Reflections
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 19
N A H U M
The prophecy against Nineveh continued. The events described are worded in the present tense, but we need to keep in mind that they are future to the time of this proclamation, as one might expect of a prophetic message! “He who scatters has come before your face” describes a pattern of behaviour the Assyrians regularly adopted in their many conflicts. Destroying and scattering the vanquished. But the prophecy is that they themselves will suffer the same fate at the hands of their own conquerors. This was fulfilled in 612 BCE when Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated them. Furthermore, what follows about “the LORD restoring the excellency of Jacob like the excellency of Israel” is a historical reference to the time when Jacob found blessing as he wrestled with the angel at Peniel. His name was changed as a result. This is prophetic of a renewal for the house of Judah. It is prophetic of the restoration of Israel as a single nation, remembering that at the time of this prophecy, the northern kingdom had been taken captive at the hand of the Assyrians over 100 years earlier. It speaks of the uniqueness of the relationship God had, and still has, with His covenant people. Such relationship does not exist with any other nation. A relationship “min olam v’ad olam” (for ever and ever). Chastised, expelled from the land, corrected? YES. But never abandoned. But for the Assyrians, the “emptiers have emptied them out and ruined their vine branches.” is another reference to the destructiveness of the Assyrian method of cruelty in victory over others. A fate which will shortly be their own.
The language is descriptive. Every verse of our text references some aspect of the way in which the downfall of Nineveh will impact that nation. Confusion as they seek to defend themselves from the invader (v.4). The defence preparations of military leaders (v.5). Situated on the east bank of the River Tigris, (where modern day Mosul is today) floods will enter the city gates and bring down the palaces (v.6). The goddess of Nineveh (possibly the fertility goddess Ishtar) taken away by the captors in demonstration of the superiority of their own gods. The ‘maidservants’ (temple prostitutes) mourning their loss of income (v.7). And the total destruction likened to the way a lioness tears its prey apart to feed the cubs (vv. 11-13). On and on it goes. And the final condemnation “‘Behold, I am against you’ says the LORD of hosts”. There can be no greater condemnation. From this comes the knowledge of the utter hopelessness of their situation. A situation brought about by their total abandonment of the salvation offered to them when the LORD sent Jonah on his mission to preach to them more than 100 years earlier. There are lessons for all to learn here. This is the word of the LORD. It is recorded in our Bible for a purpose, and it not just for historical information. It will accomplish the purposes for which God sent it, to me, and to you! (Isaiah 55:11). Selah!
Nineveh is about to be shamefully and humiliatingly exposed for the ways in which it had treated others. And not least because they had turned their back on the offer of salvation set before them (Ch3 v 5). Furthermore, the prophet said, instead of mourning their demise, there will be rejoicing. The misery of their defeat is to be theirs alone (v.7). And we get a bit of a history lesson here in the reference to “No Amon”. A magnificent city in southern Egypt which was destroyed by the Assyrian leader Asburnipal in 663 BCE. The humiliating defeat of ‘NO Amon’ was to be replicated in Nineveh by the Babylonians. (v.8). The prophet reminded the people of Nineveh that ‘No Amon’, in all its glory, had some very powerful defenders. Egypt and Ethiopia. In the same way that Nineveh considered her defensive allies to be strong. Put and Lubim are identified by the Jewish historian Josephus as being in what we today know as Libya (v.9). And in a manner of mockery, the prophet describes the defences of Nineveh in disparaging terms. “All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs; if they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater. Surely your people in your midst are women! (how politically incorrect today) The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies; fire shall devour the bars of your gates” (vv.12,13). Enough to make a proud people bristle with anger. But that is just vanity against the proclamation of the LORD.
There are two ways in which this prophetic word may be seen. Maybe it is the LORD’s intent that we see, and take heed to both. The first, and most obvious, is in practical terms applying, as it does, to the fate which is about to fall on the hapless citizens of Nineveh. As we have commented earlier, it became their experience just a few short years later. It was a time of God’s judgement. The second way we may see this is also prophetic, but in the manner in which it speaks into our lives today. Certainly, we may not behave in the cruel manner of which these folk of Nineveh are accused. But if we honestly judge ourselves according to the principles of behaviour commanded by God, we would all assuredly fall well short. And that is part of the prophetic message, a time of accounting, a time of warning, and a time for readjustment to align ourselves with God’s will while we still have time to make such change. Let it not be said of us, as it was for these people of Nineveh, “Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; your nobles rest in the dust. Your people are scattered on the mountains. Your injury has no healing, your wound is severe. All who hear news of you will clap their hands over you, for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?”
