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| 1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, |
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| 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. |
You only – Natural Israel in the Jewish age. R532:6, R2518:6, R3459:6, R5614:2; D191; OV224:T
"Israel, mine elect." (Isa. 45:4) F176
The twelve tribes; Israel in its two parts. R2356:1
God's favor to Israel was merely an earthly and preparatory one. R4769:5
Israel according to the flesh was called of the Lord to be his peculiar people, separate from the other peoples or nations of the earth. F85
There was an "election" during the Jewish age. R2396:2, R532:6, R257:2; A97
Israel only was invited to the "great feast" of Luke 14:15-24 when the feast was read R2701:3
Israel was God's kingdom. On the contrary, the present governments of earth are all reckoned as "kingdoms of this world" in contradistinction to the Kingdom of our Lord and his Anointed. R2364:2, R583:3
The Gentile nations were "strangers, aliens and foreigners from the commonwealth of Israel"--"without God, having no hope in the world." (Eph. 2:12) R3467:2, R2348:5, R1459:3; HG114:3
God did not exact from other nations a tithe, a tenth, but neither did he promise to other nations his special care, bounty and blessing. R2485:5
God has supervised the affairs of other nations to the extent of hindering conditions which would be inimical to his plan of blessing all the families of the earth. R4055:3, R3012:2
From the time of the fall, none but the one line of Adam's children had divine favor--the line from which Abraham, Noah, Israel and Christ came--the line of Seth. R1459:3
Solomon's mismarriages, though worldly-wise, were unwise from the Lord's standpoint, who desired Israel to be separate and distinct from all the families of the earth. R2324:1
Therefore it was improper to attempt to convert the Moabites, for God had not called the Moabites. R5614:2
Even when the gospel "began to be preached by our Lord" it was restricted to the same "lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt. 15:24) R2518:6
Have I known – Recognized. R1271:6, R271:3, R2396:2, R2761:3, R3752:3, R4344:2; A221, A97; Q756:2, Q600:T; HG428:2
Covenanted with. R1271:6, R4344:2, R4538:5, R3752:3, R3467:2, R2485:5, R2356:1, R2364:2, R1780:3
God's dealings were with this people exclusively. Q792:4
Only to Israel had God sent his law and given his prophecies. R5910:3, R5768:6, R4344:2, R3467:2
Adopted as his special possession in the world. R3752:3
Revealing himself to, and in active cooperation with, the nation of Israel alone. R4055:3; D191
In Israel God placed his own throne, typically, and her kings represented him. (1 Chron. 29:23) R1978:6
Not until Cornelius' day did any Gentiles come into any kind of relationship with God. R4769:4
For 2081 years from the covenant with Abraham in 2045 BC (2081 years after the fall of man) to the end of the 70 weeks in 36 AD. R3459:3, 6*
"Go not into the way of the Gentiles" (Matt. 10:5); "I am not sent but unto t A97; R2518:6; OV224:T
Therefore – Because of their special favors they had a special responsibility. R2356:1
Because of their covenant--therefore we should not suppose that every famine, pestilence or war in the world's history has been similarly of special divine imposition in chastisement. R3400:1
I will punish you – Chastise you for disloyalty. R1979:1
Disciplinary experiences, chastisements. R3223:2, R3400:1, R5768:6
The laws of retribution operating automatically. R3223:1
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| 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? |
Except they be agreed – Israel would not walk in harmony with the Lord while their hearts were in harmony with sin. R2356:1
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| 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? |
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| 5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? |
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| 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? |
A trumpet – Of alarm, the message of Amos, announcing the dire catastrophes that shortly would come. R2356:2
Shall there be evil – "Evil" here means disaster, calamities, affliction, or physical evil, implying no moral quality or responsibility. R4731:1, R849:1, R871:4, R1271:4, R1800:4, R2029:2, R2356:2
In Isa. 45:7, "I make peace and create evil," the hat it means "trouble." If moral badness were meant, the contrasting word would be "righteousness." R1780:2, R1271:5, R1351:2*
The word "evil" in this text has the meaning in the Hebrew language of adversity. Q773:4
Sin is always an evil, but evil is not always a sin. A125; R1226:2
Hebrew "ra." Like the English word "evil" it might be used in referring to anything not good, undesirable. Context must determine whether moral evil (sin) or physical evil (pain, trouble) is meant. R1800:2
Jer 21:10-14; Jer 25:29; Jer 26:2-6; Eze. 14:12-23nations in his sight. R1299:6*
All evil (trouble, calamity) is punitive. Had all things continued perfect and upright there would have been no trouble or any occasion for it. R872:1
Because of Israel's iniquity. (verse 2) R1271:6, R871:5
Calamities sent upon the Jews as chastisements. A125; Q773:4; R1271:5, R1780:2
As covenanted, if they would live in harmony with him and his Law he would bless them in every way; if they did not so live, he would send plagues and disasters upon them. R2354:2
Instances of calamities as chastisements are the United States' Civil War, freeing millions of slaves and, possibly, the Spanish-American War. R2356:2
A city – A city of Israel. R1358:5
If the people of any city or tribe got into a state of idolatry or gross sin, God would send a plague or other chastisement for their correction. R1226:2
This does not apply to other nations than Israel. R2024:2, R1887:2
Hath not done it – Brought it upon them. R1358:5
Two things must be borne in mind: the proper significance of the word "evil" and the special covenant relationship of Israel to God. R1780:1, R1271:4, R2356:4
Have naught to do with it? R1271:4
Their calamities could not come without God's permission or knowledge. R849:1, R871:4, R1271:4,6, R1358:5, R1780:3, R1887:2, R1226:2
Every drouth, famine, pestilence, etc., should not be considered as a judgment from the Almighty. R4731:1, R2356:2
God declared man guilty and pronounced the righteous penalty, death. In carrying it out, various agencies are allowed to operate against man. Thus God is said to "create evil." (Isa. 45:7) R849:1
Divine providence deals differently with spiritual Israel, natural Israel and the world. All Israel's calamities were of providence and for chastisements; the Gentile's calamities are not generally, but only occasionally, so; the Church's experiences are as the world's, but overruled to bring some blessing. R2357:1, R2356:6
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| 7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
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Revealeth his secret – The Israelites were generally forewarned of impending evils and given the alternative of repentance. R1358:5
That his people may profit by the chastisements and experiences of the Lord's hand. R2356:2
Pre-announced, not to bring repentance, but with a view to the proper appreciation of the judgments--that the people might know they were judgments and not accidents. R2356:2
"The Spirit of Truth...will show you things to come." (John 16:13) R3551:4, R437:3*
Those in full harmony with him will not be left in darkness. B22
God's Word explains many mysteries, and his faithful servants who study his Word are not in darkness (1 Thes. 5:4-8) as the worldly are (1 Jo R1063:4
Unto his servants – Thus Abraham and Lot knew of the destruction of Sodom beforehand; Noah knew of the flood in time to build the ark; at the first advent, Simeon, Anna and the wise men of the East knew to expect Messiah. B21
The prophets – They were to remind Israel of their covenant and tell them that their calamities were from him and by his will for their correction. A125
Most of what he revealed unto them was not for themselves, but for us, the Gospel Church. (1 Pet. 1:12) B22
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| 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? |
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| 9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. |
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| 10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. |
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| 11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. |
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| 12 Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. |
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| 13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, |
The house of Jacob – Natural Israel. A300
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| 14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. |
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| 15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD. |
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