Daniel Globig Idolatry:

REL303

Midterm Exam

What might idolatry mean in a secular society or the church? Many explanations could be revealed through looking at the text of Hosea. Hosea, like the church today, believed in one God, worshiped one God, and received election from one God. Thus, there was an obvious calling to be faithful to one God. The marriage-vow which God makes in Hos. 2:19-20 [21-22] attributes faithfulness directly to him, in the terms hesed and emunah (steadfast love, faithfulness, respective NRSV). (EOT, 145)

Faithfulness is something God expects of the church, however, the church is most often unfaithful even when God is faithful. Even though Hosea was faithful to his wife, she remained an adulteress. Then the LORD said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. (Hos. 3:1) In our culture today, raisin cakes might not be seen as a slander against God, but in Hoseas day, these may have been used in idolatrous worship.

These raisin cakes actually connote the first commandment. Stamped right next to the first command is a picture of cake; How dare you eat that cake! You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exod. 20:3, NASB) The First Commandment stands over the book of Hosea, with its prohibition of the worship of gods other than Yahweh. This may be seen not only from the general opposition to the worship of Canaanite gods, but from allusions to Exod. 20:2 (12:8-9), and to Deuteronomy 32 (144) Exodus 20:2 shows how God has remained faithful to His people. He brought them out of slavery and so His history of faithfulness to them is duly noted. Gods history of love for His people leads all the way back to the patriarchs, far before Exodus and Moses. (Hosea

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope

Daniel Globig

REL303

Midterm Exam

12:3-4) Brueggemann also pointed out that prophets know their history and tradition, and are called to remind the people of what God has done for them in the past. Idolatry is the most serious evil, because it makes god what is not God. Martin Luther said: The confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol (EOT, 145) There must be no other idols of the heart. There must be no other gods like consumerism, pride, and entertainment. This makes perfect sense because God is making His people a vow of betrothal. I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Mein faithfulness. (Hosea 2:19, NASB) The people were to know they were to be Gods people so it would make perfect sense to not go after other gods. Today, no one is supposed to go after other gods, but unfortunately there are many people who do this by their personal misconceptions of who God is. Many people create their version of a comfortable god. Instead of acknowledging we are made in Gods image, we often try to make God in our image. They cannot stand the knowledge and experience of a God who is as almighty, sovereign, and mysteriously perfect as Yahweh is. So they create their version of a do-what-I-ask-God or be-what-I-want-God. The sons of Israel did not know who God was or they would have not taken on a spirit of harlotry, as stated in Hosea 5:4. Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD. (Hos. 5:4, NASB)

Justice and Righteousness: One main telos of Amos 5 concerns justice, as in the following verse: But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) There is a clear connection

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope

Daniel Globig

REL303

Midterm Exam

between the two. If not a correlation, this is a cause-effect situation; true righteousness seeks after justice, and if there is no justice, there is no righteousness. So justice is the fruit of true righteousness. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruits, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. (Mt. 7:16-20) In ch. 5 the worship of God is forged together with a love of justice The message is developed in 5:4-5, 6-7, 14-15, 21-24. (EOT, 172) In verse 6, those who are turning justice into wormwood and casting righteousness to the earth, should seek the LORD so they might live. Gods omniscience is shown in verse 12: For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who turn aside the poor in the gate. Out of Gods omniscience comes a call to seek good and not evil. (Hos. 5:12) Good refers to a condition similar to blessing. It is what God seeks to bring about for his people. And the practice of justice and righteousness is inseparable from it. (EOT, 172) This command to seek good and to seek Gods justice and righteousness is so key in the OT and NT scriptures. Leviticus 19:2 calls Gods people to be holy because the LORD your God is holy.

When some churches today do not seek to follow after true righteousness and justice, perhaps many are not saved. (1 John 2:3-11) When some in the church are not heeding to holiness, perhaps they are not truly saved. When people turn their head away from the poor and desperate and claims to seek after God, perhaps they should think about what God they are assuming. As aforementioned, forming an ideal god who is not God is the same as idolatry the first commandment. If they were thinking of Yahweh, they would realize the need for justice, righteousness, holiness, and love.

