January 2022
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 18
N A H U M
We know very little personal detail about Nahum. He is described as an Elkoshite, but that reveals nothing that is positively identifiable about him. Was it his birthplace? His family affiliation? We simply do not know. It is thought that his name is a shortened version of ‘Nehemiah’. It matters little. The important thing about all the prophets is the message with which they were entrusted by God. And Nahum had a very important message indeed, from which we ourselves have much to learn.
God had given Nahum a vision regarding the Assyrian city of Nineveh. The same city which had caused Jonah so much grief, anger and even disappointment about 100 years earlier. It was a city of gentiles. They had repented of their sin as Jonah preached to them at that time, and God had stayed His judgement on them. But in this vision, Nahum first saw the might, the compassion, and the love, of the LORD. “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges (but not without warning); … The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not acquit the wicked”. We do well to consider that carefully ourselves. It is a timely message. Nahum is reminding us that God has a good memory! He has set standards for His people. He has reminded us in the Scriptures many times, through the prophets and the apostles, of His commandments and statutes. That word “acquit” (Heb ‘naqah’) literally means ‘to make clean’. There will be nothing ‘unclean’ in the heavenly realm.
“Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?” These are rhetorical questions to which no-one has an answer. We know that there are none, and there is nothing, that can withstand the wrath of God. And we also know that “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him”. We have been ‘reflecting’ in recent weeks about the Israelites. The prophets were sent to warn them about the consequences of their idolatrous practises. They thought that God would not do what He was warning them He would. They had become complacent in their attitudes towards Him. And that was NOT because they were trusting Him, it was because they had moved away from Him. They treated their relationship with God and the covenant promises of both themselves and their forefathers with utter contempt. Very dangerous. A lesson for the wise among us today. However, this prophetic message is full of interest in that it seems to interweave both the pronouncements of doom upon the wickedness of Nineveh, and the counter expressions of blessing and hope for Israel. God not only judges, but He also saves.
“What do you conspire against the LORD?” Echoes of Psalm 2 here. Such conspirators are doomed to failure. Just 40 years after Jonah’s ministry to Nineveh, and their repentance, the Assyrians had invaded the northern kingdom of Israel and taken the principal citizens captive. Were these cruel Assyrians plotting another attack, this time on Judah? “From you comes forth one who plots evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor”. The word translated ‘wicked’ is the Hebrew word “belial”. That has connotations of satanic influence over the leadership of Assyria. It is similar to the word God gave to Isaiah regarding these Assyrians (Isaiah 10: 5-7). They had numerical superiority, and had a perception of safety as a result. But in verse 12, the only time in this prophetic book that the words “Thus says the LORD” are used, God’s words are to His chosen. “Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more; for now I will break off his yoke from you, and burst your bonds apart.”
Then he switched back to address the Assyrians again. “The LORD has given a command concerning you: ‘Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. Out of the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the moulded image. I will dig your grave, for you are vile’.” A very strong pronouncement indeed.
And immediately back to His own. Now with the proclamation of salvation, similar to words spoken by another prophet. (Isaiah 52:7) A proclamation of the coming Messiah. “Behold on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace!” The Assyrians had been a disruptive and cruel enemy on their borders for centuries. God now declared the end of that terror (Nineveh fell to the Babylonians in 612 BCE and their king was put to death). But in making that declaration, there is yet another plea from God for the people of Judah to remain faithful to their covenant promises. “O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off”. Surely an amazing example of words used by the prophet right at the beginning of this word. “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power.” He provided a release from the torment of an aggressor, displaying great power. At the same time, regardless of their continuing waywardness pleaded that they remember their commitments to Himself.
