He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. Second: Lions do not roar unless they have taken their prey because they do not want to scare their intended prey away. What was God's punishment to the Israelites? First: People traveling in the same direction toward exactly the same destination would hardly meet except by appointment. His utterances are not his own words; they began with God, who sent them because the close relationship is seriously threatened. The Bible documents many periods where the Jews as a nation reverted back to Idolatry. But this time the peace and prosperity will last, because two factors will be different. This is made more explicit in Judges 2:11-13: "Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh, and worshipped the Baals, and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who . God does not sin, men do. The book of Ezekiel is about idolatry. But God certainly knew about them. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. (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.) . . Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. 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. The Israelites must not allow themselves to be self-deceived. At the right time and for the right people, God will honor His unconditional promises to the patriarchs. Aaron also knows which god the Israelites intended the calf to represent: "Tomorrow shall be a festival of YHWH!," ( - ) he proclaims (32:5). 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. Terms and Conditions, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. "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). "Gods," then, have a certain authority and claim over men, which men acknowledge by their worship and service. 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. They said to Aaron: 'We want someone to lead us. Spiritually, this demand confirms Israel's whorish behavior, and thus God tells Samuel to describe the national effects of her demand. 2. They stuck to their own ways. . But were they true? The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols., says simply: They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the L, Like Isaiah, Amos and Hosea portray the L, as more than just critiquing the act of worshipwith the Lord very clearly despising Israels feasts, refusing to accept (or even regard!) Additionally, the apostles will be resurrected and sit as judges over the twelve tribes, ensuring that proper judgment is given (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). At least one answer is easily pushed aside. His holiness and righteousness required this punishment. Such power and influence have made both nations feel they have an unlimited reservoir of natural ability and wealth. The people said: 'This calf is our God who led us out of Egypt!'. What the Bible says about He is a husband and father of four who has previously written for poetry, international affairs, and LDS-related publications. 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. 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. . 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. God is managing it, governing it. 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. The Israelites' lack of faith while Moses was on Mt. When they came back 40 days later, 10 of the 12 scouts said that the Israelites were not strong enough to take the land from the inhabitants. naturalizer vera silver. 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. They even feel a kind of invincibility. Once God reveals Himself through His calling, the issue of government comes to the fore. He will show them mercy because of the promises He made, not because they deserve it. 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. Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. characteristic. We cannot have it both ways. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. 30 Dec . We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people believed that they were doing things properly. Books may be ordered directly from the author. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.. 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. 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). 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. Israel's sin was first neglecting and then departing from God and the relationship. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. And yet, multiple prophets challenged Israels adherence to the very laws and ordinances that were part of this prophetically-given covenant guide. This is the point where God had had enough. Instead, he is to be thoroughly familiar with and guided by the attitudes and laws of God. Amos is declaring that God is involved in His creation; He has not gone way off. However, Ezekiel makes it clear that this cannot be the case. . The covenant people, Israel, had profaned His name by their conduct among the other nations. John W. Ritenbaugh Though the Latter-day Saint community does a great deal to reach out and help those around us, there are always ways to improvesomething encouraged by recent leaders. Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, the southern kingdom, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. The first thing Amos needed to do, then, was establish his authority to preach against them. Despite its frightening oracles, Ezekiel concludes with a message of hope and restoration for God's people. Bible scholars say God's warnings in Ezekiel finally cured Israel of the sin of idolatry. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. ", More than 90 times, God calls Ezekiel "son of Man," a term used to highlight the prophet's humanity. Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. 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. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. Malachi 2:14. Devil does not punish sinners because he wants everyone to sin. 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? (Micah 6:8). So, what is it that Israel needed to do differently? strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water. His laws, which define His standards of morality, have not changed one iota. "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. His Spirit departed from Saul and a demon possessed Saul. Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. Their desire for flesh was a desire springing up amidst abundance. We see similar language in the book of Amos. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! 18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 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. He makes and unmakes nations (II Chronicles 20:6; Daniel 4:17; Acts 17:26). ___ Aaron and his sons were consecrated as Gods priests. 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. Every indication is that we live during that time now. God lives and He always rules and judgesjust as surely today as He did thousands of years ago. 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.". 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. Israel had better heed because his words are not idle. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Zavada, Jack. Zavada, Jack. Then, God allowed their enemies to gain power over them. Yet, in my view, this does not seem to be the primary source of the problem either.