Our Father Calls Israel to Account
Being chosen means being held accountable, not exempt. A run of questions makes the point that effects have causes: a lion roars because it has prey, and the Sovereign Father does nothing without telling his prophets — so Samaria's ivory houses will come down.
3 1Hear this word our Father has spoken against you, children of Israel—against the whole family I brought up from Egypt:
2Of all the families of the earth, I have known only you; therefore I will hold you accountable for all your sins.
3Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? 4Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den if he has caught nothing? 5Does a bird fall into a snare on the ground when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the earth when it has caught nothing? 6If a ram's horn is blown in a city, will the people not tremble? If disaster comes to a city, has our Father not done it? 7Surely the Sovereign Father does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. 8The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Father has spoken—who can keep from prophesying?
9Proclaim over the strongholds in Ashdod and over the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say: "Assemble on the mountains of Samaria and see the great uproar within her, and the oppression in her midst." 10They do not know how to do right, declares our Father—those who hoard up violence and plunder in their strongholds.
11So the Sovereign Father says: An enemy will surround the land, topple your defenses, and loot your strongholds.
12This is what our Father says: As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion's mouth, so the children of Israel living in Samaria will be rescued—with a corner of a couch, part of a bed. 13Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Sovereign Father, the Father of heaven's armies: 14On the day I punish Israel for his rebellions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. 15I will strike the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will perish, and the great houses will come to an end, declares our Father.