Because we know the rest of the story, we know that God’s patience with them also had limits. That has to be the greatest lesson for us to learn here. God has provided us with all the information we need about Himself, His ways, His character, His consistency, His love, His mercy, and His wonderful gift of eternal life. Take time to read Matthew 24. It includes the words of Yeshua “He that endures to the end shall be saved”. In athletic jargon, we are not in a sprint but in a marathon. It requires endurance and dedication. That’s what God was saying to these citizens of Judah.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 17
H O S E A
Ephraim, as the strongest tribe, held a position of some respect. That tribe was exalted in Israel (the northern kingdom). But they died (no longer had that respect) when they not only joined in, but maybe even encouraged, the idolatry of Baal worship. Further, possibly compounding that error by making a business out of idolatry. They produced images of wood and silver as objects of idolatrous worship. So the prophet Hosea spoke to them “Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud and like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off the threshing floor and like smoke from a chimney”. Isn’t that a scathing and demeaning comment? Removed from sight, of no further value. So, exalted as they had been, they were to now be consigned to irrelevance. They had started out with such promise. God had blessed them with His care, and early provision, all the way from Egypt, and right up to their settlement in the land. “They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.” How sad. In modern parlance, it’s akin to “biting the hand that feeds them”. The lesson that we may learn here is to always remember, with gratitude and thankfulness, all the blessings with which we have been showered at the hand of Almighty God. Most of us are good at seeking and requesting God’s blessing, but not quite so ready to offer thanks after the event. And what thanks was God was looking for? That they would live, as they had promised, according to His commandments. We might consider if that is what He expects from us too.
“The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up”. That’s a worry don’t you think? We often fail to consider the fact that all our actions, yes, all of them, are ‘written in God’s books’. Revelation 20: 12 tells us “And I saw the dead, small and great standing before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books”. And as that sinks in, read Matthew 7:21 -23. It is inescapable that because God is no respecter of persons, the rules which were applied to these dear folk to whom God sent Hosea, are the same rules universally applied to all men. It is the immense value of God’s written word that allows us to gain adequate warning of what God expects of those who are His. “Samaria is held guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword, their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child ripped open”. This shocking statement describes the fate which was to befall these rebellious Israelites when, just a few short years later they would be overthrown and taken captive by the cruel Assyrian invaders. What a terrible price to pay for rebellion! That is NOT what God had planned for them, it was what He warned them would happen as a result of their rebellion. A careful reading of Revelation will not provide much comfort to any who may be alive in the days of the ‘great tribulation’ either.
“O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words (of repentance) with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips’.”
The message which concludes this prophetic word of Hosea is timeless. It may be properly applied to all ages. God offers His hand of reconciliation. Hosea was a man who clearly understood the heartache of a husband married to an unfaithful wife. He could equate that to the heartache of God for His beloved Israel. For everyone who take the words of repentance to the LORD He says “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon”. Complete forgiveness. In the fulness of time God made that universal in the sacrificial death of Yeshua. And all that is required is to “take the words of repentance” to Him. It is personal. Hosea’s words are profound. They are words of great promise. Taking him at his word, and doing as he has said, will have life changing effect. “His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon”.
The change in a person’s lifestyle habits will be evident. Ephraim shall say “What have I to do anymore with idols?” There comes the realisation of the futility and emptiness in idols of wood, stone, silver or anything else which man may allow to be an idol. Much of the prophetic word which Hosea was called on to deliver has dwelt on the consequences of idolatry. Now, focus is turned to the positive consequence of heeding those warnings and returning to a right relationship with God.
“Who is wise? Let him understand these things”. Who is prudent? Let him know them”. They are presented as a challenge to our perception of all that has gone before. Human nature is such that the vast majority of us have a propensity to judge ourselves kindly … in a good light. Well on this occasion, the questions are answered for us to make judgment according to God’s way. We are asked to carefully consider the words of this prophecy of Hosea. It is presented so that we may each measure our own wisdom and prudence.
“For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them”. Selah!
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 16
H O S E A
The heartache of the LORD is palpable in the opening words of our reading this week. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son”. Keeping in mind the interchangeability of the words Israel, Ephraim Samaria and Jacob, as descriptors for these people, He goes on “I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms*(Septuagint), but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them”. And more sorrowful words followed as God considered what was to become of these wayward, unrepentant, people that He still loved. They would not be going back to Egypt, but to Assyria, and that after suffering much turmoil and deprivation.
