Trumpet is an alarm or call to attention. Vulture is judgement. House of the Lord is the temple. Israel is no longer even pretending to consult God. They are building altars for sin. Israel has forgotten God.
Israel is incapable of innocence. They say “We know you, God” but nothing in their lives proves that. They set up kings, princes, idols, all without a thought for God. The idols are a sign they desire to worship, but it’s all towards themselves. They sow nothing of substance, and then are shocked when it all spirals out of their control. Even if what they did sow was able to ripen, strangers would rob them because they have no commitment to their own work. Israel chased after the enemy, but even the enemy has rejected them. They have to turn to buying love and friendship, which isn’t love and friendship at all. Even the ones they hire are filled with regret at the alliance. If God reminded them 10,000 times, Israel wouldn’t get it. Israel has built palaces, which shows their arrogance and pride, and Judah has built fortified cities, which shows fear and lack of trust in their Maker.
This chapter changes me because God is still writing Israel’s story. Even after their rebellion, He still notices everything about them. He’s a jealous God, He will not share His glory with another. He’s a long-suffering God: time is in His hands and He has forever. He is a wrathful God, He hates all unrighteousness. He is a just God, He cannot over-punish or under-punish. He is the only Wise God, He knows what is best and cannot choose wrongly. The God of Israel is our same God today. O Praise Him!
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