Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This study will uncover Gods reason for the split of ten tribes of Israel. It will also show that a church once faithful is dismissed as God’s church when it deliberately rejects God’s will. And that the relationship of marriage with God is annulled by adulterous behaviour.
What did God call Israel? Zion. And what did Zion represent in other descriptions that were given there? This is God’s attitude to his church. Zion is His church, Israel is His church. What else does He say about them? That how He regarded them and how He appealed to them? “You are my people.” That sacred relationship that He expressed/ anyone that touches you touches the apple of my eye. You are so special to me like my eye. That being the case, He also identified her as what else? How did He identify the church Israel at that time? The remnant. Wasn’t she a woman? Didn’t He identify her as a woman, a precious beautiful delicate woman that He wanted to marry? Isn’t that what we looked at? I made a covenant with you. I have formed you. I have drawn you, you are mine:
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Expressions of God’s care for human beings on this earth that He has chosen. He has redeemed, I have redeemed thee. In which way did He redeem Israel? How did He redeem them from what? He separated them from the world. Where did, especially Old Testament Israel, where did He redeem them from? Were they slaves in Egypt? They were slaves in Egypt. He redeemed them from Egypt. “I am here. I saw you in the wilderness like a woman in trouble. I drew you to me.”
That’s Ezekiel and so He brought it to Him until He entered into what? A marriage relationship. It was a relationship of intimate fellowship with the creator of the universe. “I am married unto you.” This marriage, this intimate fellowship with God, like in the marriage garment, the wedding garment is what did we learn about. What was the wedding garment? What is that?
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
All those human relationships were used as metaphoric relationship bindings that God had towards Israel. God is married to his people. Here you have Israel as God’s church.
The Split of the Ten Tribes
- We will now study the reason for the split of the ten tribes of Israel. Remember they were split into two, Judah and the other ten tribes and Judah and Benjamin were the ones who stayed in Israel.
- We will also see that a church once faithful is dismissed as God’s church when it deliberately rejects God’s will. Just because He calls it His church, His people, the apple of His eye, if they are not loyal to Him and deliberately reject His will, He dismisses them. That is an important understanding.
- We will learn that the relationship of marriage with God is annulled by adulterous behavior.
Divorce
There is such a thing as divorce in God’s kingdom.
The Demise of the Ten Tribes and the Reason for the Split of the Ten Tribes
As the twelve tribes of Israel constituted God’s church in the beginning, how was this united state compromised?
How was it compromised? As you looked at 1 Kings 11:31 to 35, under King David and under King Solomon, the twelve tribes were all one but Solomon went terribly astray. He married a lot of women. They married heathen women and because of that, even though he repented, the kingdom was torn into two.
1 Kings 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
Ten of the tribes of Jeroboam were brought to be under the rulership of Jeroboam. King Solomon had a son, Rehoboam who took his position, Rehoboam. But Jeroboam was not one of the sons of Solomon. And to him, to Jeroboam, who was just merely one of the officers in the rulership of Israel to Jeroboam was given the Ten Tribes and that’s where this picture is taking place. Judah and Benjamin remained in Jerusalem for David’s sake and the other ten tribes, they had their headquarters in Samaria.
Samaria
Why did this split take place? Judah and Benjamin, they stayed? They continued. For David’s sake, they will continue in Jerusalem. They would continue in Jerusalem, Judah and Benjamin. But the others, the ten tribes, that was the northern part of the Israel area, the northern tribes had Samaria as their capital, not Jerusalem. Why did this take place? ‘They have forsaken me.’
“The prophet had spoken plainly regarding the necessity for a division of the kingdom. God had declared that this division must take place, because “they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.”” –The Review and Herald, July 3, 1913.
Astrod is one of the heathen gods, Shemosh, the god of Moabites, Milcom, the god of children of Ammon. These are all the pagan nations around them. ‘And you’ve gone married them, and you’ve worshipped them.’ Therefore, for that reason – ‘that and have not walked in my ways.’
It’s a very important little statement here because you have not walked in my ways to do that which is right in mine eyes. These are very important words. This is quoted directly from 1st Kings. “..keep and to keep my statutes and my judgments as did David his father.”