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”. (Isaiah 55:11).
Shabbat Shalom
RS
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
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
'Reflections' on the Writing Prophets 13
H O S E A
Hosea is burdened by the role the priests took in bringing about the demise of the northern kingdom. “Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For yours is the judgment, because you have been a snare to Mizpah and a net to Tabor”. Both Mizpah and Tabor were most likely places of idol worship. The plea is for the people of the house of Israel to take note, because they are the ones who are about to bear the consequence of following the false teaching of the priests. And I find a salutary lesson for today right there. When the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14). There are plenty of “blind” Scripture pedlars (posing as priests) alive and well today. Anyone displaying a strong focus on (your) money should be viewed with caution. In any event it behoves each person to be diligent in their response to things taught by others. (YES, that does include what is written here. You are urged to diligently check the Scriptures for yourself.) In the case before us, Torah observance, which was the major issue, was clearly being wantonly disregarded. Idol worship, in a number of forms, being substituted. Today, we have even less excuse than did they, because we are privileged to have the word of God in printed form readily available. There is no excuse for our lack of discernment of false teaching, other than laziness. Not checking Scriptural truth for oneself is both unacceptable and dangerous. Beware of the ditch ahead.
“They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the LORD”. The LORD had commanded Hosea to marry a harlot so that he would understand what it was like to be joined to an unfaithful wife. But now we are introduced to these people being consumed with a “spirit of harlotry”. That really speaks of a compulsion to unfaithfulness. An addiction. Can’t get way from it. I have discussed addiction with people who are gripped by substance abuse. In many cases there is a genuine desire to be rid of the addiction, but its power is too strong to be cast aside. It has become habitual. Wrong has gained a victory over right. That is the picture we are given here. That is why God’s judgement was to allow them to go their own way, even though it meant them walking away from His presence. The phrase in bold letters above might be put that “they no longer know the LORD”. Because we know that they once did. It is possible to find ourselves in the same situation. Think back to the time you first made a covenant of faith with God. (A Welsh evangelist I knew many years ago used to say that our relationship with God was like riding a bicycle. You have to make progress, because if you stop you’ll fall off.) It is a description that appears to fit these Israelites doesn’t it? Make progress or fall off. They fell off. We should learn a lesson from that too.
“Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up”. This is an appeal to the people that they repent. The prophet Isaiah put it similarly. “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. These words sound like they belong in the Apostolic Scriptures don’t they? But God is speaking in prophetic terms about a day far ahead for them. “After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight”. God had His eye on His own people, even when they had so disappointed Him that He had to let them walk away.
The pleas of God echo around the world. Their world. “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away”. Do you feel the agony in those words? The disappointment expressed here is palpable. The people God described as His “special treasure”, and “the apple of My eye”, filled with so much promise, and now so utterly disappointing. And yet the words He uses are so comforting at the same time. The Apostle Paul, writing to the mixed “ekklesia” in Rome, said “have they stumbled that they should fall ? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness (restoration).” As God continued to express His sorrow at their behaviour, He also began to show His understanding. “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more that burnt offerings”. King David had expressed the heart of God in his Psalm of contrition many years earlier. “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise”. It is the contrite heart. The understanding and knowledge of God, which allows us to know what pleases Him. We noted earlier that the people of the northern kingdom were charged with the fact that “they do not know the LORD”.
“But like men (Heb. Adam .. mankind) they transgressed the covenant, there they dealt treacherously with Me”. God knows the heart of mankind. He knows my heart, and yours. And with that knowledge He still sent Yeshua to this earth so that we could enjoy fellowship with Himself. His perfect plan for those who are His is that one day “All Israel will be saved”. (Romans 11:26) Those who join them in faith, that is faith in the One who is their anointed Saviour, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, will face Him who sits on that Great White Throne, and hear the words “well done good and faithful servant”.
