CHAPTER 2

1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

God sees. God knows. He sees and knows all things men are doing....even in the night. God pronounces "woe" (alas!) upon those who plan sin!

These people planned sin at night, then executed their plan during the day. Their plan was "might makes right!" Sound familiar? They were using power (and deviousness) to take away land and houses. And, in effect, they were oppressing people and families.

There "woe" was threefold:
First, they would fall victim to their own plan. God, Who has all "might" and is always "right," will be the final judge on lives of sin.
Secondly, they would be taken captive and have NOTHING!
Third, they will be judged with an "evil time." Actually, people who live lives of planned sin will be given ETERNAL damnation in and ETERNAL hell!

4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields. 5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

To "take up a parable against you" COULD mean to write a mournful song. The song would lament the fact that these people who had taken so much, now had NOTHING. They would be carried away captive by the Babylonians. The fields and houses would be divided among the captors.

AND, they would never have a descendent who would be able to "cast a cord." Casting a cord meant to use a rope (plan) and capture others.

6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

This verse is basically the same as Isaiah 30:10 "Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things,"

Those in society who devise evil also hate to hear truth. They are constantly complaining, "Why can't you speak things good to hear?" They do not want to admit that though God is LOVE, He is also JUST! These who are constantly complaining are "false prophets."

7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

The "false prophets" in verse 6, will say that "the Spirit of the LORD is straitened." They infer that the "word" from God is grievous or mournful by asking "are these His doings?" They question the fact that God brings harsh disciplinary action upon those who are privileged to be called "the house of Jacob."

To infer that God is not JUST because His discipline is HARSH is a direct affront to God Himself. The "word" from God is good to those who trust Him and strive to do His will.

BECAUSE God is LOVE, He also DISCIPLINES those whome He loves. If there were no boundaries set for man's actions, there would be no limit to the evil man would do. If God does not bring Truth to the forefront, man will have no conviction for repentance.

8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

These false prophets are three-fold enemies of God.
First, they take advantage of the peaceful and quiet members of society. They "take the cloak AND the coat!"
Secondly, they take advantage of poor widows. They take away the houses in which widows dwell.
Thirdly, they are guilty of abuse of the children. By constantly complaining that God is unjust, they remove the "glory" of God from being presented to the children.

These sins are the cause of "sore destruction." They will have to arise and "depart" and will not be able to remain in the Promised Land - which is God's "rest" given to Jacob's descendents.

Friends, when people go against God's truth, they bring destruction upon themselves and lose the peace that God offers in His presence.

11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

While they will refuse God's prophets of truth, they will accept false prophets of iniquity!

Even today, there are those who refuse God's truth and desire to hear preaching of iniquity.
There are those who want to hear that gambling is OK.
There are those who want to hear that abortion is OK.
There are those who want to hear that homosexualism is OK.

People are prone to listen to falsehoods instead of truths just to satisfy their lusts.

12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. 13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.

The TRUE prophesy spoken (that Judah would be captured by the Babylonians) "will surely" happen! But here, the true prophet includes MERCY and speaks of better things to come. Those who are SCATTERED, shall be "put...together." And there will be a "great multitude" of them.

The reason is because the BREAKER is coming! Notice that He is both KING and LORD! Though God (O.T. "Jehovah") is the One Who brought captivity because of sin, He is also the BREAKER of that captivity and will DELIVER the captives!

When Jesus came and died on the cross, He "gathered together in ONE" ALL the remnant (or true believers) of God (See John 11:52 and Ephesians 1:10). Jesus defeated sin, hell, and the grave. He stands as the BREAKER of all that captures us!

Jesus, Who is King and Lord of all, has gone AHEAD of us into that eternal Promised Land called heaven. And He shall surely LEAD His people into that wonderful land! He will gather them as His sheep, and forever protect them from sin and the destruction it causes.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.