Motive Matters
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
In criminal cases there are several pieces of the picture that need to be put together in order to obtain a stronger likely hood of conviction. Means, Motive and Opportunity. Means is the ability one had to commit the crime. Opportunity is whether or not one had the chance to commit the crime (this is why alibi’s are important pieces of information). Motive is the reasoning one has to commit the crime. Motive is not required it is merely an element to help prove if someone is guilty or not. However, the motive is helpful in determining someone’s intent. Intent is whether someone willingly and knowingly committed the crime.
We remain standing in the courtroom of the Almighty God. Who has brought charges against the Northern kingdom of Israel. They are the defendant in the trial and this morning we see the second charge God brings against Israel - idolatry, but much like our court of law God - who is the discerner of hearts and whose word is sharper than any two-edged sword
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God looks beyond the symptom of idolatry to the motive behind the idolatry - for that is the true sin that He brings against Israel. Lets read this morning and understand sin matters - but its not enough to stop the outward sin we must root out the sin within the heart and motive.
19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed.
15 Israel, if you act promiscuously, don’t let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives! 16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the Lord now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow?
17 Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! 18 When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel’s leaders fervently love disgrace. 19 A wind with its wings will carry them off, and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.
1 Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel! Listen, royal house! For the judgment applies to you because you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread out on Tabor. 2 Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter; I will be a punishment for all of them.
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. For now, Ephraim, you have acted promiscuously; Israel is defiled. 4 Their actions do not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity; even Judah will stumble with them. 6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find him; he has withdrawn from them.
7 They betrayed the Lord; indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their fields. 8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the war cry in Beth-aven: Look behind you, Benjamin!
9 Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel. 10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers; I will pour out my fury on them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow what is worthless.
12 So I am like rot to Ephraim and like decay to the house of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent a delegation to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. I will carry them off, and no one can rescue them. 15 I will depart and return to my place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their distress.
Charge - Idolatry
Charge - Idolatry
12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed.
15 Israel, if you act promiscuously, don’t let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives!
16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the Lord now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow? 17 Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! 18 When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel’s leaders fervently love disgrace. 19 A wind with its wings will carry them off, and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.
God brings a charge of idolatry against the people and He likens the charge to that of promiscuity.
What a striking picture we encounter when we consider the contrast of husband and wife. God as the husband is faithful and good - perfectly to His wife - the people, but His wife - the people act promiscuously. Adultery is never excusable but it is even more heinous against a good and loving spouse.
My people consult their wooden idols and their divining rods inform them. The complaint is that the people are not going to where they should be for information, leading, guidance and counsel. Instead they are going elsewhere and outside the boundaries of their covenant with God.
Divination is seeking answers from a stick of wood — this is what one does when they can not, will not and are not waiting on the Lord for guidance.
A spirit of promiscuity leads them astray. The same spirit that leads one to be promiscuous leads one to idolatry. Idolatry is the spirit of unfaithfulness towards God. They act promiscuously in disobedience to their God. God desires to be the one who provides for them and for them to seek when they need and want and to find leading by His righteous light for their lives. The spirit of promiscuity says however - they are missing out, the grass is greener on the other side, dont wait on God to answer or to provide He doesnt want you to have fun - He doesnt have the answers - He takes too long.
This act of finding counsel elsewhere and being led by creation rather than God the creator is in direct disobedience to the covenant between God and Israel!
1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides me.
Exodus 20:4–5 (CSB)
4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God
Instead of seeking God they were consulting their idols. This spirit of promiscuity is striking if we look at the fact that Israel was adding paganism to their worship of the Lord. Israel never said directly they were leaving the Lord, but instead said I will also worship and serve these other gods. Imagine your spouse coming and saying - dont worry I am not leaving you, but I want to also have these other lovers in addition. It is easy to be led astray when we are not being led by the Lord.
God continues in His charge - verse 13 they sacrifice on mountain tops and burn offerings on the hills and under all sorts of trees - why? Because their shade is pleasant — because it is comfortable to them. Israel disobeys in their observation of prescribed worship because of what is comfortable - for them. So your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery - your example and teaching says seek comfort at any cost and so they follow. Beware many have sacrificed faith for comfort - comfort can be a mistress and led us astray.
God however says He will not punish the daughters or daughters in law — because the men themselves are doing it - does this mean God wont punish if everyone is doing it - not it actually means that God says all are guilty this is not a women problem or a men problem - this is an everyone problem. God will judge everyone equally and the same. God has no double standards when it comes to the judgment of sin.
People without discernment are doomed - this is a repeat of what Hosea said in verse 6 - my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Discernment and understanding is to be sought from the Lord but when it is sought outside the Lord you open yourself to following the wrong path for understanding and discernment only come from God.
