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| Photo by Jim Tracy |
1 Listen to what the I AM has said against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
God is speaking to all the descendants of Jacob; Israel and Judah.
God often uses the words “Israel” and “Judah” interchangeably. To Him, most of the time, they are the same people.
2 You are the only family I have ever chosen in the whole earth, so I will punish you for all your sins.
Israel is the only people God has had close relationships with. They are the only people He has entrusted with His Word, the only ones He has called His “wife.”
3 Can two people walk together unless they agree on the direction?
Two people can’t walk together unless they are actually going in the same direction. God can’t fulfill His promises to Israel unless Israel obeys Him.
4 Does a lion roar in the forest without first finding a victim? Does a young lion growl in his den, if he hasn't caught anything?
5 Does a bird land on a trap that has no bait? Does a snare snap closed when it hasn't caught anything?
6 Is a trumpet blown in the city without the people becoming afraid? Does a disaster destroy a city without the I AM doing it?
Cause and effect. Lions roar when they have food, birds are only caught in snares that are baited and set, cities are only afraid when under attack, and evil comes when God tells it to.
7 In fact, the Boss GOD won't do anything unless He tells his servants- the prophets- first.
God gives plenty of warning and chance for repentance before He punishes a people. Always.
8 Who isn't afraid when a lion roars at them? Who can keep from prophesying when the Boss GOD has spoken to them?
If you met a lion in the road and he roared at you, as a lion does when he is attacking, you would be afraid.
If God tells you to say something, you can't keep from saying it.
9 Announce to the rulers of Ashdod, and in the palaces of Egypt, “Gather yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and witness the great chaos in the middle of the city, and the tremendous oppression in their center.”
Ashdod was a major city in Philistia. God is calling Israel’s enemies to watch their destruction.
10 "Because they don't even know how to do what is right," says the I AM, "They store up riches gotten from violence and theft in their palaces.
Israel doesn’t even know how to obey anymore.
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
God is going to use the Assyrian army to punish Israel.
12 Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
After a lion attacks a lamb and the shepherd kills the lion, he only removes bits and pieces of the lamb from the lion’s mouth. The rest is gone.
In the same way, there will only be bits and pieces of Israel left when Assyria is done with them.
13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
Bethel was a major center of Baal worship.
Horns were a symbol of power. God is going to destroy Israel’s power and leave very little.
15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.