Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 44
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IMMERSE
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PROPHETS
but they may not offer it to the Lord.
What then will you do on festival days?
How will you observe the Lord’s festivals?
Even if you escape destruction from Assyria,
Egypt will conquer you, and Memphis will bury you.
Nettles will take over your treasures of silver;
thistles will invade your ruined homes.
The time of Israel’s punishment has come;
the day of payment is here.
Soon Israel will know this all too well.
Because of your great sin and hostility,
you say, “The prophets are crazy
and the inspired men are fools!”
The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God,
yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes.
He faces hostility even in the house of God.
The things my people do are as depraved
as what they did in Gibeah long ago.
God will not forget.
He will surely punish them for their sins.
The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you,
it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.
When I saw your ancestors,
it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.
But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,
giving themselves to that shameful idol.
Soon they became vile,
as vile as the god they worshiped.
The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird,
for your children will not be born
or grow in the womb
or even be conceived.
Even if you do have children who grow up,
I will take them from you.
It will be a terrible day when I turn away
and leave you alone.
I have watched Israel become as beautiful as Tyre.
But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter.”
9:5-13
