Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
Micah 6:1-2 KJV
I have devoted a lot of these posts to God's covenants with Israel. I do this, at the risk of sounding redundant, because a solid understanding of these covenants and how they play out, is vital to understanding so much of Biblical prophecy concerning the end times.
So many theologians and teachers confuse so many Old Testament passages that pertain to Israel, with the Church. It seems, according to some, that the promises and blessings mentioned are now transferred to the Church in this age, while none of the punishments and curses apply to us. This however is poor interpretation, and is not being consistent with the text. It seems a bit selfish to say that we will take all of Israel's promises, but leave the curses to them. Other texts are symbolically explained away to the point of being meaningless. Ultimately it leaves a huge portion of Christians very confused, and in the dark about the last days.
But God has made promises that are specific to Israel, and if God breaks these promises, or transfers them to someone else at a later time, we now have a major problem. If God, who cannot lie, never meant what He promised, breaking His covenant, is God even God then? Our very salvation is then in jeopardy.
The Bible portrays a story of mankind from start to finish. It begins with creation, the fall and ultimate curse, and continues with God choosing a nation from whom the deliverer will come to restore all things back to how it was always intended to be. So when God chose Abraham and made a covenant with him, and his descendants after him, that is part of this story. Israel was intended to be a light to the nations around them. People would see them living righteously, serving the LORD their God in holiness and sincerity. Sadly that is not what has happened, and God has to judge that sin. That is where the curses of the Mosaic covenant come into play.
In the verse quoted above we read that God has a controversy with His people. They have turned away from Him, and are living in disobedience to His commands. The reference to the mountains in these verses is a reference to the nations. The LORD is declaring before the nations that He has a controversy with the people that He has chosen, the people who should be reflecting Him with their lives. But notice that He will plead with His people. While God's judgement is just, and it is fearful to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30-31), He also desires to bring people to the point of repentance.
And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; then I will also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant ...
Leviticus 26:23-25 KJV
God will use other nations as His sword against His backslidden people. This was seen often in Biblical times (see Ezekiel 21:1-32). Early in Israel's existence they were oppressed by the Midianites, then the northern ten tribes were carried off by the Assyrian empire followed by Judah being conquered by Babylon. Rome crushed Israel in 70 AD leading to a nearly two thousand year absence from the land. This sword will strike one more time.
As I live, saith the LORD GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead with you, saith the LORD GOD. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and he shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 20:33-38 KJV
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
Ezekiel 20:41-42 KJV
God will use Israel's enemies against her to achieve His ultimate goal of restoration. The great tribulation will be a time of sifting. Zechariah tells us that only one third of the nation will remain after it is over. This one third will call upon the name of the LORD and be saved (Zechariah 13:7-9).
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, and I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
Hosea 2:14-15 KJV
Hosea gives witness to this as well. God will use the time of tribulation to turn Israel back to Him again. The valley of Achor is a reference to Israel when they conquered Jericho. In disobedience to God's command, Achan took and hid some of the spoil of battle. Because of this sin the whole nation suffered a humiliating defeat the next time they went to battle. The LORD was not with them this time. Achan confessed his sin, and was stoned to death in this valley of Achor. Then the LORD went out with Israel once again. Likewise, after this future time of judgment, Israel will once again be reconciled with God. The curses of the Mosaic covenant will be resolved as the nation as a whole comes into the New Covenant.
That is a brief look at the controversy that the LORD has with his chosen people, Israel. The nations also have a controversy with Israel as well. It primarily has to do with God's choice of them, and the land that was given to them.
Last post I discussed the perpetual hatred of Esau. You can read it here. This hatred has persisted in the nations that surround Israel for thousands of years. It will reach it's boiling point coinciding with the final period of God's judgement against Israel, the period of time where God's controversy with His people will be resolved.
God will use these nations as His instrument of judgement. They, become His sword to avenge the broken covenant (Leviticus 26:23-25).
Yet these nations will be ultimately judged for their hatred and cruelty towards Israel. God will use them to achieve His purpose, but by no means will He allow their sin to go unpunished.
Isaiah speaks of the day when the sword of the LORD will descend upon the nations that have come against His chosen people. The language of this chapter is set in the last days, at Christ's second coming. He has a sacrifice prepared in Bozrah, a great slaughter in Idumea. These are references to the Edom, the land of Esau and his descendants, who have carried a perpetual hatred of Israel into modern times. (Isaiah 34:1-6).
And not only Isaiah, but many of the prophets spoke of this day. I will quote from three of them.
For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Isaiah 34:8 KJV
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; ye shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 25:27-31 KJV
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the seige both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered against it.
Zechariah 12:2-3 KJV
All of the nations that surround Israel will be judged for the controversy that they have with Israel and the land. God has a controversy with them that will be dealt with when Jesus returns.
The texts that I have quoted, as well as many more that I have left out, all point to the great tribulation, and the wrath of God poured out on the nations gathered against Israel at Christ's return. All of this culminates at the battle of Armageddon. At this same time the surviving remnant of Israel recognizes Jesus as their Messiah, and enter into the New Covenant as a nation. This is how the controversy of Zion will be resolved.
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