The reality in Joel’s era was that Israel knew about the Day of YHVH, but was
mistakenly convinced that it was reserved only for gentile nations and never for them. And this despite what the Holy Scriptures taught, and especially what the Prophets warned. Israel’s constant foe was themselves and their evil inclinations. The constant crime they committed was idolatry; but not idolatry in the sense we usually think of it. Yes, at times some people of Israel kept and worshipped idols. But, the far larger issue was that they committed a national and individual idolatry by re-making YHVH in their own image. They preferred to substitute their doctrines, and their definitions of mercy, and love, and justice for YHVH’s. When they, and we, refuse to accept YHVH for what the Bible says He is, and in how He judges and operates, then we have committed idolatry. In no way do I mean this allegorical or metaphorically. I mean it entirely literally, and the consequences of this for us as individuals and nationally are staggering. Have you decided that
YHVH is ONLY love and mercy? That is idolatry.
Tom Bradford
21 окт 2024