There is the reason that there was a splintering and God knew ahead of time that Jeroboam and the Ten Tribes would get worse and worse and worse.
Did King Jeroboam and his Ten Tribes become totally corrupted and thus cease to constitute part of God’s church?
1 Kings 13:33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
“The apostasy introduced during Jeroboam’s reign became more and more marked, until finally it resulted in the utter ruin of the kingdom of Israel. Even before the death of Jeroboam, Ahijah, the aged prophet at Shiloh who many years before had predicted the elevation of Jeroboam to the throne, declared: “The Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and He shall root up Israel out of this good land, which He gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger. And He shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.” 1 Kings 14:15, 16.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 107.
It actually was predicted by God. God knew what Jeroboam would do, and He knew how far the other tribes had gone astray beforehand, and so now He made it quite plain and clear in answer to that question. That although they once constituted God’s faithful people, because of their continuing in the evil ways, He would remove them.
They cease to constitute part of God’s church. We are studying the coming of the church triumphant and all the preliminary situations that take place. This is quite an in -depth study that the relationship that God wanted to have with them was dependent upon them doing that which is right in God’s eyes, walking in His ways. That’s the qualification of remaining in God’s church. If they don’t, is this in keeping with the declarations of God’s relationship principles?
Psalm 81:11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
What are God’s relationship principles? In Psalm 81:11 to 13 if they are not in those principles, what takes place? Not paying attention to Him speaking to them; Israel would have none of me. They said, ‘no we don’t want any more part of you.’ What did He do? This is important to understand why God gives them up. It’s not that I don’t want you anymore, it’s they didn’t want Him anymore. I have given them up to do what they want to do which is opposite to what I want them to do. So, you go ahead. He doesn’t force. The other thing is, it makes so much sense because it’s only the perfect truth God’s way is that it will change the character. How does He continue to lament then? He says something very phenomenal that you pick up what His lament was. ‘I have to give you up to your own heart’s way. I give you up,’ but what does he say next? This is such an important thing to pick up.
I’m giving you up to do what you want to do, but what? I’m going to have to give you up. Can you see God’s heart? This is such an important thing to clearly take on board, because as we keep on studying, we have to see these principles for the end time as well. We have to understand this. You are doing what you want to do and you’re not changing. So what can I do? I have to give you up. But if only you had hearkened unto me. It is such a grief and the Lord put that in us when he created us.
2 Chronicles 15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
if you just read those statements on their own, sometimes you can draw wrong conclusions. God’s very callous, you forsake me, I forsake you. That’s the way it’s written in there.
“The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” This was written to Israel at a time when it is recorded that Israel had been without “the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” But “when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.”” –The Youth’s Instructor, November 22, 1894.
You’ve got to understand that in the context of all the other things He has said. Terrible, God is terrible. No, He’s not. We just go back to the cross and it shows us. True. But as you say, the cross is even misunderstood today by the majority of Christendom. They don’t follow God’s ways. This is why we are studying this, because what ties us to God, His love, to follow His ways and to listen to His voice and to do what He wants us to do. And while we claim to be, even Judah, as we’re going to continue to read, Judah and Samaria, they continue to worship God but according to their way.
“The dying charge of David to his son Solomon, with its warning and promise, is placed on record for the benefit of both parents and children. Parents should faithfully guard the feet of the inexperienced youth, and educate and train them to fear and love God, and to serve him with undivided heart. The youth are to heed the admonitions that come down to them in the sacred records through the ages to our time, that they may be wise in heavenly wisdom. “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” This was written to Israel at a time when it is recorded that Israel had been without “the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.” But “when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.”” –The Youth’s Instructor, November 22, 1894.