Israel and Judah both lack discernment in this matter. While Hosea mainly prophesied in the North there are a few mentions of Judah and messages to Judah - here is one such. A warning - do not follow Israel to Gilgal or to Beth-aven (Bethel house of the Lord but Hosea says this place is the House of Deception) Both are centers of Israel’s idolatry and one must stay away else become also corrupted.
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Quite sad Gilgal was once where prophets were trained under Elijah and Elisha - but now a center for false worship
Look at verse 16 - for here we see God gets right to the heart of the matter and right to the main cause for the sin of idolatry and spiritual promiscuity. Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow Can the Lord shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow?
Obstinate - rebellious and unwilling to change. That’s the issue of the heart unwillingness to change - to heed the word of God to go where God leads, to trust that God isnt holding out on them that He is good and that evil isnt fun.
Hosea says can the Lord shepherd them like a lamb in the open field? Cattle safely feed in the open range because they are not exactly easy prey or as easy as a lamb. At least the cows have a sense to run - sheep have no fight or flight. A lamb however in open country is vulnerable if it strays too far from the shepherd. We may act like cows but we are still sheep and are vulnerable when we leave the shepherd
Look what He says next - Ephraim - which is the name for obstinate Israel - Northern Kingdom - Ephraim is attached to idols - the sense here is socially attached - their life in society now revolves around idolatry. So the Lord says leave him alone, leave him be.
3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
When we choose to remain unwilling, stubborn and obstinate in our choice of straying the Lord will leave us to ourselves as He is leaving Israel to their choice.
They go from one indulgence to another - they fervently love disgrace - for their motive is stubborn unwillingness towards God.
Verdict - Guilty
Verdict - Guilty
1 Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel! Listen, royal house! For the judgment applies to you because you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread out on Tabor. 2 Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter; I will be a punishment for all of them. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me. For now, Ephraim, you have acted promiscuously; Israel is defiled.
4 Their actions do not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know the Lord. 5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity; even Judah will stumble with them.
Hear this priests, pay attention house of Israel, listen up royal house - the Religious, common and royal spheres of Israel are all commanded to listen and pay attention. God says the judgment applies to you. In other words you are hereby pronounced guilty.
You have been a snare and a net - a trap meant to catch prey. Mizpah is a city and Tabor is a mountain and they relate to distinguish borders the borders of the Northern kingdom. Essentially God is saying the whole entire land and the false worship and idolatry has permeated the entire kingdom from border to border.
Rebels - obstinate and stubborn people are rebels against God and God says rebels are deeply involved in slaughter or killing of many people. God says I will be a punishment either referring to approaching discipline or past efforts to correct rebellion. In either case though the over all meaning is that of a severe sentence or punishment designed to bring back proper behavior.
The main problem is not that Israel stumbled but that they didnt receive the correction. Do not be so concerned with whether you stumble but be concerned with what your response to God’s rebuke and correction is. One who humbly and willingly receives correction is one in whom God can work
God again speaks to the complete guilt of the whole nation - Ephraim and Israel is not hidden from me - Ephraim you have acted promiscuously and Israel you are defiled. Know is the Hebrew word Yada - to know or have knowledge acquired through observation or the senses. Ephraim is known and Israel is not unknowable or hidden from God. Ephraim you have acted treacherously and unfaithfully and Israel you are unclean - ritually and morally
Their actions - their stubborn and obstinate ways and deeds - do not allow them to return (come back to place or a condition where one has been before) to their God for a spirit of promiscuity is among them and they do not know or cannot perceive the Lord. Do not be surprised if you continuously and stubbornly and obstinately choose to listen to other counsel other than God that you can no longer perceive and know or hear God
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them - provides witness against them. Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity and even Judah will stumble with them.
Sentence Pronounced
Sentence Pronounced
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity; even Judah will stumble with them. 6 They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find him; he has withdrawn from them. 7 They betrayed the Lord; indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their fields.
8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the war cry in Beth-aven: Look behind you, Benjamin! 9 Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel. 10 The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers; I will pour out my fury on them like water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow what is worthless. 12 So I am like rot to Ephraim and like decay to the house of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent a delegation to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
God then pronounces judgment - a sentencing. They go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord but do not find Him He has withdrawn from them. They are going to seek Him or to experience Him but they cannot find Him - He has withdrawn actively pulled back either physically or abstractly.
It is that sense of distance between that you sense when you have tension and unresolved conflict with your loved one. They arent far, but they feel so far away - sometimes miles away.
When God promised to leave Israel alone in verse 17
17 Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone!
