The court stands hushed. We have been here before. The same defendants are sitting in front of the Judge. Again.
We are shocked that the first trial had no effect on the them--the Judge gave them mercy and proclaimed, at their probation, what He expected of them:
- To act justly
- To love mercy
- To walk humble with Him
Simple.
Straightforward.
No-brainer.
Yahweh gave His people, through Moses, the Torah, which means, "instruction." His people did not lack any knowledge as to what He expected of them. The Decalogue itself was a powerful distillation of how to love God, by trusting in Him alone. Worshipping Him alone. No idols, which are lies. Just truth, because Yahweh is truth.
The remaining commandments cover how His people are to treat one another, resulting from and sustained by the people's love for Yahweh.
Loving God. Loving your neighbor. Loving yourself.
His people joined a kind of trinity with the beloved, His instructions on how to live, and the Beloved Himself.
Yahweh had demonstrated time and time again His mercy on His people. Even when their transgressions were great, He spared, admonished and forgave them because of His faithfulness:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord. (Lam. 3:22-26)
The people were to walk humbly with Yahweh, because of His provisions of instruction, mercy, faithfulness and love.
But no.
Thus, the court is back in session. The charges are as follows:
and to fear your name is wisdom—
Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. (v.9)
Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah, which is accursed? (v. 10)
and the short ephah, which is accursed? (v. 10)
People have prosperous by "ill-gotten gain." Whatever they did, it was at the expense of someone else. Half a dry measure, sold as a full one, means people will go home, and find that they do not have enough to feed their families. You are not loving your neighbors by deceiving them. Or watching them struggle to live.
Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights? (v. 11)
with a bag of false weights? (v. 11)
Again, deception. Charging people more using false weights means, again, your neighbors will have less to bring home, having paid more for nothing, You benefit. They suffer.
Your rich people are violent;
your inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully. (v. 12)
your inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully. (v. 12)
Deceit permeates all levels of society: the traders, the merchants and the rich. Maybe these are all the same people. They prosper at the expense of others. They may be physically violent--bullies, manipulators--or they visit violence metaphorically upon people who have little and just get by. Either way, a society built on deceit and violence is utterly contemptible in Yahweh's eyes.
The people know what He accepts.
What He rejects.
What He expects.
Yet, those in power act as if they are above the law, above Yahweh's instructions, above consequences.
Wrong.
Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,
to ruin you because of your sins.
You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.
You will plant but not harvest;
you will press olives but not use the oil,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. (13-15)
You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.
You will plant but not harvest;
you will press olives but not use the oil,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. (13-15)
What you were willing to obtain through violence and deceit will now disappear before your very eyes. All of your earthy treasure will go to others. You will become like the ones you have hurt and deceived.
You will want justice.
None will be given.
You will want mercy.
Your enemies will laugh.
You will not walk in humility, but in chains, stumbling towards destruction of all you held dear.
Except the one thing that truly counted: loving God and loving people.
You have observed the statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house;
you have followed their traditions. (v. 16)
and all the practices of Ahab’s house;
you have followed their traditions. (v. 16)
You practiced evil, idolatry and tried to rule Israel in the name of false gods. You persecuted the prophets of God and now, His voice will ring out and remind you that you were His, but you chose to reject Him and everything He stood for.
Therefore I will give you over to ruin
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn of the nations. (v. 16)
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn of the nations. (v. 16)
Natural consequences. Pull away from Yahweh, in heart, mind and deed, and you are subject to the dark forces of this world that use violence, war and atrocity to destroy anything that is good.
Reject Yahweh, and you accept the terms of the thief--who comes to steal. kill and destroy.
America: Are you wondering why you are less and less successful in your undertakings? More and more down-range of the dark forces of this world? More and more chaotic, divisive and violent?
Reject Yahweh and you accept the terms of the thief.
