Isaiah 29:1 - 29:24
We learned in
the previous 28th Isaiah Chapter a woe upon Ephraim. Ephraim represents the
head of the ten tribes of the old northern kingdom of Israel, and its leaders
were scornful and mocking the teaching of God's Word line by line. Because of
their mocking The Word of God being taught and learned in such a way, It has
become a stone of stumbling to them.
1 Peter 2: Read
All.
and instead they
make a pact with 'death'
Isa.28:13-16.
Read All.
God warned further,
that their false covenant with death would be like a small blanket that gives
no warmth of a full covering.
Today, Ephraim is represented by
the western Christian nations where the majority of the scattered tribes of
Israel migrated to (see the Lost Tribes study). So
this warning is now for those among the western Christian nations. The Apostle
Peter linked these warnings within this Isaiah Scripture, teaching those in
Christ to desire the sincere milk of The Word.
1 Peter 2:2. Read All.
By heeding this
warning upon Ephraim, God's people do not become "hasty
fruit"
Isa.28:4. And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley,
shall be a fading flower, and as a hasty fruit before the summer; which when he
that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
.
This next Isaiah Chapter is a woe upon Jerusalem and the lion of the tribe of Judah (Ariel in
Isa.29:1), as we ask a Word of Wisdom from our Heavenly Father, in Christ
Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.
Isa 29:1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city
where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
The "city where David dwelt"
is Jerusalem, so this "Ariel", which means 'the lion of God' or 'lioness of God',
is referring to the 'house of Judah' at
Jerusalem (Strong's no. 740). The historical Message is that their animal
sacrifices would not be accepted by God because of their falling away from The
LORD. They fell away by making religious ritual more important than
God's Commandment to execute righteous judgment between a man and his
neighbour, and not oppressing the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
Jeremiah 7.
For that, the killing
of sacrifices would come to an end historically, and it was so. We are not to
put our trust in an earthly Temple building assembled with man's hands, but
instead we are to put our trust in GOD The Father and The Son.
Therefore, this warning still holds true for today as the 'house of Judah'
at Jerusalem wants to rebuild a third Temple, and bring back the killing of
animal sacrifices.
For those
in Christ Jesus, this should make us more aware that if we do not get into His
Word to discover 'how' to make righteous judgments for the poor, the
fatherless, and the widow, and how to live justly per His Word, then we cannot
expect God to recognize religious ritual service to Him at our particular
Church building.
I.E.8
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