The Message
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Chapter 5
The Leader Who Will Shepherd-Rule Israel
1But for now, prepare for the worst, victim daughter!The siege is set against us. They humiliate Israel's king, slapping him around like a rag doll. 2But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter- From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. 3Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. 4He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by GOD's strength, centered in the majesty of GOD-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect- Peacemaker of the world! 5And if some bullying Assyrian shows up, invades and violates our land, don't worry. We'll put him in his place, send him packing, and watch his every move. 6Shepherd-rule will extend as far as needed, to Assyria and all other Nimrod-bullies. Our shepherd-ruler will save us from old or new enemies, from anyone who invades or violates our land. 7The purged and select company of Jacob will be like an island in the sea of peoples. They'll be like dew from GOD, like summer showers Not mentioned in the weather forecast, not subject to calculation or control. 8Yes, the purged and select company of Jacob will be like an island in the sea of peoples, Like the king of beasts among wild beasts, like a young lion loose in a flock of sheep, Killing and devouring the lambs and no one able to stop him. 9With your arms raised in triumph over your foes, your enemies will be no more! 10“The day is coming” -GOD's Decree- “When there will be no more war. None. I'll slaughter your war horses and demolish your chariots. 11I'll dismantle military posts and level your fortifications. 12I'll abolish your religious black markets, your underworld traffic in black magic. 13I will smash your carved and cast gods and chop down your phallic posts. No more taking control of the world, worshiping what you do or make. 14I'll root out your sacred sex-and-power centers and destroy the God-defiant. 15In raging anger, I'll make a clean sweep of godless nations who haven't listened.” Chapter 6
What God Is Looking For
1Listen now, listen to GOD:“Take your stand in court. If you have a complaint, tell the mountains; make your case to the hills. 2And now, Mountains, hear GOD's case; listen, Jury Earth- For I am bringing charges against my people. I am building a case against Israel. 3“Dear people, how have I done you wrong? Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer! 4I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt; I paid a good price to get you out of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you- and Aaron and Miriam to boot! 5Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull, and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him. Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal. Keep all GOD's salvation stories fresh and present.” 6How can I stand up before GOD and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? 7Would GOD be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin? 8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously- take God seriously. 9Attention! GOD calls out to the city! If you know what's good for you, you'll listen. So listen, all of you! This is serious business. 10“Do you expect me to overlook obscene wealth you've piled up by cheating and fraud? 11Do you think I'll tolerate shady deals and shifty scheming? 12I'm tired of the violent rich bullying their way with bluffs and lies. 13I'm fed up. Beginning now, you're finished. You'll pay for your sins down to your last cent. 14No matter how much you get, it will never be enough- hollow stomachs, empty hearts. No matter how hard you work, you'll have nothing to show for it- bankrupt lives, wasted souls. 15You'll plant grass but never get a lawn. You'll make jelly but never spread it on your bread. You'll press apples but never drink the cider. 16You have lived by the standards of your king, Omri, the decadent lifestyle of the family of Ahab. Because you've slavishly followed their fashions, I'm forcing you into bankruptcy. Your way of life will be laughed at, a tasteless joke. Your lives will be derided as futile and fake.” Chapter 7
Stick Around to See What God Will Do
1I'm overwhelmed with sorrow!sunk in a swamp of despair! I'm like someone who goes to the garden to pick cabbages and carrots and corn And returns empty-handed, finds nothing for soup or sandwich or salad. 2There's not a decent person in sight. Right-living humans are extinct. They're all out for one another's blood, animals preying on each other. 3They've all become experts in evil. Corrupt leaders demand bribes. The powerful rich make sure they get what they want. 4The best and brightest are thistles. The top of the line is crabgrass. But no longer: It's exam time. Look at them slinking away in disgrace! 5Don't trust your neighbor, don't confide in your friend. Watch your words, even with your spouse. 6Neighborhoods and families are falling to pieces. The closer they are-sons, daughters, in-laws- The worse they can be. Your own family is the enemy. 7But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what GOD will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me. Spreading Your Wings
8Don't, enemy, crow over me.I'm down, but I'm not out. I'm sitting in the dark right now, but GOD is my light. 9I can take GOD's punishing rage. I deserve it-I sinned. But it's not forever. He's on my side and is going to get me out of this. He'll turn on the lights and show me his ways. I'll see the whole picture and how right he is. 10And my enemy will see it, too, and be discredited-yes, disgraced! This enemy who kept taunting, “So where is this GOD of yours?” I'm going to see it with these, my own eyes- my enemy disgraced, trash in the gutter. 11Oh, that will be a day! A day for rebuilding your city, a day for stretching your arms, spreading your wings! 12All your dispersed and scattered people will come back, old friends and family from faraway places, From Assyria in the east to Egypt in the west, from across the seas and out of the mountains. 13But there'll be a reversal for everyone else-massive depopulation- because of the way they lived, the things they did. 14Shepherd, O GOD, your people with your staff, your dear and precious flock. Uniquely yours in a grove of trees, centered in lotus land. Let them graze in lush Bashan as in the old days in green Gilead. 15Reproduce the miracle-wonders of our exodus from Egypt. 16And the godless nations: Put them in their place- humiliated in their arrogance, speechless and clueless. 17Make them slink like snakes, crawl like cockroaches, come out of their holes from under their rocks And face our GOD. Fill them with holy fear and trembling. 18Where is the god who can compare with you- wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most. 19And compassion is on its way to us. You'll stamp out our wrongdoing. You'll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean. 20You'll stay true to your word to Father Jacob and continue the compassion you showed Grandfather Abraham- Everything you promised our ancestors from a long time ago. |
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