Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 establish that, if one does well, God will bless him. Here in Ezra, we see that this 70 year period had elapsed, as Daniel had also anticipated (Dan. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. 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. . 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. (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.) A PUNISHMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR SIN. Is that so? 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). Further, God has been systematically removed from schools, from government, and from public life. Oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt. So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'". There are two basic reasons: God was fulfilling a promise to Abraham. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to . . "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. . Has anything else become a god to me?". Throughout the Hebrew Bible, the prophets argued that the exile happened because the people failed to follow God's instructions. They will also be blessed numerically, as the remnant begins to multiply. Corrupt or ambivalent leadership will no longer lead Israel astray; instead, the leaders will set the example of righteousness for the people to follow. Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. His contemporary was the prophetJeremiah. As the Bible has recorded in great detail, mankind has shown that it wants to retain this authority to itself. Bible scholars say God's warnings in Ezekiel finally cured Israel of the sin of idolatry. In carrying out judgment on Ahab, God commissioned Jehu to destroy Ahab, the king of Israel, and his family. He died in 1660, and we honor him on Sept. 27. Israel's sin was first neglecting and then departing from God and the relationship. They stuck to their own ways. 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. Ezekiel packed his belongings as if heading on a journey. And Isaiah was not alone in portraying Gods displeasure with Israels worship. Observe next the occasion of Israel's sin. Rather, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah suggest that Israel needed to do a better job practicing what, would call (eight centuries later!) Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. 2 Kings, OLD TESTAMENT. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. 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. John W. Ritenbaugh He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, . 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. Does that not sound familiar to an informed observer of our modern, American scene? However, for the sake of what is best for Jacob, God has to show him that He is serious about what He says. 3. . 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. Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. 16 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. It is this process that God often uses to punish His people for apostasy and immorality. 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. Read Chapter All Versions. The Israelites must not allow themselves to be self-deceived. how did god punish the israelites for idolatryadductor side plank benefits Menu 3282 suwanee creek road. God eventually would become angry and punish the people for their sinfulness. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. After all of these miracles were done, including the ten plagues on the Egyptians, the Israelites came out of Egypt with a renewed belief in the God of their fathers. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people, doing things properly. Life will soon become a violent free-for-all (Ecclesiastes 8:11). God does not sin, men do. And what was that? Yet, in my view, this does not seem to be the primary source of the problem either. He took such good care of it, protected it, we did it everything, fertilized it. 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. 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. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. He took half the kingdom away from his son. His aim is to awaken them from their spiritual lethargy. His warning of impending calamity would not come if they were not deserving of it. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions In Numbers 20, we read that the people were complaining about not having water to drink. A number of latter-day prophecies of various peoplesthe Edomites, for exampleforetell that God will make a complete end of them (Jeremiah 46:28). 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. II. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time. Why wasnt Aaron punished for making the golden calf? First, Israel and Judah will have perfect leadership: Jesus Christ will be King, and David will be His prince (Ezekiel 37:24-25; Jeremiah 23:3-7; Hosea 3:5; Micah 2:12-13). The Sign. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. 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. He found out about the Church when he was 17 from a Church member in high school. The book of Ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the Bible, a vision of God raising an army of dead men's bones from their graves and bringing them back to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). 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. 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. Sinai made them feel insecure. (Ex 30:30), 3. That specific sacrifices, rituals, feasts, and other religious practices were central parts of its covenant with YHWH was beyond doubt. (NIV), Prophesies about doom and destruction (1:1 - 24:27), Prophesies condemning foreign nations (25:1 - 32:32), Prophesies of hope and restoration of Israel (33:1 - 48:35), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. 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. 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. Here is how each of the four prophets expresses this: Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. In my anger I will use Assyria to punish Israel. 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. 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. We should never forget that God's punishment falls upon Israel because of disobedience, rebellion, and sin. Clearly, God judges the inhabitants of His creation, and His judgments are not limited to Israel or to "biblical times." In Latter-day Saint vernacular, the term that comes closest to expressing this ideal is probably charity. The book of Ezekiel was written between 593 BC and 573 BC. First, the Israelites began to serve the false gods of the nations that they failed to remove from the land. 