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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. They will be given a new heart, and will finally be able to know their God (Ezekiel 11:17-20; 36:24-29). 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). But over hundreds of years Israel repeatedly broke the covenant and the penalties eventually kicked-in. https://www.learnreligions.com/introduction-to-the-book-of-ezekiel-701131 (accessed March 4, 2023). . The word we translate as justice (or judgment or justly) comes from the Hebrew word, , 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 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. 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. Around 1615, he dedicated his life to serving the poor. 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. 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. 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. Like. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. From 1605-07 he was a slave in Tunisia after he was seized from a ship that pirates had attacked. People in high places are claiming we all worship the same God; they say the God of Islam and the God of Christianity are the same! (NIV), Ezekiel 34:23-24I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel. And so in Isaiah, God talks about how he built a beautiful garden vineyard. God said to speak to a rock and water would flow out of it. So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time. It is as if he is saying, "Think about the practical ramifications of this." We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you, they said. "You shall have no other gods before me. was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight. Despite this, they became very wealthy and self-indulgent, even oppressively so. Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? Mercy is used to describe the act of helping those whose behavior might not otherwise justify such magnanimity. If you mean "How did God punish Solomon for having many wives and allowing worship of other gods in Israel " then this is the answer. Email him at Email or write to Yosef Eisen, 2337 Sherbrook St., Pittsburgh PA, 15217. 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. . 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. What the Bible says about Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols., And Hosea says simply: They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not., Like Isaiah, Amos and Hosea portray the LORD as more than just critiquing the act of worshipwith the Lord very clearly despising Israels feasts, refusing to accept (or even regard!) Other themes include the sovereignty of God over the entire world, God's holiness, right worship, corrupt leaders, the restoration of . 5 March 2019. Israel's sad history is the consequence of peoples' faithlessness, not of their God's weakness. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". God will punish Israel for her failure to live up to her responsibilities within the covenant. So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'". Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. But if we keep our part of the agreement, we will reap the benefits that flow with God keeping His. It is clear from Genesis 17:6 and Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that God anticipated Israel having a king or judge. When they returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, they never turned away from the True God again. (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.) 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. 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. And, apparently, Israel. What the Bible says about 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. It had its origin, not in their necessities, but m their vile affections, their own unsubdued, carnal minds. Idolatry Punishment of Exclusion from heaven. GOD SEEKS REPENTANCE OR PUNISH ISRAELITES - Amos. The Chronicler writes: 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). how did god punish the israelites for idolatry. Mr. Seiglie was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the United States when he was a child. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. As part of the punishment for Israel's persistent idolatry, God handed the northern kingdom of Israel over to the Assyrians. . The Sign. But God was not pleased with what Moses had done. Amos. The core problem of Israelaccording to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micahwas the lack of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Moses obeyed God, and, just as God had promised, those who were bitten and gazed upon the bronze serpent recovered. After some time, the Israelites thought that Moses had left them. His utterances are not his own words; they began with God, who sent them because the close relationship is seriously threatened. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" December 30, 2018 ; By James . 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. There are two basic reasons: God was fulfilling a promise to Abraham. 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. (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.) was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, . In Psalm 78:59-62, the psalmist Asaph relates that God, when He became aware of the idols of Israel. Ezekiel 14:6Therefore say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Contents1 Why did God take the Israelites through [] Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Once God reveals Himself through His calling, the issue of government comes to the fore. Just listen, you rebels! Moses angrily said to the people. As a result, it has yet to enter into the peace, prosperity, and eternal possession of the land He promised the patriarchs. And thus the next day, when the Israelites bring sacrifices before the calf, there can hardly be any misunderstanding: they are sacrificing to YHWH. 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. And when we fully embrace the reality that the covenants we make at baptism and in the temple cannot be kept without walking out of the baptismal font and outside of the temple and into 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 8th Century BCE prophets gave to Israel anciently and which still resonate for us today. 1. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? God Eventually Returning to Them and Having Compassion on Them 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). First, "gods" are the object of man's worship and service. They even feel a kind of invincibility. Zavada, Jack. They have been flippantly careless and have no one to blame but themselves. Searching for Israel (Part Seven): Seven Years' Punishment. 