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How Do the Prophets Speak to the Following Issue: Idolatry, Social Injustice, and Religious Ritualism

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Submitted By klr74
Words 894
Pages 4
Krishni Ryland
BIBL 105 B23
Professor Ballard
The Old Testament ends with the prophets. These teachers provided insight on many issues facing Jews who were desperate to know God. Idolatry, social injustice and religious ritualism are three areas that are emphasized in their teachings and instilled in the minds and hearts of believers today. The prophets were great teachers who had much to say about God and the way man lived, social issues they faced, religious rituals they took part in, and their teachings are just as important today as they were in the past.
Idolatry was a prominent issue among the Jews. God confronted this problem early in the Bible in Exodus 20:4-6. It is clear that following God requires complete and total attention on Him. The prophets considered this issue very important. Consider Hosea who was commanded to marry an unfaithful wife to represent Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness towards God[1]. During this time, Israel was unwilling to worship God and sought to find their own idols to worship and bestow glory upon. Hosea taught through his marriage the extent of unfaithfulness the Jews had in their relationship with God. Hosea compared Israel to spoiled grapes, a wild vine, a trained heifer, and a rebellious son and led into God to lay ruin to a large portion of His people causing the remnants to seek repentance before Him[2]. Hosea, through using a marriage metaphor, showed the Jews how deep God’s love for them truly was and still is[3]. Hosea’s example has modern implications. Because man can see how deeply God cares for them, there should be no reason to place importance of other things before their worship of Him. Yet, they do. If society could focus more on God today, the issues the world faces would cease to exist. Because this is not the case, man continues to destroy themselves as their eyes and minds stray from God and onto their

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...What the Prophets Said Micheal Coffin October 15, 2015 Introduction In this essay, we will examine what the prophets had to say about the following: 1. Idolatry 2. Social Injustice 3. Religious Ritualism God’s people had great difficulty between obedience and disobedience to Almighty God. Throughout Old Testament history, we see how they would be faithful for a while and then turn away and go their own way. God brought punishment upon His people several times, yet they never seemed to learn from His actions. God was so full of love and compassion for His people that He kept offering ways to return to Him. Finally, God chose a select group of men to be His prophets and to deliver visions and warnings of things to come if they did not repent. Finally, we will examine how the many prophecies have practical application for living today. 1. Idolatry The worship of false gods or idols was done as far back as Moses. The Ten Commandments (Ex 20:3-5) clearly established God’s law against idol worship. Sadly, the worship of idols and false gods continued through the Old Testament. Much concern of the prophets was towards the practice of idolatry in Judah and Israel. But, God had concern for all nations as well. Isa 44:9 states “They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed”. God further exposes the blindness of idolaters in (Isa...

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