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. 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. Is that so? 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. Although Moses was given consequences for his sinful actions, he still loved and obeyed God. 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 what was that? . At least one answer is easily pushed aside. 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. Oddly enough, about 3,000 were buried around on the Western side of Mount Sinai (Jebel al Lawz) in Arabia. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets" (Isaiah 10:5-6). M. David Huston lives and works in the Washington DC metro area. Therefore I was angry with that generation. It is God's authority and. The Sign. In Judges 3, we read: So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites . . Given the centrality of these ideas in the Hebrew Bible, it is worth briefly exploring what these terms mean. Email him at Email or write to Yosef Eisen, 2337 Sherbrook St., Pittsburgh PA, 15217. Through her commercial power, the United States became the single richest nation that has ever existed. 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. 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. A PUNISHMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR SIN. Indeed, I think it is more likely that the people, doing things properly. 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. 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). His aim is to awaken them from their spiritual lethargy. Aaron said: 'Give me your gold.'. However, He has chosen not to do this with Israel and Judah, though not because they are righteous in any way. (The Book of Amos) (Part Two). Ezek 4:1-3 "You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. 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 Assyrian kings Pul and Shalmaneser V invaded Israel, and about 722 BC the latter "captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. tested Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. This means, "Take heed! Israel's sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. 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. (2021, December 6). That is to say, righteousness is an inward characteristic. However, the people of Israel failed to observe the terms of God's conditional promises to them. 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. 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. According to the Bible, the worship of these gods was often promoted by kings and members of the royal court. A deeper appreciation of scripture can help us recognize that we have room to grow. The Israelites failed because they would not put their complete trust in their one true God. In Psalm 78:10-11, 40-42, 56-57, the psalmist mentions that Ephraim (meaning Israel at large). 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. God Knew Israel's True Thoughts He knew that idolatry reached farther than just having an object on the mantle. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. However, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were talking about something different when they used this word. But if we keep our part of the agreement, we will reap the benefits that flow with God keeping His. Books may be ordered directly from the author. The rich and powerful will not be able to escape the dreadful punishment God promises. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel was theson of Buzi and member of a priestly family. Since the One who judged during Old Testament times is the same One who judges today, we can be certain that He uses the same standards now that He did then. When his wife died, he was told not to mourn her. He founded the Confraternity of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and, with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity. God makes it clear that He has given the command to destroy them. 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. Amos speaks strongly against public and private indifference toward the keeping of the second of the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). Prepare to Meet Your God! That is to say, righteousness is an inward. . Amos, a Jew from the southern kingdom, was sent by God to preach against the sins of the northern ten tribes. 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. 1996 daihatsu midget ii top speed donkey kong country 2 endings how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32? They have been flippantly careless and have no one to blame but themselves. Today's Western culturea product of the nations of Israelis not so very different from Sodom and Gomorrah. was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight. 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. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, the prophets argued that the exile happened because the people failed to follow God's instructions. (Ex 30:30), 3. Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. Moses had a pretty tough job. 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 . Amos was a prophet whose home was in Judah, the southern kingdom, yet whose message was to Israel, the northern kingdom. That is to say: Israel. The Bible documents many periods where the Jews as a nation reverted back to Idolatry. Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?. At the right time and for the right people, God will honor His unconditional promises to the patriarchs. how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. 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. 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. Prepare to Meet Your God! Corrupt or ambivalent leadership will no longer lead Israel astray; instead, the leaders will set the example of righteousness for the people to follow. "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). 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). He shaved his beard and head and used the hair as traditional symbols of humiliation. Religiously, they were trying to walk a tightrope between God and Baal. According to the Old Testament, God promised to punish sin at the very end of history (e.g., Isa. 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. 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 responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.. The Israelites must not allow themselves to be self-deceived. It is an aspect of His mercy. They were to protect and bless the rich and the poor, the bonded and the free, the Israelite and the stranger. 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). They are designed to ensure that the king does not elevate himself above the people and rule as a despot. His Spirit departed from Saul and a demon possessed Saul. The sin of worshipping another god is called idolatry. 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. He is a husband and father of four who has previously written for poetry, international affairs, and LDS-related publications. Israel is God's prey, as it were, and He is not roaring yet. Saul started off well and the people loved him. Near the end of this time, the Israelites were getting worn out from the journey. During that period, Israel's sins continued to mount horribly. Zavada, Jack. 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. In modern-day usage, righteousness is often associated with personal piety. We cannot have it both ways. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. From 1605-07 he was a slave in Tunisia after he was seized from a ship that pirates had attacked. Although Moses was Gods faithful servant, even he once sinned against God. We see similar language in the book of Amos. ] Hebrews 3:8-11 summarizes the matter: "In the day of trial in the wilderness, [the children of Israel] . All who had been bitten would be healed if they gazed upon the bronze serpent, God said. Israel exhibited again and again its refusal to obey God. Fourth: All too often, the alarms go off, and then people take notice. 