It means that even when they make superficial gestures of repentance they will not find Him. It was superficial because their actions were not directed towards repentance but continuing in obstinate fashion and desiring that God would bless their plans and desires.
Be careful we can get so set into our sin or enjoying or making a place for our sin and rebellion that we push God away and He leaves us to ourselves. Often we dont even notice until we call upon the Lord and cannot find Him only then do we begin to see we pushed God away.
They betrayed the Lord and gave birth to illegitimate children - perhaps children born out wedlock or from another woman who was not the wife. Usually from idol worship. The children are illegitimate not recognized as lawful - strange or foreign. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their fields.
Month can be translated as locust - Joel shows that locusts indeed descend upon Israel leaving only destruction. Perhaps month (New Moon) also speaks of the fact that in a month Assyria would demand from Israel a heavy tax of fifty shekels per head.
19 King Pul of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul seventy-five thousand pounds of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grasp on the kingdom. 20 Then Menahem exacted twenty ounces of silver from each of the prominent men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.
Whether locusts or the coming tax Israel would experience consequences for her arrogant and obstinate idolatry.
Blow the horn and trumpet - sound the alarm my people continue to ignore me and are determined to go obstinately and stubbornly go astray, so therefore understand the enemy is not far away. Ephraim will become a desolation - I announce what is certain!
Nothing can be done to stop what has been sentenced from the Lord.
Judah moves the spiritual boundary lines and they too shall be punished
Both will be judged through Assyria - both try to make a pact with the King of Assyria against the other
Verse 13 - Ephraim went to Assyria to the great king - but he cannot cure you or heal your wound
sickness - non physical sense - something coming from sin
wound - not physical - again something coming from sin
Verse 11 - Ephraim is oppressed and crushed in judgment for He is determined - set towards - obstinately pursuing - to follow what is worthless. No one can save him. We cannot pursue what is worthless unless we first reject God. They foolishly sought a treaty with Assyria instead of seeking the Lord. It is always foolish to trust man above God
End Goal - Repentance
End Goal - Repentance
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear them to pieces and depart. I will carry them off, and no one can rescue them. 15 I will depart and return to my place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their distress.
God’s judgment comes to Israel and Judah in subtle ways - like verse 12 - a moth (rot) but if that doesnt help then it will come in more obvious ways too. A moth and a lion are destructive each in their own ways - one is over time and the other is more immediate. Essentially the Lord says I will come as a moth first but if they do not respond to that I will come as a lion.
A moth gets your attention - it flutters near you and annoys you you swat at it but it poses no real threat and is easily dismissed. A lion however is not easily dismissed and even if you survive there will be damage and scars.
Israel didnt listen and the Lord came like a young lion fiercely and they were carried off - no one could rescue them
The Lord says He will depart and return to His place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face. The Lord will depart but only temporarily and only as long as it takes for them to repent and seek His face. UNTIL can be as long or short as one wants - it depends on how obstinate one decides to be.
In their distress they will search for me - earnestly try to encounter the presence of deity involving requests or petitions (prayers) to the deity. This is the goal of God’s judgment of Israel. The goal is not destruction but rather restoration. The sad reality is it is only in affliction that we usually seek the Lord with any kind of earnest. We can seek the Lord now before He sends affliction to cause us to.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Idolatry is a sin of unfaithfulness to God but it also a symptom of a deeper issue. It is a heart issue a heart that seeks other gods is a heart that doesnt trust the Living God of the Bible. It is a wandering heart gone astray.
Israel is depicted as a stubborn calf. Willful, stubborn, rebellious and we can identify with this calf. It resonates from the hymn Come Thou Fount - “Prone to wander Lord I feel it” “Prone to leave the God I love” Truth is we walk around like that stubborn calf when we choose our own way over Gods, when we do things without consulting God when we pray to God with our requests and demands rather than to wait upon Him and listen for His instruction.
What does it take to break that bond of obstinate and stubborn wandering? Affliction sometimes snaps our attention. It is only through submission to Jesus Christ that we have a lasting cure though
We tend to think if we can just arrive though - but the prodigal son left the father’s house and in the pigpen he decided to return. Often times comfort causes God’s people to forget Him where affliction brings us back. Our God wants to bless us more than we will ever know, but when the blessings turn our heart from Him He will withdraw His hand so we seek Him once again.
God knew Israel and Judah but they refused to know Him - God knows you also - do you also refuse to know Him? Do you know Him - you can today
God’s purpose in judgment is to lead His people to repentance and to return to Him in Grace and Mercy. Does God ever leave us alone now when we wander? No He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. When there seems to be distance we must look and see if we have moved - its not because He did. The promise is to draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Communion
Communion
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.