Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod
and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria,
and see the great tumults within her,
and the oppressed in her midst.”
“They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD,
“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
“An adversary shall surround the land
and bring down your defenses from you,
and your strongholds shall be plundered.”
Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.
“Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
“that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and the horns of the altar shall be cut off
and fall to the ground.
I will strike the winter house along with the summer house,
and the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses shall come to an end,”
declares the LORD.
Comment: This is powerful writing! Close your eyes and get someone, with real feeling, to read it aloud. God calls the enemies of Samaria (the Northern Kingdom) to stand on the sidelines, the surrounding mountains. They are My People but they are thoroughly wicked. Then he shouts to the assembled Samaritans to wait and see the weight of his judgement.
In the field – a lion hunting among lambs leaving behind a leg-bone or the cartilage of an ear. In the religious places total destruction. In the house both those in the cities and the holiday houses the broken leg of a bed and a bit of linen; shattered jewellery! Just wait!
PRAYER: Teach me to keep short accounts with You O God who lovingly seeks us.
As I read it! 