“Yet the Lord did not give Israel up without first doing all that could be done to lead them back to their allegiance to Him. Through long, dark years when ruler after ruler stood up in bold defiance of Heaven and led Israel deeper and still deeper into idolatry, God sent message after message to His backslidden people. Through His prophets He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy and to return to Him. During the years that were to follow the rending of the kingdom, Elijah and Elisha were to live and labor, and the tender appeals of Hosea and Amos and Obadiah were to be heard in the land. Never was the kingdom of Israel to be left without noble witnesses to the mighty power of God to save from sin. Even in the darkest hours some would remain true to their divine Ruler and in the midst of idolatry would live blameless in the sight of a holy God. These faithful ones were numbered among the goodly remnant through whom the eternal purpose of Jehovah was finally to be fulfilled.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 108.
These are the important things that people miss. That when we come to our time, oh God, that still God’s people, they still worship Him. They worship Him their way, not God’s way. That’s the form of Godliness. Yes, the form of Godliness. This is what we’re picking up here, carefully recognising the relationship that God has established is that He has saved us from Egypt. He has saved the church from and redeemed them to come to His way. While they are submissive to His way, the Lord is with you, while you be with Him and if you seek Him he will be found of you but if you forsake Him and what does that forsaking mean? Forsaking His will and His way. That’s what we read already. Don’t forget that. If you do not follow my way, you’re following your way.
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
God forsook them, according to your own ways. These are the important qualifications. Although we have read that He will forsake, but before He forsakes, and remember, I’m pleading with you, oh, if only you would remain. So before He completely forsakes them, what precious words are in that next last paragraph there.
He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy and to return to Him. Prophets and Kings, p. 108.
He tried in every way to message to connect with them and doing all that could be done. What else could He have done for you that He hasn’t done?
God sent message after message to His backslidden people. Through His prophets He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy and to return to Him. During the years that were to follow the rending of the kingdom, Elijah and Elisha were to live and labor, and the tender appeals of Hosea and Amos and Obadiah were to be heard in the land. Never was the kingdom of Israel to be left without noble witnesses to the mighty power of God to save from sin. Even in the darkest hours some would remain true to their divine Ruler and in the midst of idolatry would live blameless in the sight of a holy God. These faithful ones were numbered among the goodly remnant through whom the eternal purpose of Jehovah was finally to be fulfilled.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 108.
God sent message to His backslidden. It’s after He has warned them and appealed and appealed to them and patiently waited for them to come back to Him, there comes a point in time; alright, I have to let you go. There were witnesses, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos and during the years that were to follow, there were witnesses. There were some people, even in the dark hours, some would remain true to their divine role and in the midst of a blameless, in the sight of a holy God. These faithful ones were numbered among the goodly remnant. These ones were the goodly remnant, those who would not go along with the corruptions.
This is a little foretaste of the church triumphant, those faithful ones. What we are studying here is of extreme importance to pick up right from the beginning because when we come to our time, we have to recognise it’s no different now. God’s still the same.
In His association of the ten tribes with Ephraim, what can we understand is behind God’s rejection of them?
Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
Here you have Hosea 4:17, Ephraim, the tribe of Ephraim was connected. That was one of the 10 tribes that had separated from Judah, and Ephraim was therefore identified as the ten tribes altogether. What can we understand is behind God’s rejection of them? What does it say? Why does He reject them? That’s that is what He is using. He is using -frame as the ten in that particular context.
You’ll see as we keep on reading Sr Whites writings, it’s the same conclusion. So what does He say? Ephraim – what? – He’s joined to his idols, leave him alone. He is joined to his idols. He is joined to them like I wanted them to be joined to me. Can you see that important principle? Ephraim is joined to his idols, leave him alone.
Don’t Pray for Them
This is such an important understanding that you will discover in trying to win people. There are certain people that are joined to the odds you can’t change. Don’t waste your time. In Jeremiah, He says, stop praying for them. Don’t even pray for them.
Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Jeremiah 7:16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. 17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
This is the issue. When you know that you’re standing true and loyal to God, and He’s true and loyal to you, in that situation here, these ten tribes, they came to a point that it was useless to pray for them. It was useless to try and bring them. They won’t come. When that comes about, leave them alone. That is the important conclusion here. It would show me that many years ago that God will not listen to those prayers. I will not listen to you. He said it to Jeremiah and Jeremiah was praying for Judah. We’re going to see what happens to Judah at the end too.
Ephraim is joined to his idols.