The reflective sentiments of the LORD are so genuinely expressed here. “How can I give you up Ephraim? How can I hand you over Israel?” The LORD remembers the fate of Admah and Zeboiim. They were two of the cities that perished, to be seen no more, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. To this very day, archeologists are attempting to discover the whereabouts and remnants of those places. The anguish of the LORD, in even thinking that such an end could possibly be chosen by His own people, instead of returning to Himself, retaining the relationship as Father and son, is heartbreaking. Then almost as a solution, certainly as a resolution, to that dilemma, the LORD makes His declaration. “My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come with terror”. The present judgement on these people is not the end of the story. God sees that there will be a reconciliation at some future date.
Does that mean that the LORD will withhold judgement? No it does not. The choices of the people are theirs to make. God does not interfere with that. The alternatives were clearly expressed (Deuteronomy 28,29). It’s the same today. The options before us are clearly spelled out. God’s way, which is the purpose and intent of the written word of our Bible, or our own way, which is decided by rejecting, or ignoring, that word. NO middle ground available. No ‘sitting on the fence’. What about those who haven’t heard? Is an often posed question. Well, that is for God to decide isn’t it? Completely beyond our control and influence. But we know that He is a just and righteous Judge. The position of the people of the northern kingdom IS known, as is our own situation. And that is the issue before us in this reading.
There is a warning here too for the southern kingdom, Judah. They are not without fault. For the benefit of this nation, God recalled a brief history of their journey by referring to their forefather Jacob. He recalled how Jacob prevailed against his brother Esau in respect of the blessing of the ‘birthright’. How Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God at Bethel, and prevailed. In so doing received the blessing of God too. That blessing was not for Jacob alone, but for his progeny in future generations. However, God said, the judgement, shortly to fall on the northern kingdom, would also fall on the southern kingdom if they continued on the same destructive path of neglect of their covenant obligations as their northern brothers were doing. Then God got specific. What was it that caused Him such grief? “A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand. He loves to oppress. And Ephraim said ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labours they shall find in me no iniquity that is sin’.”
God had called Moses to lead them out of Egypt. He had provided Moses with His Torah. It was for their benefit and enlightenment. It showed them a clear path, with ‘instruction for living righteously’ together, and with nations around them. They had willingly agreed to live that way, in part as an example to the nation’s around them. And now God charged them with the adoption of the practises of the Canaanites. Deceitful scales. Short changing their own. Bad enough eh? But even worse, they did not see any wrong in that. They thought it was good because they were becoming wealthy as a result! But God will not be mocked by such deviant behaviour. Consider our own ‘deviances’ today. They are just as condemning, but possibly less obvious. Cheating ones neighbour is very bad. Cheating the government is equally bad. “Chata”, the Hebrew word translated ‘sin’ in our Bible, is derived from an archery term meaning ‘to miss the mark’. Missing the mark is ‘missing the mark’. One inch or one mile, it’s still ‘missing the mark’. And this passage of Scripture shows us that ‘missing the mark’ has consequences, for everyone who does so. That is what God commissioned Hosea, and other prophets, to tell the people, and us. “I have spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols throughout the witness of the prophets”.
“It is not the will of God that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). That is why God is so long-suffering in regard to the waywardness of the peoples being addressed by these prophets. We would be unwise to not apply that to ourselves. And so the final word for this week’s ‘reflection’ focusses on our responsibility. The warning bells have sounded. “Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his LORD will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, and return his reproach upon him.”
May God give us wisdom to take stock of where we stand before Him. He has already done all He can to show us the way. The rest is up to us.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 15
H O S E A
“Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples”. That is suggestive of the fact that there may well have been ‘mirth’, but it was not joyful. No real satisfaction to be gained. Why? Because there was no future benefit or purpose to be seen. Only more of the same, and at great cost. Both personal and corporate. Our text this week continues in the theme of reminding the people what they had done to incur the wrath of God. It is of great regret that, because we know the end of this story, we have to acknowledge the futility of appeals and warnings which were given to this northern kingdom. It would be uplifting if everything was put right and they all lived “happily ever after” wouldn’t it? So why are we given this account of God’s dealings with them, which, on the face of it, ended in failure. Well, there are at least two reasons. The first is to show that God is a promise keeper. The people were left in no doubt what the outcome would be if they did not heed the warnings. The second reason is that all who read this account will have no doubt about God’s character, and His requirement of those with whom He makes a covenant. What He opens, no-one shuts, and what He shuts no-one opens.
