2021 - 26 - Bible Reading, The Judgment of Israel

Week 26: The Judgment of Israel

Sunday’s Sermon: All Things New, Sound The Alarm

Wednesday: Summer Series - Jonah, Jared Saltz

Bible Readings:

Sunday, Jun 20: Obad, Jonah

Monday, Jun 21: Micah

Tuesday, Jun 22: Nah, Hab

Wednesday, Jun 23: Zeph, Haggai

Thursday, Jun 24: Zech 1–7

Friday, Jun 25: Zech 8–14

Saturday, Jun 26: Mal

Brief Overview of the Biblical Content

The Judgment of Israel

By Doy Moyer

Of the various kings and dynasties of the northern kingdom of Israel, not one was a good king. Some had the potential to do good and help get spiritual matters straightened out in the north, but they all failed to do so. Recall that when Jeroboam (the first) became king, he immediately began changing the religion of the people. He set up golden calves at Dan and Bethel, changed the priesthood, and changed the special days. From here, matters only worsened, and the spiral downward would not be stifled enough to ward off the impending judgment that would come.

Prophets were sent to Israel in order to warn the people of the judgment. The people had been guilty of idolatry (religious harlotry), of religious ritualism, and of social injustices. They were giving no indication that they were willing to turn back to Yahweh.

Hosea, using the imagery of the unfaithful wife, warned the people:

Hosea 4:1–3 (ESV)

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Hosea 4:6–7 ESV

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

Likewise, Amos speaks bluntly of the impending judgment: Thus says the Lord,

Amos 2:6 (ESV)

6 ...“For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—

Thus says the Lord,

Amos 3:12–15 (ESV)

12 ...“As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. 13 “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord God, the God of hosts, 14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground. 15 I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the Lord.

God gave the people time to repent. They knew better; they had been recipients of God’s covenant. However, they continually failed to listen, and soon their destruction would be complete. Amos describes a series of blessings that God had provided for them, then each time ends with the tragic phrase, “‘Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the Lord” (4:6-11). Consequently, this grave message was given: “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel” (4:12).

2 Kings 17:7-19 gives a summary of the reasons why Israel fell (please read it). The passage spells out many of the sins committed against Yahweh. These verses can be summarized to demonstrate what happened:

They repeatedly sinned and served idols in spite of God telling and warning them not to.

God sent them prophets to tell them to repent of their sins.

They refused to listen, but continued to forsake God and His commandments.

Therefore, God was angry with them and removed them from His sight.

This is exactly what God warned about from the beginning of His covenant with them. “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you...” (Deut. 28:15). God spelled out exactly what would happen. Nevertheless, they still refused to listen. “‘Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the Lord.”

Jeroboam II was the last of Jehu’s dynasty. Under him, Israel experienced an upturn in military strength, but spiritually remained destitute. Jeroboam died in ca. 753 B.C., and after him a series of week kings reigned until the capital city of Samaria fell to the Assyrians in ca. 722-721 B.C. No matter the strength shown by Jeroboam II, the nation fell in less than 30 years after he died. No amount of strength can ward off judgment when the people are so intent on disobeying God.

The sad legacy of Israel is one of disobedience. It didn’t have to be that way. They could have stayed true to God and His covenant. Now the question is, what will we do with this information? Will we listen to the Lord? Will we stay true to our covenant with God?

Four questions to ask after each day’s reading:

Key events, teaching, or concept:

Key verses:

What is God telling me about Himself or my relationship with Him?

How does this apply to my life today?