Scripture

“Even if the merchants survive, they will never return to their business. For what God has said applies to everyone – it will not be changed. Not one person whose life is twisted by sin will ever recover.”

Observation

The Lord pronounces a terrifying judgment on Israel.

The land is finished, and no hope remains because the Lord will unleash his anger against them. Disaster after disaster is coming.

The day of judgment is here. Wickedness and pride have blossomed and none of those proud and wicked people will survive. All their wealth and prestige will be swept away.

There is war outside the city and famine and disease inside it. Those who escape to the mountains will be overcome by sorrow and remorse.

The most ruthless of nations will come and occupy their homes. Calamity will follow calamity and rumour will follow rumour. The Lord will bring on them the evil they have done to others.

Application

When God’s mercy runs out and his judgment is unleashed, there is no limit to the suffering that occurs.

As this chapter makes clear though, it is not about vengeance from an angry God so much as a harvest of sins. If you are greedy, your wealth will be used against you. If you are violent, violence will be the rod that beats you. If you have used wealth to manufacture idols, then what you have left will also be defiled,

We can look at these pronouncements of judgment and conclude that the people of Israel must have been terribly wicked. But this was not the case. Mostly, they were ordinary people living ordinary lives that ignored God and His ways while engaging in selfishness and idolatry. They were not so unlike our own culture.

If the Church fails to be salt and light, then society will hurtle down a path that results in great suffering and destruction.

Listen

Lord, the judgments that came against Israel at the hands of Assyria and then Babylon were terrible events.

Keith, this is true, but even this was nothing like the year 70 AD. This was, if you like, a warm-up for the main event.

I take no pleasure from these times of correction. It breaks my heart to see people reaping a harvest of suffering for their sin. And I long to see them repent and come back to me.

The suffering of 70 AD was greater because it was final. My people rejected their Messiah, so I rejected them. The city was flattened, the temple destroyed, and thousands upon thousands died. The old passed away with such violence because people refused to let go of the old covenant.