Recalling a Destiny

Recalling a Destiny

Darkening sky in background.

The prophet spoke to Israel during the age of decline – from the period of the monarchy under Solomon through the Babylonian captivity in 586 B.C.  The prophets spoke of such things as Idolatry, spiritual blindness, and a complete breakdown of moral integrity.  The prophets, sick at heart over the lack of obedience to God, came upon the scene and declared that judgment would come upon his chosen people.

Eyes of Israel centered on the words “I will bless you”

During the age of decline, Israel felt secure in the promises of God.   The prophet’s doom preaching seemed like utter nonsense to a people who had begun to think of themselves  as God’s special nation.  Confident that no evil could befall them, and refused to take the prophets seriously.

Fragments of torn manuscript spread on the ground

Israel spend little attention to its responsibility to be a blessing.   Israel liked the idea of being blessed but gave little evidence of being a blessing.  Marching to the music of pagans, Israel inherited their kind of ethics and became a failure at being a blessing:

·         Lawlessness prevailed in the land.

·         The priest were corrupt

·         Lack of interest in their faith by the people

·         Love of others was missing

·         Many false prophets were misleading the people

Israel clasps mortar bowl and pestles to bosom

Israel’s institutions and traditions had become ends in themselves.  Outwardly, at least, the chosen people displayed all the signs of a religious people.  Israel worshiped things rather than the ONE who had given them that which had been designed to be means to an end had become an end in itself.

The Prophet saw Israel making ends out of things designed to be means to an end

Tent of the tabernacle symbol

Israel made the temple a reason for false security.  .  Thousands who said they were Jews; worshiped not God but the temple itself.  This approach led them to forget their faith when they left.

Law symbol in mortar bowl

Israel made the law a stumbling block to justice.

Separation symbol in mortar bowl

Israel turned separation into a curse.

Circumcision symbol in mortar bowl

Israel made circumcision a fetish.  It is implied that circumcision , too, became an end in itself during the age of decline.

Mirror symbol in mortar bowl

Israel put the Holy Land to unholy use.  Israel had forgotten that the land should be dedicated to God.

Prophet holds fragments of torn manuscript before Israel’s eyes

The prophet recalled Israel to a realization of its destiny, to be a blessing.  The prophet sickened by the failure to be a blessing by the people, encouraged them to go back to what they were called to be.  The worthlessness of their sacrifices and meaningless efforts could bring little of the blessing to the world that was expected to them.  The prophet’s earnest plea was that Israel turn their focus back to God.