2 Kings, OLD TESTAMENT. God's punishment Finally, after so many years of warnings, God brought upon the people of Judah the judgment about which Moses spoke. The Israelites were given the unpleasant task of carrying out the Lord's judgment against the Canaanites.The Israelites waged war against the Canaanites because the Lord commanded them to. John W. Ritenbaugh His aim is to awaken them from their spiritual lethargy. Hebrews 3:8-11 summarizes the matter: "In the day of trial in the wilderness, [the children of Israel] . Amos 1-4: Israel's Punishment. Israels sacred texts clearly outlined how and in what way Israel was to worship the God of the Exodus and Sinai. This in turn produced great moral corruption through self-serving idolatry, illustrated as and called "fornication" in other books. Beware, for the margin of safety is very slim. 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. Moses had a pretty tough job. The people may have, worshiping God through the required performances. This over-the-top zealousness is not only insufficient but is, itself, a source of Gods disapproval. 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 responds fiercely, sending venomous snakes, which immediately kill many complaining Israelites. 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. Israel had better heed because his words are not idle. . The prophet Micah takes a different approach but delivers the same basic message as his prophetic contemporaries. Oracles against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt. This scathing condemnation concludes with the LORD saying, I will hide mine eyes from you I will not hear you.. Hesed is a love so deep it can always be trustedit is the type of love that is foundational to covenant relationships. When these are considered, we see that he is truly a prophet for our time, when public morality has fallen so low. 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 ). 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. If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. . 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. 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. 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. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. . Saith the L, posed in the opening chapter of the book of Isaiah. Justice: If said with just the right inflection, the word justice feels punitive. 16 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. To help Moses prove the existence and power of God, he was given a number of miraculous signs to help the Israelites believe. 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. Then, God allowed their enemies to gain power over them. St. Vincent de Paul was born in France in 1581. They are designed to ensure that the king does not elevate himself above the people and rule as a despot. During that period, Israel's sins continued to mount horribly. Their desire for flesh was a desire springing up amidst abundance. He determines their rise and fall and the times of dominance of every nation. And, apparently, Israel was largely doing the things it had been asked to do. But the Israelites did not kill the enemy, or even drive them out of the land. Who sins and brings upon themselves the necessity of punishment? His holiness and righteousness required this punishment. keeping the commandments. The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. And the reason that they were exiled was due to their sin. . What type of animal bit the Israelites? Oddly enough, about 3,000 were buried around on the Western side of Mount Sinai (Jebel al Lawz) in Arabia. That's just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of Israel and the idolatrous nations around it. He also gave His people over to the sword, and was furious with His inheritance. Every organization must have a leader, so God lays down instructions as to how the leader should conduct himself in office. Such power and influence have made both nations feel they have an unlimited reservoir of natural ability and wealth. Central to both the punishment and the restitution is loving and living the truth of God. Zavada, Jack. God tells every individual bitten by a snake that they will live if they look at a bronze snake made by Moses at God's command. 25:1-7). Contents1 What did the Israelites do to the Canaanites?2 Why did God declare war on the Canaanites?3 What [] His warning of impending calamity would not come if they were not deserving of it. This is what we confront in decision-making. Religiously, they were trying to walk a tightrope between God and Baal. Charles Whitaker Linking is encouraged, but content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed including, but not limited to such means as framing or other digital copying and/or distribution method, in whole or in part without the publisher's written consent. We frequently gloss over the truly important part of this as we read through it. 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). Angels do not punish in the Bible except under God's command because it is God who can punish. They joined because of their great respect for the God of Moses and the morality of Moses and his followers. So he says, and now go to I'll tell you what I will do to my vineyard. In our modern world, this message is needed now more than ever. The Old Testament is a chronicle of Israel's repeated failure to obey God, of its refusal to keep His commandments and statutes. 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. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6). 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. 2. 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. . Put briefly: Israel needed to exercise justice, righteousness, and mercy. The first thing Amos needed to do, then, was establish his authority to preach against them. God repeats several times that He is bringing Israel back for His name's sake, and not for Israel's sake: "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this [restoring Israel and blessing the land; verses 6-15] for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. Who Were the Major Prophets in the Bible? (Nm 12:10-14), 4. In the verses above, tzedeq is the Hebrew word that is translated into the English word righteousness (and its derivatives). Corrupt or ambivalent leadership will no longer lead Israel astray; instead, the leaders will set the example of righteousness for the people to follow. What happened to the Ark of the Covenant. Prophet after prophet challenged Israel even as Israel apparently kept the laws and ordinances it was given. Here in Ezra, we see that this 70 year period had elapsed, as Daniel had also anticipated (Dan. July 2, 2022 . Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! And Isaiah was not alone in portraying Gods displeasure with Israels worship. His contemporary was the prophetJeremiah. God punished them to bring them to conversion, but in vain. Conversely, God strongly warns that, if one does not do well, He will surely punish him. A PUNISHMENT CORRESPONDING TO THEIR SIN. The covenant people, Israel, had profaned His name by their conduct among the other nations. We see similar language in the book of Amos. Although Moses was given consequences for his sinful actions, he still loved and obeyed God. They were still "lost" in His day, not having returned to Canaan. . Rather, He punishes in the best way and at the best time to bring individuals to repentance. . 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). We will be submissive either to God's will or to our own fickle drives. And yet, multiple prophets challenged Israels adherence to the very laws and ordinances that were part of this prophetically-given covenant guide. In Psalm 78:10-11, 40-42, 56-57, the psalmist mentions that Ephraim (meaning Israel at large). The people were always sinning against God by complaining, failing to follow his directions and laws, and by not trusting in him. Most of prophecy begins negatively but ends positively because God is confident that what He prophesied will accomplish His end, which is always good! (2021, December 6). . ___ Aaron and his sons were consecrated as Gods priests. Israel is God's prey, as it were, and He is not roaring yet. . Rather, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah suggest that Israel needed to do a better job practicing what, would call (eight centuries later!) 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) We should never forget that God's punishment falls upon Israel because of disobedience, rebellion, and sin. 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). . (Exodus20:2-3, NIV), Today, idolatry consists of putting more importance on anything other than God, from our career to money, fame, power, material possessions, celebrities, or other distractions. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. This can only mean that God inspires and empowers the Assyrian nation to punish the nations of Israel for their flagrant disobediences. I have heard some suggest that there is something wrong (or lacking) in the teachings that God gave at Sinai. Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. 2. Deut. 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. Finally, God's people cried out to him for help. 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. Despite its frightening oracles, Ezekiel concludes with a message of hope and restoration for God's people. 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, . You shall have no other gods before me." John W. Ritenbaugh Zavada, Jack. Historically, the punishment for idolatry was often death. "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). The Assyrian kings Pul and Shalmaneser V invaded Israel, and about 722 BC the latter "captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. We need to set the record straight. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life The idolatry of the northern kingdom went on for nearly two centuries. Mercy: The word mercy is commonly used nowadays to capture the idea of being favored, often undeservedly so. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself., Contact & Submissions It wasnt just apathy or failure to perform religious ceremonies for which ancient Israel faced Gods judgments. First, the Israelites began to serve the false gods of the nations that they failed to remove from the land. Why did the Israelites wander the desert for 40 years? God made the Sabbath principle central to his creation. Themes in Ezekiel. The process will be painful but also effective; Israel will come to repentance (Romans 11:25-29). Those things were important but not sufficient in and of themselves. He did as God asked and led the people to the Promised Land. 32 But I beg you to . Only in Amos (and only in one verse) is there any indication that Israel was not focused on worshiping God. He founded the Confraternity of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and, with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity. These people were taught about the true living God over a long period of time. Ezekiel was ordered by God to lie on his left side 390 days and on his right side 40 days. 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. 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, God and Israel have a special relationship: "You only have I known." 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. But this time the peace and prosperity will last, because two factors will be different. How did God punish the Israelites for complaining? Far less known are the ten times the released Israelites put God to the test in the days following their exodus. All who had been bitten would be healed if they gazed upon the bronze serpent, God said. characteristic. . The attacks and a wave of sympathy for the grief of those directly impacted by them, as well as a sudden spurt of patriotism, changed the way people heard these messages. It was also what they failed to do for each other. First: People traveling in the same direction toward exactly the same destination would hardly meet except by appointment. Before, they just tuned them out. This over-the-top zealousness is not only insufficient but is, itself, a source of Gods disapproval. 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. Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?. 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. 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. 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. They began to worship the golden calf, and they . In about AD 31, Christ says He was "not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). 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). Although God always forgave his people, he also gave them consequences for their sinful actions. 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). Holiness refers to God's nature, and righteousness, to God's acts. 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. Yosef Eisen, a noted historian and lecturer, tells the miraculous story and history of an eternal nation. God would now destroy Israel as a political power, saying, in effect, "enough is enough." Like mishpat, tzedeq connotes a social obligation. Faith Community Church3755 Washington Boulevard, Suite 201Fremont, CA 94538(408) 721-4900info@fccbay.org. . 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. . Ezekiel's primary audience was his fellow exiles in Babylon, but he also wrote to the Israelites at home in Jerusalem and all later readers of the Bible. DISINFECT COVID-19; OUR SYSTEM; GET FREE QUOTE; 888-584-6999; 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.