It behoves all of us that ‘we get to know the LORD’.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 12
H O S E A
We encounter a bit of a logistic problem at the beginning of our reading today. “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans”. Is this the same woman taken as a wife by Hosea at the beginning of this book? Or a different one. On this occasion we are told that Hosea paid a “bride price” for this marriage, and that he made a few stipulations about how his new wife should behave. We need to use a bit of logic here. It would appear that this particular section of Hosea’s prophecy provides something of a “bookend” to the beginning, as God sought to provide a simile between Israel’s behaviour and that of the idolatrous, wayward woman in question. The women are one and the same.
(Daniel Lancaster, in his Torah Club commentary “The Voice of the Prophets” makes an interesting observation (Hosea 2:16) on the use of the two different words for ‘husband’ in Biblical Hebrew. “Baali”, a common name for ‘husband’, literally means “master”. “Ish”, also commonly used for ‘husband’, literally means ‘man’. Hosea tells his wife to call him ‘Ish’ (man) and no longer ‘Baali’ (master). In the same way, God tells the Israelites of that northern kingdom that they were to no longer to consider, or even mention, Him in any way as ‘Baali’ (master). It was a significant downgrading of that relationship.)
Chapter 3 of our text has a prophetic message of despair and then some hope. “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or scared pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward they shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days”. The phrase “ephod or teraphim” is reference to ‘totally godless’ in a broad sense. “Ephod” speaks of the Jewish priesthood, with which they were well familiar, and “teraphim” refers to the idol worship which was the cause of their demise. So in a ‘worship’ sense they would be left with nothing. But it would have been better without the ‘teraphim’ in the first place. Never-the-less, it was God’s purpose to punish their idolatry, but not to abandon them for ever. The reconciliation of which the prophet spoke would come when they sought the LORD in humility and truth. I believe that will take place when Messiah returns to this earth the second time. During Yeshua’s first time on this earth, the “Samaritans” were still pagan, not counted with the Jews.
Chapter 4 provides an opportunity for lesson learning for any who wish to learn. It continues in the vein of cataloguing the charges against the people. It is relentless. As we consider these charges, it may be profitable to measure ourselves, our nation, as we stand along-side these ancient people, in order to judge for ourselves what God might say of us as He documents the behaviour which He found so distressing in them. Remember God is consistent and unchanging. “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.” What does God see in our nation? Well, this is what He said He would do. “The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; (this is specific to that generation in that they were eating the sin offerings of the people who individually sought forgiveness in such sacrifice) They set their heart on iniquity, and it shall be; like people like priest. (The ones who should have been crying out against such, the priests, were delinquent in that task) So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds”. This is quite alarming. God expected the priestly class to speak out against such profanity. He considered silence to amount to complicity. Didn’t the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:5) tell us that all believers are ‘priests’? Now there’s a thought!
The prophet is directed to shine a light on the southern kingdom of Judah in the manner of a warning to them. It is evident that God had provided His final warning to Israel, but Judah still had a chance because they had not yet gone down the same path of idolatrous ‘harlotry’ as Israel. “Though you, Israel, play the harlot, let Judah not offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, nor go up to Beth Aven, nor swear an oath ..”. Both Gilgal, in northern Samaria, and Beth Aven (‘house of deceipt’), a deliberate substitution of the name Bethel in the south of the country, were once places of Godly worship, they had now been given over to idolatry. The Judeans knew these places as they once were. In their former state of reverence before God. Whilst the injunction of God is not to even visit those places, it is further meant as a general warning not to go down that same path of idolatrous worship. Among the reasons God gave was that it was a path of separation from Himself. “For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn calf; now the LORD willed them forage like a lamb in open country”. That separation meant that they were easy prey for whatever might befall them. The Apostle Jude has an interesting piece of advice for believers. The original Living Bible paraphrase puts it well. “Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you”. (Jude 21)
We may not be able to readily identify the exact situation our text uses to illustrate the message. “Harlotry” may seem to be extreme. But it is how God saw that situation. It was the rejection of Himself, the deliberate act of disobedience to His commands and statutes, the failure to honour covenant promises, the rejection of multiple warnings. That is what the message of Hosea is all about. And there is more to come. We would be wise to ask God to mercifully shine His light on us … while there is still time.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 11
H O S E A
The name “Hosea” comes from the same Hebrew root word as Joshua and Yeshua. Its meaning is ‘salvation’, but the last two names carry the further meaning of “YHWH is salvation”. Hosea was called to deliver the message of God to the idolatrous northern kingdom when Jereboam 2 was king. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah at the time of this ministry. A period from about 755 BCE to 722 BCE., when Jonah, Amos, Isaiah and Micah were also active. It seems that the LORD took time to convey His message to Hosea, because we are told that when the LORD began to speak to him He gave Hosea a most unusual command. “Go take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry”. Gomer was a ‘shrine’ prostitute in their mixed up world of Baal worship (which Jezebel had introduced). She would produce childen by Hosea who would also commit harlotry! (idol worship) But then God also gave him the reason for such a command. “For the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD”.
