12/6/10
Dear Jehovah God,
In the house of Israel, You have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself. An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priest rule on their own authority; and Your people love it so! But what will I do at the end of it?
Also, among the prophets of Jerusalem You have seen a horrible thing: the committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; and they strengthen the hand of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to You like Sodom, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
In the house of Israel, You have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself.
Israel’s prophets see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘Jehovah declares,’ when Jehovah has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word.
“If a man walking after wind and falsehood had told lies and said, ‘I will speak out to you concerning wine and liquor,’ He would be spokesman to this people.”
Also, among the prophets of Jerusalem You have seen a horrible thing: the committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land.
“…because they have acted foolishly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who knows, and am a witness,” declares You.
But if they stood in Your council, then they would have announced Your words to Your people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.
“Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life, therefore, you women will no longer see false visions or practice divination, and I will deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will know that I am Jehovah.”
And You said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.”
“For their vine is from the vine of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison, their clusters, bitter.”
Unless You Jehovah of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would be like Gomorrah. Hear the word of Jehovah, our rulers of Sodom; give ear to the instruction of our God, us people of Gomorrah.
But let that man be like the cities which Jehovah overthrew without relenting, and let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon.
Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with its neighbors no one will live there, nor will a son of man reside in it.
Nevertheless, You say to us that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for us.
You know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from You; for now, O Ephraim, we have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself.
Me only have You chosen among all the families of the earth; therefore, You will punish me for all my iniquities. For You know my transgressions are many and my sins are great, I who distress the righteous and accept bribes, and turn aside the poor in the gate.
You are Jehovah My God and I am Your Servant. I give everything to You. It is all Yours. Please take it. Amen.