April 30, 2008

 

  Having spoken judgment against the surrounding nations due to their

ungodliness and their abuse of Israel, the LORD now turns to declare

the failure of His people, Judah (2:4-5) and Israel (2:6-8) with their

approaching judgment.

 

Chapter two, verses 4-5- using the same formula of ‘fulness’ (three

….and for four), the Lord expresses His intent to punish Judah.  Using

Hebrew parallelism, He describes their sin:

      “despised the law… = active sins

       not kept His commandments” =  passive sins.

  Their culture has been built upon “lies” which is a repeat of their fathers’ sins.

These “lies” pertain to worship of false gods—worshipping an unworthy and

misleading deity – Isa.2:8-9, 17:8.

 

Chapter two, verses 6-8- the same is now said of Israel (northern tribes).

Their sin is specified as oppression and mistreatment of their Jewish brothers.

“sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals”-

Thus, human life is cheapened and traded as if mere objects of use.

  The initial language of vs.7 must be understood as dramatic poetry—

The word “pant” may be also translated “trample”—either way it suggests

an eagerness to humiliate and oppress the poor as a class.  See 4:1, 5:11 and

8:6—in their prosperity, Israel had little regard for the poor.

   “a man and his father go in… defile my holy name”- this likely refers

to some aspect of incest, which is prohibited in Lev.18:6-18.  Others see the reference to prostitution where father & son share the services of a harlot.

Widespread adultery appears common- see Hos.6:10, 7:4.  Breakdown of

appropriate barriers between adults leads to break down of society at large.

   “lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge”- see Ex.22:26-27

where clothing taken as a pledge was to be returned at night.  Again, it was a sin against the poor.  The words “every altar” suggests pagan worship—see

Hos.10:2,8, 12:11.

 

Chapter two, verses 9-12- lists God’s action of help on previous occasions.

The reference to “the Amorite” is use of the singular for the plurality of tribes in Canaan before the Israelite invasion- see Gen.15:16.  “height like cedars..

strong as oaks” is to remind Israel that such an overthrow of these Canaanite

people was not without significance.  Vs.10 relates to the escape from Egyptian

bondage and God’s care to get them into the land.

  Vs.11 describes His mercy with sending of prophets to convey God’s bidding

And the selection of a minority of Israelites as “Nazirites” (Num.6:1-12).

Nazirites were to live exemplary lives of separation unto God for whatever

Page 2

 

service He may have appointed them unto.  Note in vs.9, He is the God who

destroyed;  in vs.10, the God who brought you up and in vs.11, the God who

raised up.

  Israel is reminded that her reaction was to seduce the Nazirites with wine

And demand His prophets “shut up”.  In these two actions we see desecration

of that which is holy and opposition to that which is truth.

 

Chapter two, verses 13-16 describes the consequences of such ungodliness.

The difficulty of the translation of vs.13 is evident in the various readings:

NKJV- “I am weighed down by you as a cart….” =action carried out on the Lord

NIV- “I will crush you as  a cart..” =action carried out by the Lord

RSV- “I will press you down…= action carried out by the Lord
NASB- “I am weighted down beneath you…”=action carried out on the Lord

  The thought seems to be that the Lord is burdened with His responsibility

of inevitable judgment (due to the nature of Israel’s sin).  Deliverance from

divine wrath is NOT an option; yet there is hope for the future- 9:11-15.

   In vs.14, three classes are denied safety—“the swift…the strong.. the mighty..” and reiterated in vs.15 – bowman, foot soldier and horseman.

Vs.16 points out the “most courageous men” of Israel will experience terror before the wrath of God leaving them without clothing to cover their shame.

Again, vs.13-16 indicates nothing will prevent divine wrath upon Israel.  It is

a dark message.