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. Israel's Punishment Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 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. Conversely, God strongly warns that, if one does not do well, He will surely punish him. 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). Says Micah: Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? 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. While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites chose to make an idol for themselves and worship it even after hearing the ten commandments from God, seeing His power. He must comprehensively know that his own nature is just like those he serves and be humbled. Searching for Israel (Part Eight): The Scattering of Ten-Tribed Israel. When his wife died, he was told not to mourn her. Around 1615, he dedicated his life to serving the poor. 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. . Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? M. David Huston lives and works in the Washington DC metro area. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. 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) Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. However, while all of this might be true, hypocrisy does not seem to be the core problem that resulted in such strong language from Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. The rich and powerful will not be able to escape the dreadful punishment God promises. And yet, multiple prophets challenged Israels adherence to the very laws and ordinances that were part of this prophetically-given covenant guide. Religiously, they were trying to walk a tightrope between God and Baal. (From Forerunner Commentary). The Old Testament is a chronicle of Israel's repeated failure to obey God, of its refusal to keep His commandments and statutes. All Rights Reserved. There are 3 different punishments stated for the sin of the Golden Calf, two of which are ambiguous in nature. The title is of little importance. Prepare to Meet Your God! 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). 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." Yet, we can also see God's mercy in His dealings with His people. Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. Hebrews 3:8-11 summarizes the matter: "In the day of trial in the wilderness, [the children of Israel] . It was also what they failed to do for each other. 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). Ezekiel prophesied to those exiles about why God had allowed that, while at the same time, the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the Israelites left behind in Judah. The covenant people, Israel, had profaned His name by their conduct among the other nations. After escaping his captors, he returned to France and worked in a parish outside of Paris. The Northern 10 Tribes of Israel have disappeared, never to return. He had to eat disgusting bread, drink rationed water, and use cow dung for fuel. We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you, they said. 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). The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. A number of other prophecies concerning the Second Exodus relate how God will bless the land, which will once again produce abundantly. Exodus: New American Commentary by Douglas Stuart. 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. Why did God punish the Israelites for 40 years? They did not remember His power. American influence has since exceeded even that of Britain, making English the universal language of business and politics. 17 They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Saul was chosen by God to be Israel's first king. 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. Far less known are the ten times the released Israelites put God to the test in the days following their exodus. Through her commercial power, the United States became the single richest nation that has ever existed. God believed the people had properly listened to the instructions God gave them. . The same sins are committed in the same brazen manner. The prophet Ezekiel was born around 622BCand preached for about 22 years. 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. The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). the . At least one answer is easily pushed aside. Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance. In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. 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. Such punishment precipitated Israel being scattered, taken into captivity into foreign lands, and losing their homeland, to which they have never returned. Books may be ordered directly from the author. 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. God said to speak to a rock and water would flow out of it. In the Hebrew Bible, justice most often points to a social obligation to protect the weak and powerless from exploitation. As early as the days of the founder of the Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam I, God understood the direction Israel was taking. (Dt 31:7-8). Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period, Prepare to Meet Your God! They have made a gold idol to be their god. God's punishment, though, is never an end in itself, nor does He punish in wild anger or frustration. Therefore I was angry with that generation. 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. Ezekiel 14:6Therefore say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! 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. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" Jeremiah 12:14-17; 25:15-32). 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. Reflecting on the history of the British Commonwealth and America in the last two hundred years, we see two nations quickly rising to prominence along with unparalleled accomplishments. 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. Even after all of the warnings from the Prophets, after receiving curse upon curse, Israel would NOT turn . God Knew Israel's True Thoughts He knew that idolatry reached farther than just having an object on the mantle. This also applies on a smaller but more immediate scale: Amos has been sent by appointment, and he does not speak promiscuously. Who sins and brings upon themselves the necessity of punishment? After some time, the Israelites thought that Moses had left them. As Numbers 14:20-23 says: Then the Lord said: "I have pardoned, according to your word, but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord because all these men who . 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. Hesed expresses the notion of deep love characterized by loyalty and fidelity, which pours out of one to the other. . Assyria will defeat them and take their wealth. Zavada, Jack. God punished them to bring them to conversion, but in vain.