An Ancient Message For Today’s World

This week Norma Jean and I are attending the annual Florida College Lectures in Temple Terrace, Florida.

This year’s theme is “Come, Let Us Return to the Lord” and is subtitled, “The Preaching of the Minor Prophets for Today.” It promises to be a rich week filled with application from these Old Testament preachers.

“Like God’s ancient peoples, and like all previous generations, we today need to hear again the cry of these “former prophets” (Zech. 1:4) to turn from evil ways and to be restored as individuals and communities,” wrote FC President, Dr. John Weaver in the forward to the Lecture Book.

Bible Chair, Jason Longstreth opined that the “issues of today are not unlike the issues that been faced in the past and that the Minor Prophets provide a superb framework for dealing with the challenges we’ve always faced as God’s people.”

Last night’s speaker, Jason Hardin delivered the keynote address,  a powerful presentation that supported Weaver and Longstretch’s promise. “You Have Broken the Covenant; Repent!”

Jason pointed out that these prophets were more than predictors of the future. They were preachers proclaiming a message pointing God’s people to their past relationship with Jehovah, exposing their sins and shortcomings, and calling for confession, repentance, and restoration.

As they prosecuted their case against Israel and Judah, each in their own way indicted them for their sins of idolatry, injustice, and empty ritualism. Unfortunately, these ancient evils are too often repeated today.

#1 Idolatry

“You shall have no other gods before Me,” succinctly stated the first of the Ten Commandments. And the second demanded, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Ex. 20:3-4). Yet, during the reign of all 19 Kings of Israel beginning with Jeroboam, Israel succumbed to the sin of idolatry.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, and Hosea all condemned Israel’s idolatrous worship. It became a repeated problem and would contribute greatly to their downfall.

New Testament writers used this history to remind Christians not to be idolaters as they were (1 Cor. 10:7).

Is our age any less susceptible to this sin? Oh, we’re not building images carved of wood and stone, but anything that replaces God may be our idol. Possessions. Power. Position. Prestige. These, as well as the god of pleasure have become the idols of our age.

#2 Injustice

“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him…You shall do no injustice in court…you shall not deal falsely.” These commands found in Leviticus were too often ignored by God’s people.

Amos charged them with oppressing the poor, and preying on the needy (2:6-8). Micah condemned them for trampling on the rights of others and unlawfully seizing their property (2:1-2. And Habakkuk indicted them for perverting justice and paralyzing the law (1:4).

Our world is filled with those looking for loopholes in their contracts, reneging on their promises, and failing to honor their word. Sadly, this is sometimes seen in the lives of Christians, who dismiss it with a shrug and allege, “It’s just business.”

Jesus’ parable previewing the judgment with the metaphor of the sheep and goats reminds us to care about “the least of these” (Matt. 25:31-46). The hurting. The hungry. The lonely. The disenfranchised.

The simple exhortation to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17), would eliminate much injustice in the world.

#3 Empty Ritualism

Jehovah was repulsed by the emptiness of their worship and would proclaim through the prophet “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies” (Amos 5:21-24). Their worship was hollow. It failed to honor God. And was characterized by insincere rites and rituals.

Jesus assessment of the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day was not much better. “In vain do you worship Me,” He charged (Matt. 15:1-9).

God desires worship that is heart-felt. Fervent. Passionate. And inwardly focused on God, the object of our adoration (Jn. 4:23-24). When we casually go through the motions, mumbling the words of a song, with minds drifting during the prayers, with secular thoughts during the supper, and one eye on the clock during the sermon, are we any better than ancient Israel?

The prophets plea and Jason’s message last night still applies to us. It’s simple. “Repent!”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

To watch Jason’s lesson on YouTube, click here.