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope

Daniel Globig

REL303

Midterm Exam

There are some churches who do not feel comfortable mixing with the poor or unsaved. These same churches will be lacking Gods blessing if they do not seek after His purposes. I have seen so many churches act just like the Pharisees. Jesus called the Pharisees out when he said, Woe to you teachers of the law and religious leader. You claim to be clean on the outside, but you are dirty on the inside. You claim to seek after God, but you neglect and sometimes abuse the poor. (paraphrase of different times Jesus called them out) This type of command is stated all over the history of Gods revelation. The same combination of good (tob), righteousness (sedaqah) and life is also found in Deuteronomy (Deut. 6:24-25). (EOT, 172)

The church must let justice roll down in a prophetic manner as the church is the unified quintessential hands and feet of Christ. (Eph. 4:4) But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (5:24, NASB) So, instead of being satisfied with a metaphor about water flowing down, the church must actually act on this by activating justice in the world. Then, we are not simply singing songs about the rolling justice of God. We are acting on it, and causing His justice to come to fruition.

Isaiah 35 as Centerpiece:

When looking at the outline of how the book of Isaiah flows, there is a movement from Judgment Oracles from chapter 1 to chapter 35. Chapter 36 begins the Historical Interlude. This movement or divide between chapters 35 and 36 place this breaking point smack dab in the middle of the outlined activities. Thematically, chapter 35 is a call for justice whereas chapters 28-33 are woes to various people groups. So Isaiah is painting a picture with God directing his hand. While he is painting he dashes a stroke of woes and brushes a few final touches of a call of justice. The people are to seek justice in the present, but in the future God will come with justice.

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope

Daniel Globig

REL303

Midterm Exam

Behold, your God will come, but He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened A highway will be called the Highway of Holiness [and] the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isa. 35:4-10, NASB)

This speaks of a future justice which God will carry out. This is both a spiritual future justice and a literal future justice. Christ will lead us on our way to salvation. (John 14:6) The highway (v. 8) recalls the way from Assyria to Egypt, where those peoples would worship Yahweh (19:23-25), but now the image is paradisal (v. 9, cf. 11:6-9). (EOT, 21) This speaks, again, on both the literal and spiritual level. Once again, Scripture carries metaphorical connotations in the midst of literal-historical documentations. It speaks of the rise of a paradise of all nations. (Galatians 3:8) The real subject of this vision is the evil city that is opposed to Gods city of righteousness (cf. on chs 24-27). In contrast, chapter 35 is a majestic poem on Gods final salvation of his people. (EOT, 21) It poetically paints the picture of a lavishing-refreshing garden which is completely different from what Edom would become [a desert] (34:1-17).

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope

Daniel Globig

REL303

Midterm Exam

REL 303 (OT Prophets) Midterm Examination This work is to be your own... with no help from classmates. If you cite secondary sources (optional), you must give full bibliographic info Internet sources are NOT permitted. The suggested length of your essays (in total) is 4-6 pages (double spaced). Grading Rubric Superior Competent Weak Your score (0100) Times weight

B+ to A+ (87-100) Understand-ing & Critical Reflection upon Concepts A superior paper will demonstrate an exceptional grasp of, and interaction with, the material covered. It will display careful integration and synthesis of material from the texts, class discussion, and ones own thoughts. The paper will be characterized by depth of thought and expression. Concrete examples will be effectively employed and generalities avoided.

C to B (73-86) A competent paper will demonstrate a grasp of, and interaction with, the material covered. It will show some signs of integration and synthesis of material from the texts, class discussion, and ones own thoughts. The paper may be overly dependent upon others thoughts or lacking in depth of thought and/or expression.

U to C- (0-72) A weak paper fails to demonstrate a grasp of, and interaction with, the material covered. It lacks signs of integration and synthesis of material from the texts, class discussion, and ones own thoughts. The paper is marked by a lack of depth of analysis and expression and may be overly dependent upon others thoughts.

94

0.75

70.5

Composition

A superior paper will be flawless with regard to all areas of composition including structure, organization, grammar, syntax, spelling, and style. Minimum length achieved.

A competent paper will contain some errors of composition, including structure, organization, grammar, syntax, spelling, and style. Minimum length achieved.

A weak paper will contain numerous errors of composition, including structure, organization, grammar, syntax, spelling, and style. May fail to meet minimum length.

93

0.25 23.25

Percentage Total Score out of 150 Letter Grade

93.75 141

3.11.10

Dr. Holsinger-Friesen

Idolatry, Justice, and Future Hope