and to fear your name is wisdom—
"Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.
10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah, which is accursed?
11 Shall I acquit a person with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights?
12 Her rich people are violent;
her inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,
to ruin you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest;
you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab's house;
you have followed their traditions.
Therefore I will give you over to ruin
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn of the nations.
Questions to consider:
- What do you learn of God’s character from His comments regarding Israel’s social and economic practices?
- What seems to be the central cause of Israel’s separation from God?
- Can you identify areas of your life that are directed by something other than God?
Possibilities for prayer:
Maybe you identified an area (or two...or five) of your life that is directed by something other than God and His wisdom. Let’s take some time to give those things over to God right now. In some situations this might be more difficult than others, but don’t be afraid to take some time and pray through what that hesitation is about. Share with God your fears or anxieties, and give God the opportunity to speak to you in response. The people of Israel had to learn that things worked out best for them when they gave their lives wholly to God--let’s learn that lesson, now, as well.
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