So we are the beneficiaries of Hosea’s prophetic pronouncements, and there is much for us to learn as a result. Whereas Hosea made a statement “You have played the harlot against your God”. We might read it as a negative commandment, as in “Do not play the harlot with your God”. Because the results of so doing are catastrophic. For these Israelites the pronouncement was “They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria”. There are three important observations to be made here. We do well to note them. First the designation that the ‘land’ is the LORD’s. It was then, it is today. That land was designated, by the LORD, to be inhabited by a people who would be ‘different’ to the inhabitants of the nations around them. When the “spirit of harlotry’' took hold of the people, they were behaving no differently to the nations around them, and lost their privilege of occupancy. Second the return to Egypt, is a not a geographical relocation, but a reference to a return to slavery from which God had rescued their forefathers centuries earlier. Third the eating of unclean things in Assyria relates to a very different lifestyle change. God had specified, among other things, the dietary ‘laws’ applying to Jews. The literal meaning of ‘unclean’ is (phonetic Heb ‘Tawmay’ ‘foul’ or ‘disgusting’) But with that also is the estrangement from the familiar rituals which were part and parcel of their daily living. The ‘religious’ elements of worship they had already abandoned anyway. So their lifestyle choice came at a very high cost, physically and socially.
Almost like ‘rubbing salt into the wound’ the question is posed “What will you do in the appointed day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?” In our ‘christian mindset’, that may not register as important. But to the Israelites, even in their idolatry, and syncretism, the observance of the Sabbaths and Feast days was still part of their religious ritual. The same applies today even in the midst of a largely secular society which is Israel. The rituals of observance are important links to their heritage and culture. What did they say, or by their actions, think? “The prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is insane”. It is a truth that very often one does not appreciate what one has until it is lost, or taken away. The true value of their relationship with YHWH Elohim was unappreciated. May God grant that we do not take His presence among us so lightly.
There are so many lessons for us to learn from the attitudes of these people of the northern kingdom. We have the insight of history, which they did not have to the same degree. In spite of that, many of us still fail to grasp the message so clearly presented. God is not to be trifled with. “All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house”. Gilgal was a worship centre of their idolatry. (Note for today:- Not all idols are made of wood and stone. Selah! An “Idol” is defined as ‘an object of extreme devotion’, ‘ a representation or symbol of an object of worship’, ‘a false conception’, or ‘a false god’.) And God has the same attitude and reaction to idolatry today as He did in the days of Hosea.
Look at some more of the similes God used to show them what was before them as a result of their idolatrous ways.
Chapter 10:3,4. “We have no king because we did not fear the LORD”. All of their kings were ‘bad kings’. When the blind lead the blind, they all end up in the ditch Yeshua said in Mathew 15.
Chapter 10: 5,6. “because of the calf of Beth Aven”. Right at the beginning of their ‘independence’, they had worshipped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Take them with you into the coming Assyrian captivity as a gift to their king. Do not leave your emblems of idolatry in My land.
Chapter 10: 11. “Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh grain”. Then “I will make Ephraim pull a plow”. The first was unmuzzled and was free to eat while it worked. The second was harnessed and had to wait to be fed.
Chapter 10:13,14. “Because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men. Therefore tumult shall arise among your people”.
The descriptions in the text of our Bible are not recognised today because times and methods have changed. The message has not.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 14
H O S E A
A note of explanation will be helpful here. The northern kingdom, Israel, was established by Jereboam 1, who became its first king, when the Nation was divided after the death of Solomon. Its capital city was called Samaria. The strongest tribe was Ephraim. The whole territory was, sometimes confusingly, variously, and interchangeably, called Israel, Ephraim, and Samaria. As we look at the text this week keep in mind that they are names for the same place.