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. Download PDF. 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. Contents1 What did the Israelites do to the Canaanites?2 Why did God declare war on the Canaanites?3 What [] 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. Oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt. Despite these atrocious sins, God will not utterly destroy Israel as He did to Sodom and Gomorrah. Central to both the punishment and the restitution is loving and living the truth of God. 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. God chose the ancient Israelites because He had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation and occupy the land of Canaan ( Genesis 12:3, 7; 17:4, 7-8; 22:17 ). Home Posts Tagged "punishment of idol worship" 31 Jul . God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. In the Hebrew Bible, justice most often points to a social obligation to protect the weak and powerless from exploitation. It is clear from Genesis 17:6 and Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that God anticipated Israel having a king or judge. 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. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 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. Fortunately, in the same way that Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were direct with Israel when it came to expressing the LORDs displeasure, these four prophets were similarly direct with Israel when it came to stating what Israel needed to do differently. Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. 30 The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. 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). This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. The punishment of Israel had not ended even in Christ's time, more than 700 years after Israel's fall. Christ's death is an eschatological event, offering life to those who trust him ( John 3:16; Eph. Once God reveals Himself through His calling, the issue of government comes to the fore. Psalm 99:8-9 reminds us that our holy God forgives! (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.) (The Book of Amos) (Part Two), Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. ESSAY: Why is it important to trust in God? 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). Conversely, God strongly warns that, if one does not do well, He will surely punish him. KING JEHU KILLED IDOL WORSHIPERS - 2 Kings. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. 44:29 ), and God did so in judging his son on behalf of his people. He took half the kingdom away from his son. "Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel." 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. i am the light of the world. 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). The term also occurs in, Some references in Ezekiel have striking similarities to the prophetic. They did not remember His power. God punished Israel for its disobedience by deferring the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. 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). It is this process that God often uses to punish His people for apostasy and immorality. The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. The people were sent into exile in Babylon because of their sins. We live lives of justice, righteousness, and mercy. 9:1-2). We see similar language in the book of Amos. Your sins brought this warning, and punishment will follow if you continue sinning.". In the Hebrew Bible, justice most often points to a social obligation to protect the weak and powerless from exploitation. 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. 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. 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. 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. And Isaiah was not alone in portraying Gods displeasure with Israels worship. However, just like the words mishpat and tzedeq, this modern-day usage is not necessarily what Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah were expressing in the 8th Century BCE. "Earth" here represents all aspects of His creationincluding manwhich He created for man. In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. 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 . keeping the commandments. How did God punish the Israelites for complaining? In the New Testament, Paul declared of those who tried to make representations of God: "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible manand birds and four-footed animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). . The reason Moses became so concerned about the Israelites is that they have heard the Word. 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. 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. We've seen in Jeremiah chapter 2 that in spite of some good times in the past between the Lord and Israel, Israel rejected and forsook the Lord and attempted to exchange the living and real God for idols. Amos. . Finally, God's people cried out to him for help. The first thing Amos needed to do, then, was establish his authority to preach against them. Someone is righteous when they follow the prophet and keep the commandments; these actions indicate their inward commitment. The text goes a far way to explicitly present the Levites in the favorable role . They were behaving and worshipping like Baal worshippers but doing it in the name of the Lord. God believed the people had properly listened to the instructions God gave 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. Hesed is a love so deep it can always be trustedit is the type of love that is foundational to covenant relationships. Israel had better heed because his words are not idle. The Chronicler writes: . 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) And the reason that they were exiled was due to their sin. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. 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). naturalizer vera silver. He promises good health (Exodus 15:26), prosperity (Malachi 3:8-12), children (Psalm 127:3-5), security (Psalm 46), and many other blessings besides His greatest gift, eternal life in His Kingdom (John 17:1-3; Romans 6:23)! Only in, (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. Idolatry Punishment of Exclusion from heaven. Ezekiel, Israel's leaders, Ezekiel's wife, and King Nebuchadnezzar. We need to heed His words seriously because our cultural circumstances parallel what Amos confronted in his day. 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. As a result, it has yet to enter into the peace, prosperity, and eternal possession of the land He promised the patriarchs. Is God to blame because He exercises His authority, punishing to maintain order and to continue the advancement of His purpose in His creation? Israel had been exiled by the Babylonians for a while at the time that Jeremiah was ministering. 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. This can only mean that God inspires and empowers the Assyrian nation to punish the nations of Israel for their flagrant disobediences. Contents1 Why did God take the Israelites through [] 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. 18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. July 31, 2022 ; By James Taiwo; . This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. 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. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. ___ God led the Israelites across the Sea of Galilee. 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.