It is obvious that the Israelites of the northern kingdom were viewed by God in that light, (prostituting themselves with Baal worship) and in order for Hosea to accurately and passionately convey that message, God wanted Hosea to have real life experience of what that felt like. Poor Hosea! It is a measure of Hosea’s commitment that he did exactly what the LORD commanded. He married Gomer. In the fulness of time, and in quick succession, Gomer bore three children to Hosea. Each were given a name which was full of meaning. A boy, Jezreel (God will scatter), a girl, Lo-Ruhamah (not loved), and another boy, Lo-Ammi ( not My people).
The words of Scripture are more eloquent than any commentary.
About the first child God said “Call his name Jezreel, for in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu (2 Kings 9,10) and bring an end (722 BCE) to the kingdom of the house of Israel. It shall come to pass in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel (2 Kings 15:29).” Prophetic words which the people of that day were to experience for themselves.
About the second child God said “Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the LORD their God”. But that salvation would not be on a battlefield. Jerusalem was besieged by the Assyrians in the days of king Hezekiah (701 BCE) and God preserved them from that siege.
About the third child God said “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I will not be your God”. A sad indictment. But in spite of that God said that they would continue to grow in numbers. This is consistent with the covenant promise God made to Abraham regarding their growth in numbers. “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered”. However, God said that other nations would not understand the wrath of God on them and would continue to consider them to be His people.
Then in amazing prophetic insight (verse 11) God said “Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head.” This will be when the LORD makes ‘a new covenant’ with them (Jeremiah 31:31). The “One head” will be Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, in whose blood that ‘new covenant’ is guaranteed. And the “day of Jezreel” is a reference to the battle which ends all battles, which is to be fought in the valley of Jezreel in Samaria, just below Mount Carmel, close to Meggido.
As chapter 2 opens, Hosea uses the metaphor of a courtroom, as did Micah. God, ‘the plaintiff’, brings charges of harlotry against Israel. Charges which are plainly indefensible. The record of their syncretism is long standing, going back to the time when the first king Jereboam set up the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. To that had been added the worship of Baal when Ahab was king. (Elijah famously challenged them to make a choice on Mount Carmel). The charge goes on, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, I will also reject you from being a priest before Me; Because you have forgotten the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children”. This is the most serious charge against them. The idolatry they practised had distorted the very lifestyle they were supposed to uphold. Their priestly duty was to teach their children. They had not. Their covenant promise was to observe and obey the Torah. They did not. “The plaintiff” was also both the jury and the judge. He still is. And here is a lesson for us to remember.
The judgement of God was not without warning. Read again Deuteronomy 28 and 29 if any doubt remains about that. If anyone thinks Torah to be obsolete, which it isn’t, look again at Matthew 7:21-23, Hebrews 9:27, and Revelation 20:12. No-one is without warning, and the Judge has already pronounced His judgment, and has provided the means by which the penalty of His judgement may be forgiven. In the case of the northern kingdom He said “For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn calf; now the LORD will let them forage like a lamb in open country”. No longer under the protection of His love and care. But free to go about their own devices, and then, alone, to bear the consequences of the stubbornness of which they had been warned.