Hosea 6:4 From generation to generation the Lord bore with his wayward children, until he could do no more for them. “O Ephraim,” he cried, “what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
If God can’t do any more for them what can you do? Oh Ephraim He cried, what shall I do unto thee? Oh Judah, Ephraim. Ephraim were the ten tribes and Judah was the two tribes. And Judah, what shall I do unto thee, for your goodness is as a morning cloud,
and as the early dew it goeth away?”
Some say that the Jewish church was still God’s church until 70 AD. No actually, they were called guilty and rebellious and God was waiting, and even in the ancient Israel, he was just waiting for them to fill their cup until their destruction. So even though they were functioning as a church, they weren’t his people anymore because he gave it to other people.
When was their, according to the 2,300 day prophecy, their time finished? Wasn’t that when they stoned Stephen? They crucified Christ, and then they stoned Stephen, and that was the end of their probation. Did you notice why does he give them up again? It’s all in harmony with that statement that said that they do not want my ways anymore. They want their own ways.
“The evils that had overspread the land and permeated all classes of society, had become incurable, and upon Israel was pronounced the dread sentence, “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” Hosea 4:17. “The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it.” Hosea 9:7. “They shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.” Hosea 13:3.” –The Review and Herald, February 5, 1914.
It became incurable. That’s the most heartbreaking experience as a minister when you are trying to help certain individuals and you discover it is incurable. That’s one of the things I’ve had to put a shield around my heart because I’ve seen this time and time and time and time again. We’re living today in times where the majority of professed Christians are in a state where they can’t change. It’s incurable. What’s the only cure for transgression? The cross of Christ. And the cross of Christ is not there to cover your wllful sinning. It’s there to take you away from your sinful thing. That’s what it’s meant for. If you repent. It creates repentance if you are willing.
The Cross
The cross, if the people will study the cross, it brings willingness into existence. That He died for all my sins, I see how much He loves me. I want to give myself to Him and giving myself to Him means His way. Not to continue my ways. But they, in modern Christianity today, they want to be called by Christ’s name.
Isaiah 4: 1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
‘I want to be under your name but I want to do what I want to do.’ That is the condition. We can see the principle, Ephraim is joined to his idols. That was Ephraim, but do you remember what we just read there of Judah as well?
The Demise of Judah
Did Judah follow in the same steps as the ten tribes? Did they?
Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
“Divine pity marked the countenance of the Son of God as He cast one lingering look upon the temple and then upon His hearers. In a voice choked by deep anguish of heart and bitter tears He exclaimed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” This is the separation struggle. In the lamentation of Christ the very heart of God is pouring itself forth. It is the mysterious farewell of the long-suffering love of the Deity.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 620.
His beautiful character that looks upon them and wants to have them, they just poke His eyes out. It’s a terrible thing. He’s watching. Jerusalem is ruined it says in Isaiah 3:8 Judah is fallen. Why? Because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of His glory. Even Judah is mentioned now. Even from the time of the Old Testament in Judah, remember Judah was still God’s people, they were overtaken because of their sins. Babylon took them over and then they recovered again and they continued. God continued to try and correct them until it came to the time of Christ. What does Jesus say in Matthew 23:37 and 38? What does he say about Judah?
Your house is left unto you desolate. You have forsaken me. I’ve been trying to help you. I’ve tried to bring you under my wings, and you would not. Judah is also out of the out of the reckoning of God’s church.
These are realities that we have to see as we’re studying them here. But as what has already been brought to our attention? God has His people amongst them, His faithful ones like Elijah and so on, working hard to try and recover them but they won’t. If there comes a point in time, that’s it, bang.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Jeremiah 23:39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
What you’re seeing in Jerusalem at the moment is exactly that, a perpetual shame all the time. That’s why when you were talking to your husband, you’re Zion, the way He understood Zion, at perpetual shame, it’s a terrible shame. They call themselves Zionists – terror and that’s all expressed in Jeremiah.
Both Houses of Israel
How do we know that both, both the houses of Israel would reject God and thus be rejected? So they reject God and therefore they will be rejected. How do we know that both the houses of Israel? How do we know that? That both the houses would fall?
Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Jesus and God would be a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel. They both would look upon what God said is offensive. I found that in the ministry, a reproach. Whatever you say to certain people that comes from God, is awful. ‘I don’t like to hear that.’ Both houses of Israel are saying that. What is a gin? A gin and a snare. I think the word gin there is referring a trap. Often in the Bible it uses two words that emphasise each other, a gin and a snare. It was Judah that Jesus was obviously talking about, those other ten tribes, didn’t even exist anymore. There was Judah. And He says in the end part of that note, this is the separation struggle. God has a struggle.
“Divine pity marked the countenance of the Son of God as He cast one lingering look upon the temple and then upon His hearers. In a voice choked by deep anguish of heart and bitter tears He exclaimed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” This is the separation struggle. In the lamentation of Christ the very heart of God is pouring itself forth. It is the mysterious farewell of the long-suffering love of the Deity.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 620.
We mustn’t lose sight of that. That picture is so precious that God has to forsake them because they don’t want Him. They crucified Him and they don’t want Him even after He was crucified. He still gave them opportunity to by sending the apostles to them until they stoned Stephen. What can I do to help you? Nothing. So it’s a mysterious farewell of the long -suffering love of the deity.
There comes a point in time that we’re looking at here, these principles that we’ve got to have firm in our mind so that as we deal with our current situation, we can see where there is a point in time, where there is a point of no return. That’s what we’re learning here. There comes a point in time where you can’t change them anymore. After they have been given plenty of warning.
An appeal, I love you, please. This is that beautiful picture.This is the biggest thing in all of Christianity, this is not liked. This isn’t liked? Because everyone’s going to be saved, even in the Adventism circle. They don’t like to hear this kind of study, but we are studying. This is God’s Word. We are to tremble at God’s word if we’re going to be saved, instead of going, “Oh, no, I don’t want that.” Because it’s a reproach. And that’s what we read in both houses of Israel, He’s a stumbling block to them.
To reach out to those that the Lord has already, isn’t that when God sends them strong delusion that they would believe a lie. We have to respect that because you’re tormenting them. The Lord really showed that to me in one of my experiences. If you stayed there, you would be tormenting them. Love them to let them go. Let them enjoy themselves. That is God’s way. They can’t be changed. There comes a point of no return. You don’t jump out before that. You keep on trying to help, like God does but there comes a point where you know that’s it. Whatever you do, it’s only torment to them.
How do we know that both the houses of Israel would reject God and thus be rejected?
Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
2 Kings 21:14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; 15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
“The parable of the two sons was followed by the parable of the vineyard. In the one, Christ had set before the Jewish teachers the importance of obedience. In the other, He pointed to the rich blessings bestowed upon Israel, and in these showed God’s claim to their obedience. He set before them the glory of God’s purpose, which through obedience they might have fulfilled. Withdrawing the veil from the future, He showed how, by failure to fulfill His purpose, the whole nation was forfeiting His blessing, and bringing ruin upon itself.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 284.
The language in 2 Kings 21:14, and 15 – I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies. They shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies.
Why? because they have done evil in my sight, provoked me to anger all the way through from Egypt. Now there’s an interesting story. There’s a text in I think Ezekiel that says already in Egypt they denied Him, but He lovingly tried to recover them. That’s what He’s saying here is all the way from Egypt. I have loved them, but they have turned against me. Only the faithful few.
Withdrawing the veil from the future, He showed how, by failure to fulfill His purpose, the whole nation was forfeiting His blessing, and bringing ruin upon itself.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 284.
We are studying again God’s character here. That when He forsakes, what does he forsake them to? To their own heart, to their own ways, but what He says there – I will forsake you to the enemies and that’s what you’re seeing.
Who became Israel’s and the Jews enemies? Rome? Of course He pursued them to Rome and then they recovered again. Now he’s forsaking them to the Mohammedans, to Turkey who will finally come and take over in Jerusalem. That’s because all the other nations have also forsaken Him that now it becomes one big Armageddon. That’s the way God works and these are important in understandings. We’re dealing with another point now because remember the picture of marriage? He had been married to them.