Hosea, speaking the words of the LORD said “When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria. For they have committed fraud; A thief comes in; A band of robbers takes spoil outside”. Those are words which initially indicate a comforting intent at reconciliation. The LORD was ready and able to bring them back to Himself. But reconciliation required a co-operative willingness to be helped. They had already commenced a journey on the downward path. Then “a thief” arrived on the scene. I believe that thief to be the “spirit of harlotry” of which we spoke last week. Think of how a thief operates. Quietly, unnoticed, when least expected, without disturbance. The ‘modus operandi’ of thieves is well known. And yet they still succeed, unless there are effective detection methods in place to provide warning. Then Hosea continued “They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness”. In the analogy of ‘the thief’, that means God, the householder, knows what has been taken. The lesson for us here is that ‘the thief’’ is still alive and well. And in the context of this passage of Scripture we ‘instal adequate detection’ by understanding what God requires of us when we put our trust in Him. YES, we do have a part to play, and God has provided all means to keep us safe.
But Israel had made wrong choices. Hosea cites a number of similes to describe their state of woe. Laziness of attitude by comparison to the baker’s oven. Heated to a fierce heat so that there was no need to attend to it by night, as a diligent baker would have done. Uneven heat indicating inattention. The way of a ‘cake unturned’. Burned on one side, undone on the other. There was an inconsistency about them. “Ephraim is also like a silly dove, without sense”. Matthew 10:16 describes the dove as harmless, but here the contrast is of ‘silliness' as in ‘unthinking’. Seemingly they had consulted with Egypt and Assyria to advance themselves, whereas their correct course was to be found in their relationship with the LORD. “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me. They did not cry out to Me with their heart when they wailed upon their bed”. The LORD was ready and waiting to welcome them to Himself. And YES, He heard their ‘wails’ of complaint, even distress. But He did not hear their call for help in the manner of ‘LORD, we have sinned, help us, what should we do?’ Followed by an earnest waiting for an answer from Him. In a sense, it was a sorrow in being found out! But not in wanting to change.
“Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My Torah”. Time is short now. The prophet Ezekiel gives us the framework. Twice (Chapters 3 and 33) he talks about watchmen, whose duty was to sound the ‘shofar’ of warning when danger approached their camp. The diligent watchman would sound a timely warning and absolve himself of guilt if an enemy overtook them. The delinquent watchman would have “blood on his hands” for failing to sound the warning. The enemy comes silently, swiftly, like an eagle stalking its prey. In this instance, we may assume that the enemy is “the spirit of harlotry”, because if the people had NOT “transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My Torah” they would not have fallen prey to idolatry. It is another timely lesson. We need to hear. We need to ensure that the sound of the watchman’s warning is sounded in our day. We are inundated with exhortations to worldliness. Our voice of protest is weak. Because we expect others to sound the trumpet of warning, often, the result is ‘silence’.
“They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them”. These words were written when such offices were the norm in that society. Every city, it seemed, had its king. The record shows that in that northern kingdom, Israel, after the nation was divided, they had a succession of 19 kings. Not one of them chosen by God. Every one of them described as a ‘bad king’. That description denotes that they did not follow the commands and precepts of the LORD, other than by mere lip service. In the southern kingdom, Judah, over a longer period of time, they had 20 kings. Only 8 of them were described as ‘good kings’.
As we ‘reflect’ on their patterns of behaviour. The ways in which they failed to worship God as He intended. There must be a moment of quiet contemplation in which we try to discover if their mistakes, their contempt, their hardness of heart, is found in us today. That can be on two levels. Private and corporate. I have many times thought about the hierarchical (Nicolaitan) structures of worship we seem to readily embrace today. Care must be taken to ensure that we do not allow a ‘spirit of harlotry’ to surreptitiously invade that worship. God will not stop it. He didn’t stop the people of the northern kingdom. But He did judge them harshly.
Hosea sounded the ‘shofar’ of warning. It was a warning for them. And it is a warning for us.
Shabbat Shalom
RS