In Chapter Three, we see God continuing to lay out his plans and reasons for judgement against Israel. This chapter can basically be divided into sections of roughly equal length. In verses 1-8, God lays out Israel's culpability in their sins against Him. As can be seen from verse 1, God calls not only Israel but also Judah to the table to answer for their wrongs, because they were both one family when God brought them out of Egypt. Thus He is speaking to the sum of the nation of Israel, all twelve tribes, not just the ten tribes of Israel that exists by the time of the account separate from Judah. The meat of this section though lies in verses 2-8. In verse 3, we see a reference to the Covenant God made with Israel, with the mention of two people walking together after having agreed to walk together. Which makes sense, right? I mean, the only way two people can walk together is if they are in accord with each other, having a similar vision and tread a similar path. Such was the case when Israel and God swore the Covenant. However, Israel has changed, has begun to tread a different path and in doing so breaks away from the path upon which God trod Thus the source of the variance and grievances between God and Israel. Following this, God states that Israel's has brought their judgement upon them. They are to be the Lion's prey. Remember, God mentioned in Chapter One about how He is "roaring" to Israel. We see that reference again with the mention that a lion (God) does not "roar" unless there is "prey" (Israel). This is meant to signify that God is not full of empty words but is a God of action derived from anger.
The second section details more of the punishment that God will mete out to Israel. We see mention of the Assyrian invasion here in verse 11. We also see mention of the false gods Israel is worshiping in lieu of the One True God in verse 12. Furthermore, we see that Israel's days of resplendent luxuries with their "summer houses" and "winter houses" and "ivory houses" are over. These are the things they have taken comfort in instead of their God. I feel the echoes here of today's world where we too place our trust, our time, and out money in things that bring us fleeting comfort. God reminds us in verse 10 that all who sin and suffer judgement will not come out on the other side unscathed. Reading and reflecting over this chapter reminds me again how the gift of God offered to us through Jesus is all the more an awesome symbol of His love for us. Throughout this entire book so far we have seen God punishing those who have sinned against Him, even the children of his beloved and special people. How much more so should we who are apart from the Israelites be punished for our sins. We broke the Covenant just as much as the Israelites. We too deserve judgement, yet it is God who steps forward and pays the price for breaking the Covenant with a sacrificial offering from His own flesh. This love offered to us by God is special in that it's roots lie in an eternal promise to never be forgotten, to never to be left alone. And that by itself is a love that should be foremost in our hearts and minds. Yet we too get caught up in the luxuries of our world: our technology and money. Let us strive not to forget that we too deserve punishment for our sins, but have been saved from that by a God whose love for us is more vast than the entire realm of the heavens.
I like verse 2-8, i feel like this portrays Gods just-ness, i take it to mean that God will not roar unless he has prey. IE a reason to be roaring. e then goes onto describe give a few more examples of this. I got the same sort of thing out of the second part, talking about how the folks have been putting their trust in wealth as opposed to God.
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