Them’s Tough Words!

I’ve been contemplating the harshness of some of the Old Testament prophets and why God would need to be that rough on Israel. I have heard that God would use somewhat of a pattern when people turned from Him. He would actually bless them more so they would realize that He was trying to reach them (a kind and gentle reproof so to speak). When that didn’t work He would bring affliction to wake them up (a trip to the woodshed). When it got really ugly He would have harsh words and kill them off, things that we see in Ezekiel and Jeremiah especially.

Now I can’t verify for sure that this is how it worked but it does make some sense and would explain why we see such drastic measures. You can take it or leave it, although the drastic measures are coming soon again. Be sure that judgment is coming on the world and it starts with the church.

Anyway, I was thinking about how tough it would be to hear things when they were actually directed right at you. It’s one thing when we read this to Israel:

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13 KJV

How would you like that to be said to your face? You draw near to God with your mouth but not your heart. That’s pretty painful to hear. However, if it wakes you up it’s worth it. No, I’m not saying that to you, I’m just showing what it must have felt like to them to hear. And yet they usually wouldn’t listen.

Here’s another that I always smile when I read or think about, it seems so crazy to me:

“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.” Hosea 4:12 KJV

Can you imagine having a stick tell you what to do? I just couldn’t figure that out, until I noticed something tonight. Sadly enough a more modern version can be said of some who name Christ:

“My people ask counsel of their horoscope, and the stars declare to them.”

Same thing, isn’t it? Yet many people will check to find out what the stars have to say about their lives. True it happens more among unbelievers, but I’ve heard of it among Christians. It’s not innocent fun.

How about something like this?

“For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22 KJV

And everyone said “Ouch”.

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:31 KJV

Yes, we have that again today. It’s more among the “liberal” Christians who embrace spiritual gifts, but it’s there. People will travel for hours to get a “word from the Lord” that might be bogus. I used to chase that kind of stuff, today I realize it’s not a good idea.

You know, I just had a thought. We tend to push New Testament, and that is not wrong, but in many ways the Old Testament balances it a bit. We understand grace from the New Testament, but we can understand the judgment for trampling on grace better from the Old Testament. God really extended a lot of grace and mercy to Israel, and over and over they hurt Him. Then when He brought a new way in Jesus, they rejected that too. Most Gentiles reject Christ as well, and many get saved and later fall away.

And as the Tribulation looms closer and closer, we should be paying attention to not only the good stuff, but why judgment must come. I really don’t see that much has changed; our offenses are basically the same. They simply have been painted differently so they don’t look so bad to us.