exactly what they deserve. The Beast and Babylon (Part Seven): How Can Israel Be the Great Whore? So he says, and now go to I'll tell you what I will do to my vineyard. God made the Sabbath principle central to his creation. 6 I will send Assyria to fight against the people who do evil. In Latter-day Saint vernacular, the term that comes closest to expressing this ideal is probably charity. Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel. 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. They joined because of their great respect for the God of Moses and the morality of Moses and his followers. It is placed between the book of Lamentations and the book of Daniel in the Old Testament Canon of Scripture. In carrying out judgment on Ahab, God commissioned Jehu to destroy Ahab, the king of Israel, and his family. 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). But over hundreds of years Israel repeatedly broke the covenant and the penalties eventually kicked-in. Amos frames it this way: I [the LORD] hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 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. Near the end of this time, the Israelites were getting worn out from the journey. The people realized they were sinning and begged Moses to help them. "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. 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. Because you did not have confidence in me, to acknowledge my holiness before the Israelites, therefore you shall not lead this assembly into the land I have given them, God told Moses. 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. . This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. and delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand. Prepare to Meet Your God! 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.