God's charge against His people
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| 1 ¶ Hear ye now what
the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills
hear thy voice.
.2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. .3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. |
1 -
Contend
The Lord brings the wicked people to a divine court of justice. At the
end of the previous chapter we saw that they were involved in wichcraft
(sorceries) mi0512, carved images, groves (worship
sites) mi0514
2 - Mountains See is0202, Also hk0306, ps00902. 3 - What have I done? The Lord presents His case as in court. See on je0205. 4 - Wearied To the contrary, He had been their strength. 4 - Miriam "mentioned, as being the prophetess who led the female chorus who sang the song of Moses (Ex 15:20). God sent Moses to give the best laws; Aaron to pray for the people; Miriam as an example to the women of Israel." (JFB) 4 - Brought ... out The people owed both physical redemption to the Lord who is speaking. See is6311-13, am0210. 4 - Moses The Lord had provided leadership ps07720, ho1213. |
| 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD. | 5 -
Consulted
From ya'as, meaning "advised." The story of Balak begins in nu22.
5 - From Shittim This was the last encampment before crossing the Jordan jos0301 then jos0419. Compare this testing time to the end-time testing of God's people before the coming of Christ and being established in the heavenly Canaan. |
| .6
¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the
high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of
a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? .8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? |
6 -
High
God Literally, "the God of the height." Compare is3305,
is5715,
is6601.
6 - With burnt offerings? The Lord calls us to heart consecration. The ceremonies only point to the relationship they represent is0111. 7 - Thousands of rams The quantity is not the issue. 7 - Oil Used as part of the meat (meal) offerings le0201-7, le0710-12, nu1504. 7 - Give my firstborn Human sacrifices were not permitted for followers of the true God but were practiced by some kings anyway. le1821, le2002, 2ki0327 (by the king of Moab), 2ki1603, ps10637,8, je0731. Also je1905, je3235, ez2027. 8 - He hath showed thee They had been instructed long before, mi0606, de1012, de3011-14. 8 - Require This is one to underline if you haven't already. Does it excuse disobedience? No, walking in humility with God is following, without complaint, the path He has marked out for our happiness. 8 - What is good They had been told but a summary is offered. Compare mt2236-40. |
| 9 ¶ The LORD'S
voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear
ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? .11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 
12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants
thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. 14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. 15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. .16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. 9 - Rod From matteh meaning staff or rod ex0402-4, Or a tribe, nu0104. The Assyrians may be seen (is1005). The inhabitants of Jerusalem. 11 - Wicked balances See de2513-15, am0805. 13 - Eat See le2626, ho0410, hg0106, 14 - Casting down Translation is uncertain. It could mean "emptiness" or "hunger." judgments 14 - Eat but not be satisfied The futility of wickedness is seen in this and following verses. Also to fulfill a prediction le2626. 15 - Not reap See de2838-40, hg0106. 16 - Statutes of Omri Apparently the rules of idol worship he announced 1ki1625,6. Omri established the wicked line of kings that include Ahab and Athaliah. See 1ki1629-33, 2ki0826, 2ki1101. Image, 1915 |
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