Here we are looking now at such a thing that in God’s mind there is a possibility of divorce and marrying someone else.
ADULTEROUS DIVORCE
As God’s relationship with His church, Israel, was symbolised by marriage, what was the declaration of His rejection of her?
This is again a symbolic, prophetical picture.
Ezekiel 23:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. 4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. 5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, 6 Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. 7 Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
Ezekiel 23:11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms. 12 She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men. 13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
“The unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from Him, and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure; and the wonderful love of God which they thus despised is touchingly portrayed: “I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine.” “And thou wast exceeding beautiful and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee. . . . But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” “As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!” Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.” –The Great Controversy, p. 381.
He calls these two women, these two whores. Ahola and Aholibah, which were mine.
These two, and what were they? What did He identify them as? Harlots. These daughters of one mother, Ahola and Aholibah. Who are they? Who was a Ahola? Did you remember reading it?
Ahola is Samaria and Aholibah is Jerusalem. They both were taken away, committed whoredom. They were both breaking the marriage relationship entering into whoredom. That’s what Sister White writes in the note – ‘the unfaithfulness of the Church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from Him and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul is likened to the violation of the marriage vow.’
I’ve made a covenant with you, now what have you done? You have broken the marriage vow. Isn’t that with God’s people under the marriage institution of God’s way? Here is God’s example that when there is a violation of the marriage vow as it was there. Then the declaration is plain and clear.
…allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The Great Controversy, p. 381.
“I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine.” “And thou wast exceeding beautiful. GC 381
There was the original beautiful blending of a marriage then, “but thou didst trust.” Now this is so beautiful, Israel and the church was beautiful. Why? What was written there? ‘Thou wsst exceedingly beautiful.’ and that it’s prospering to the kingdom.
And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect. The Great Controversy, p. 381.
Through what? This is important –
…perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee. The Great Controversy, p. 381.
It’s because of me that you are so beautiful. But what did they do exactly as Lucifer? You trusted in themselves, trusted in thy own beauty. You didn’t realise that your beauty was from me. Lucifer didn’t realise that His glory was from God. So now you trust in your own. You’re making it as though it belongs totally to you and really it came from me.
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” “As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;” “as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!” Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.” –The Great Controversy, p. 381..
As a wife that committed adultery which taketh strangers into her house, instead of her husband. Can you see the foundation? These are the principles that we are understanding as why there is a church and then there is the church triumphant. These are the introductory principles that we are examining.
Is there any suggestion from Inspiration that God would divorce and seek another wife?
This is the confusion that people have that there’s no such thing as divorce and remarriage. When you see the whole picture here, that God could divorce Jerusalem and marry others. But you’ve got to pick up. I didn’t divorce them quickly, even after they had already committed whoredom, I still wanted to bring them back. There are women today that say, ‘Oh, if my husband has committed adultery, I can’t have him back.’ Yes, you can, if you can win him back, but only if you can win him, but if you can’t change him, then it’s a different story.
It’s not just, ‘Oh, I’m sick of this person. I want to go and marry another.’ That doesn’t work. That doesn’t come into the equation. Is there such a thing? As we read it in the Bible there – Jeremiah 3:6 to 8. He had cried for her to return to Him, but she didn’t. What language is expressed there? His cry of His heart was turn, turn unto me. How did it continue? She returned not. So He cried – she’s already committed adultery, but can’t return to me. She returned not, and how did it continue? It was said unto me that backsliding Israel had justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
God had to put her away and given her a bill of divorcement. Divorce means the marriage vow is no longer relevant. A bill of divorcement.
Isaiah 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away
I will call them my people which were not my people. He has divorced both the ten tribes and finally after the stoning of Stephen, He divorced Judah. Now I will call them my people which were not my people. They were not my wife. I’m bringing some another woman into my life. He divorced Jerusalem when they stoned Stephen. He divorced Judah when they stoned Stephen and crucified Paul. He divorced them first of all, and we draw attention to that when they crucified him. He still appealed to them through the apostles. They were still given another half a week, another two and a half days, another three years. They were given another three years of grace. Then when they stoned Stephen, then they were divorced. He came to another people, the Gentiles.