Hosea took the message of God to Israel. They acted like the ‘unfaithful wife’, the hurt and disappointment of which Hosea was only too painfully aware. The question that poses is; What sort of a ‘wife’ am I?
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITING PROPHETS
‘Reflections’ on the Writing Prophets 10
M I C A H
This third ‘reflection’ in Micah’s prophecy appears as though the scene is set in a courtroom. God is the plaintiff, uncertain as to the exact nature of the complaint against Him, the people appear as defendants. God wants to hear the details of their complaint before a jury. The jury is comprised of the mountains, the hills, the foundations of the earth, who were witnesses to the covenant God had made with the people centuries earlier. The covenant was wilfully broken by the people. What had God done to bring about such a situation? His own character and reputation was at stake. At least that is how it appears to me!
“O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me” said the LORD. Then, by way of preamble He reminded them briefly of details of the journey He had safely brought them on to get where they now were. From bondage as slaves in Egypt. From the curse that Balaam of Moab had attempted to place upon them. His guiding influence on Balak in preventing him from uttering any such curse. His care of them, in food, water and protection during the long journey in bringing them into the land in which they now lived as free men. Then He posed some rhetorical questions. The sort of questions that a person might have asked of such a benefactor. They may be summarised as “How can we show our gratitude? What can we do to express our appreciation?”. The answer is simply and eloquently put. Words my late wife claimed to be her favourite Scripture text. (and on a quite personal note, in a more than six decade long marriage, I can testify, that is how she lived her life)
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD requires of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Of course, the whole prophecy of Micah, as with other prophets, was because that was NOT how people were living their lives. God reminded them of the injustices which had become engrained in their lifestyle. On account of which the judgement of the LORD was about to be delivered to them. They took advantage of the weak in their society, “wicked scales and deceitful weights” was the description. It was in stark contrast to their covenant agreement to care for and support such people. Micah knew the Scriptures. As did they. He reminded them of God’s warning to bring desolation, sickness and hunger upon them (Leviticus 26: 14 - 16) as a direct result of their disobedience. But the people had grown sceptical. “Nah! God wouldn’t do that to us!” They and their ancestors had been living in the land hundreds of years. Yes, they had seen the correction of the LORD. Yes, they had seen battles lost from time to time. And in very recent times they had seen the northern kingdom attacked by the Assyrians. But they had not seen “the arm of the LORD bared”. Big mistake. There is a loud and clear lesson for us in this if we are willing to learn it. Do not take God for granted. “What does the LORD require of you”. It is printed in bold above. Read it again. Micah is addressing people who seemed arrogantly contemptuous of God’s requirement of those who are His. He really does expect that we live righteously.
Micah likens it to the owner of a vineyard, going late in the harvest time to see what had been left for the ‘gleaners’. The poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger in their gates, the disadvantaged. NOTHING. Cleaned out by the greed of the owner. God describes it as an evil. Gifts for the ‘influential’ in the land, yes. Bribes for the lawmakers, yes. All scheming together at the expense of those who have nothing. “Son dishonours father, daughter rises against her mother … a man’s enemies are the men of his own household”. The greed and animosity even within families. It seems endemic in society, even today. When Yeshua commissioned His disciples (Matthew 10:35) it was this very Scripture that He used to describe what they would encounter as they went about their task of spreading the good news about Himself. But Micah, as he spoke for the person wronged, said “Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me”. This is the hope of those wronged and neglected by fellow man. Not looking to sinful man for assistance. Rather “I will bear the indignation of the LORD, (not you) because I have sinned against Him (not you) until He pleads my case and executes justice for me (which you have not). He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness”. (Because there is no righteousness to be seen in you, my neighbour.) What an indictment.
But even that is not the end. At the end of this sad lament, as the prophet laid bare the iniquity of that generation, and the inevitable judgment of God about to fall on them, there is hope. The Israelites of the northern kingdom, and the Judeans of the southern kingdom later, in their time, witnessed the judgment of the LORD on them. Our generation will also face the judgment of the LORD. But here is the good news. He provided a pardon.
“Who is a God like You. Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger for ever. Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which YOU have sworn to our fathers from days of old”.
In His love, mercy, and grace, He sent Yeshua to settle our debt. Trust Him.
Shabbat Shalom
RS