God's Case Against Israel
Study note
God speaks as if bringing a lawsuit against His own people. He lists what is missing from the land: truth, mercy, and knowledge of God. Instead, the land is full of cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. One violent act follows another. The whole creation suffers because of the people's sin.
1 Listen up, people of Israel, to what the LORD has to say! He is bringing charges against everyone in the land. There is no faithfulness anywhere. There is no love. Nobody knows God. Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 All you can find is cursing, lying, killing, stealing, and cheating on spouses. People smash through every boundary, and one violent act follows right after another. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore the land itself is drying up. Everyone and everything is wasting away — the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and even the fish in the sea are dying off. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
The Priests Have Failed
Study note
God places special blame on the priests. They were supposed to teach the people God's law, but they rejected knowledge themselves. God says the priests actually feed on the people's sin because they profit from the sin offerings. The more the people grew in number, the more they sinned. Both the priests and the people will face the same punishment.
4 But do not point fingers at each other. My real complaint is with you, the priests. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 You stumble in broad daylight, and your prophets stumble right beside you in the dark. I will tear down your mother nation. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6 My people are falling apart because they do not know me. And since you priests rejected the knowledge I offered, I am rejecting you as my priests. Since you forgot my law, I will forget your children. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7 The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me. So I will trade their honor for humiliation. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They get fat off the sins of my people. They love it when people do wrong, because it means more sin offerings for them to eat. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And so the priests will get exactly the same punishment as the people. I will hold them accountable for everything they have done and pay them back in full. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 They will eat but never feel full. They will chase pleasure but never grow. That is what happens when you walk away from the LORD. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
Idol Worship Leads to Ruin
Study note
Unfaithfulness to God and drunkenness have stolen the hearts of the people. They ask their wooden idols for guidance and use divination sticks to learn the future. A spirit of unfaithfulness has led them astray from God. They offer sacrifices on the hilltops under large trees. God says the men are just as guilty as the women they accuse.
11 Turning from God and drinking too much has stolen my people's clear thinking. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask a block of wood for advice and expect a stick to tell them the future! A rebellious spirit has pulled them off course, and they have abandoned their God to chase after fakes. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13 They climb to the mountaintops to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the hilltops. They worship under oak, poplar, and elm trees because the shade feels nice. No wonder your daughters are going down the wrong path and your daughters-in-law are being unfaithful. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 But I will not single out your daughters or your daughters-in-law for punishment. After all, the men themselves go off with prostitutes and take part in disgusting pagan rituals. A people this clueless are headed for disaster. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
A Warning to Judah
Study note
God warns the southern kingdom of Judah not to follow Israel's sinful example. Ephraim, the largest tribe representing northern Israel, has joined itself to idols and is beyond correction. Israel is as stubborn as a young cow that refuses to be led. The people's shameful worship will blow them away like wind.
15 Israel, even if you insist on being unfaithful, at least do not drag Judah into it. Stay away from Gilgal and Beth-aven, and do not swear oaths using the LORD's name if you do not mean them. Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 Israel is as stubborn as a cow that plants its feet and refuses to move. How can the LORD possibly lead them to green pastures? For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim has glued himself to his idols. Leave him alone! Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Even after their drinking binges end, they keep on sinning. Their leaders shamelessly chase after disgraceful behavior. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 A strong wind will sweep them away. They will be ashamed of the worthless gods they worshiped. The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.