Romans 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Now the Christian church became his people. That’s the picture. He has divorced Israel, divorced Judah and now He has another woman, the Christian church.
“The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work.” –Last Day Events, p. 59.
There’s no time to question. Did you notice that although He did that back there, it says God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. If that’s what He did to that church and married another, He will continue to do that whoever, whichever church was once His and then denied Him. It doesn’t change, God never changes. – Same principle.
“The Lord says, “Shall I not visit for these things?” Jeremiah 5:9. Because they failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, the children of Israel were set aside, and God’s call was extended to other peoples. If these too prove unfaithful, will they not in like manner be rejected?” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 304.
Don’t forget these principles. These are the principles upon which God has been working right through the generations. It’s always the same principle.
This is to why it says not to go where there’s a preaching error because you’ll be just to find what they’re preaching. It’s a confusion.
“I know the danger of those who refuse to walk in the light as God gives it. They bring upon themselves the terrible crisis of being left to follow their own ways, to do after their own judgment. The conscience becomes less and less impressible. The voice of God seems to become more and more distant, and the wrongdoer is left to his own infatuation. In stubbornness he resists every appeal, despises all counsel and advice, and turns from every provision made for his salvation. . . . The Spirit of God no longer exerts a restraining power over him, and the sentence is passed, “He is joined to idols; let him alone” (see Hosea 4:17). . . . This is the process through which the soul passes that rejects the working of the Holy Spirit.” –That I May Know Him, p. 243.
MEDITATION
“But “see that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.” Hebrews 12:25. Jesus said, “None of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper.” They had rejected the invitation, and none of them were to be invited again. In rejecting Christ, the Jews were hardening their hearts and giving themselves into the power of Satan so that it would be impossible for them to accept His grace. So, it is now. If the love of God is not appreciated and does not become an abiding principle to soften and subdue the soul, we are utterly lost. The Lord can give no greater manifestation of His love than He has given. If the love of Jesus does not subdue the heart, there are no means by which we can be reached.
“Every time you refuse to listen to the message of mercy, you strengthen yourself in unbelief. Every time you fail to open the door of your heart to Christ, you become more and more unwilling to listen to the voice of Him that speaketh. You diminish your chance of responding to the last appeal of mercy. Let it not be written of you, as of ancient Israel, “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.” Hosea 4:17. Let not Christ weep over you as He wept over Jerusalem, saying, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Luke 13:34, 35.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 236, 237.
I was studying with a with a man in Adelaide long ago when I was there And he loved it. He came and he became baptised and so on and then he began to drift again. He began to drift. He didn’t come to church and then he came to church and then he didn’t. And as he was walking down the street one day a voice came to him loud and clear, “Go back to where you have been.” It shook him so he came back and yes he was restored to a large degree and then he began to drift again and after several months maybe a year or so he wasn’t coming to church anymore and then he said he came back and he said I heard that voice but I couldn’t hear it very well. It was much quieter. Go back to where you were. He came back and then he drifted again. And this time, he had gone and shifted away from Adelaide. I was down visiting and I went to visit him and his wife.
I was giving the Bible study on the Sabbath and he got it again and then he said we were going to go for a walk. He said no you go for a walk. He lay in his bed and he was there and he was he was clinging to the side of his bed and he heard a very faint voice go back where you were but so faint he could hardly hear. He had to concentrate and as I got back from the walk, he said this happened. I said well, come on but he didn’t and he never heard the voice again.
In rejecting Christ, the Jews were hardening their hearts and giving themselves into the power of Satan so that it would be impossible for them to accept His grace. So, it is now. If the love of God is not appreciated and does not become an abiding principle to soften and subdue the soul, we are utterly lost. COL 236.2
If you can still feel the Holy Spirit calling, run for it. Grab it, don’t let it go. I can’t emphasise that strongly enough. As you hear the Lord speaking, follow Him and surrender to His ways. I’ve experienced that too, it’s frightening. I ask the Lord “Please don’t leave me to myself.” That’s the most fearful thing. It is a fearful thing.
