Miquéias 1

Miquéias 1

Boice says pesha' "refers to crossing a forbidden boundary with the thought that this is a serious rebellion." TWOT - This masculine noun designates those who reject God’s authority. In the indictments of the first two chapters of Amos, peša is done by non-Israelites to other people, but overwhelmingly the Hebrew people were the ones who were guilty of peša against the authority and covenant of their God. In a few Psalms, the book of Pr and a few instances in Ezek the individual is emphasized, instead of the corporate body, guilty of this sin. Lam personifies Jerusalem three times and Isa says the earth (a figure for its inhabitants) was involved in peša. In a few secular contexts, this term refers to violations of personal and property rights of others (Ge 31:36; 50:17; 1Sa 24:11; 25:28). In a religious context, this term refers to involvement in fertility cult practices (Isa 57:4), active persecution of God’s people (Ps 5:10; 59:3) and telling falsehoods (Pr 12:13; 17:9). Predominantly peša is rebellion against God’s law and covenant and thus the term is a collective which denotes the sum of misdeeds and a fractured relationship. The measure of this kind of sin is the character of God himself, for if there were no such God, there could not be peša. Some passages highlight the contrast between God and man’s rejection of him, especially his desire to correct the estrangement (Ex 34:7; Num 14:18; Josh 24:19; 1Ki 8:50; Pr 19:11; Mic 7:18). Not only does peša create a gulf between God and man, it generates distortions within himself, i.e. a tendency to hide his actions (Job 34:6), deceitfulness (Pr 28:24), apathy (Ps 36:1), illness (Ps 107:17), a love for strife (Pr 17:19), a sense of enslavement (Pr 12:13), easily angered (Pr 29:22), hypocritical worship (Isa 58:1) and a sense of defilement (Ezek 14:11). In one case, peša is depicted as a heavy, crushing weight (Isa 24:20). As far as God is concerned, there are two ways the rebellion may be ended; it may end with punishment or a renewal of the relationship. God’s first step is to indict his people and expose their sin as a rebellion. Some key passages with this theme are Job 36:9; Mic 3:8. Through his servants, God warns his people of their danger (Ps 89:32; Amos 3:14), and takes pains to designate their transgression as the cause for their punishment (Ezek 39:24; Mic 1:13; Dan 8:12–13). The references given above on the character of God indicate that God wants to pursue a different course of action; he wants to save his people. In the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement he provided a scapegoat (Lev 16:16, 21) and in Isa 53:5, 8 promised redemption through the Suffering Servant. Through his servants he promised forgiveness (Job 7:21; Isa 43:25; Ezek 18:22; 37:23). God also makes man’s role of choice clear (Ezek 33:12; cf. Job 8:4).Before God actually grants his pardon, man is called upon to act (Ezek 18:30–31) with a warning attached and that man must personally repudiate his rebellion and the idolatry that was an integral part of it (Ezek 18:28, 37:23). An examination of several prayers of supplication reveals that the one who prays does indicate awareness of sin (Isa 59:12) and does engage in confession of sin (Ps 51:3; Ezek 33:10). Yet, it is clear that human effort can not bring salvation, so these prayers also exhibit an earnest plea for God to act (Job 13:23; 14:17; Ps 19:13; 25:7; 51:1). Best of all, testimonies are recorded that God did indeed pardon and redeem his people (Ps 32:1; 65:3; Pr 19:11; Isa 43:25; 44:22; 53:5; 59:20). Historically, Israel as a nation and as individuals knew God’s acts of judgment and his acts of salvation. Man’s rebellion was the cause of the judgments, but God’s compassion was the grounds for their salvation. (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Isaiah uses pesha' twice in his description of the Messiah in chapter 53 declaring that... But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. (Isa 53:5) By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people (Israel) to whom the stroke was due? (Isa 53:8) In Proverbs we read that... Proverbs 28:13 (Note) He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Here is one of the most significant uses of pesha' to us as believers - Psalm 32:1 (Spurgeon's Note) A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!...Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. There are 3 primary Hebrew words for “sin”. Each is defined based on the existence of God's standard of righteousness (all that God is, all that God commands, all that God demands, all that God approves, all that God provides in Christ Jesus 1Co 1:30) established by God. 1). Chattat/chattath [02403] = miss the mark or to fall short of the divine standard; to err and wander 2). Pesha' [06588] = rebellion or transgression, and indicates revolt against the standard. 3). 'Avon [05771] = iniquity or guilt is a twisting of the standard or deviation from it; crooked dealing It is notable that all three of these Hebrew words for “sin” (pesha', 'avon, chattah) are used by David to describe his personal sin in Ps 51:1-3, a section which represents the greatest statement on the nature of sin in the Old Testament. David's greatest sins did not keep God from using him to teach one of the greatest teachings on sin! Perhaps you think you have sinned to such a degree (or depth) that God could never use you! You are wrong and David is living proof of this truth! Perowne comments on David's use of all 3 Hebrew words for sin in Ps 32:1-2 - Sin is here (as in Ex 34:7) spoken of under three appellations, so as to include the whole idea of sin in all its manifestations: First, as "transgression" (pesha') or departure from God and open defection from His covenant. Secondly, as "a coming short of the mark," (chattah') a deflection from an aim, a not doing of our duty. Thirdly, as including the idea of wrong doing ('avon), the guilt, and also the punishment. (The book of Psalms) KJV also translates pesha' as trespass (5x) which is from trans = beyond, across + passer = to pass, and "Literally, to pass beyond; hence primarily, to pass over the boundary line of another’s land; to enter unlawfully upon the land of another. A man may trespass by walking over the ground of another, and the law gives a remedy for damages sustained. To commit any offense or to do any act that injures or annoys another; to violate any rule of rectitude to the injury of another. In a moral sense, to transgress voluntarily any divine law or command; to violate any known rule of duty." (Webster, 1828) Transgress is from trans = beyond, across + gradior = to pass and means to pass over or go beyond some set limit. "In a moral sense, to overpass any rule prescribed as the limit of duty; to break or violate a law, civil or moral. To transgress a divine law, is sin. Transgression = The act of passing over or beyond any law or rule of moral duty; the violation of a law or known principle of rectitude; breach of command." (Webster, 1828) Rebel (rebellious) (Webster, 1828) - One who willfully violates a law. One who revolts from the government to which he owes allegiance, either by openly renouncing the authority of that government, or by taking arms and openly opposing it. Rebellion is inherent in the word pesha'. The English word rebellion is ugly and describes open, usually unsuccessful defiance or resistance to an established government, in this case God. An open and avowed renunciation of the authority of God to Whom one owes his allegiance. Do we really understand that this is what we do when we willfully choose to sin against a law or commandment that we clearly know? It is utter spiritual insanity! Like one person said when we act this way we are in essence "practical atheists!" Pesha' - 91v - Pesha' is translated (NAS) as breach of trust(1), rebellion(6), rebellious(1), rebellious act(2), rebellious acts(2), transgression(37), transgressions(45). Genesis 31:36 Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, "What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? Genesis 50:17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Exodus 22:9 "For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. Exodus 23:21 "Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him. Exodus 34:7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." Leviticus 16:16 "He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. 21 "Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. Numbers 14:18 'The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.' Joshua 24:19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 1 Samuel 24:11 "Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. 1 Samuel 25:28 "Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days. 1 Kings 8:50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them Job 7:21 "Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be." Job 8:4 "If your sons sinned against Him, Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression. Job 13:23 "How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. Job 14:17 "My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You wrap up my iniquity. Job 31:33 "Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Job 33:9 'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me. Job 34:6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.' 37 'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'" Job 35:6 "If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him? 15 "And now, because He has not visited in His anger, Nor has He acknowledged transgression well, Job 36:9 Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves. Psalm 5:10 Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You. Psalm 19:13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Psalm 25:7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD. Psalm 32:1 A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Psalm 36:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes. Psalm 39:8 "Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish. Psalm 51:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Psalm 59:3 For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD, Psalm 65:3 Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You forgive them. Psalm 89:32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod And their iniquity with stripes. Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 107:17 Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. 19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble. Proverbs 17:9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. 19 He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction. Proverbs 19:11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 28:2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures. 13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. 24 He who robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the companion of a man who destroys. Proverbs 29:6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices. 16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall. 22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression. Isaiah 24:20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again. Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 44:22 "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 50:1 Thus says the LORD, "Where is the certificate of divorce By which I have sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, And for your transgressions your mother was sent away. Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? Isaiah 57:4 "Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit, Isaiah 58:1 "Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And we know our iniquities: 20 "A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them, A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many, Their apostasies are numerous. Lamentations 1:5 Her adversaries have become her masters, Her enemies prosper; For the LORD has caused her grief Because of the multitude of her transgressions; Her little ones have gone away As captives before the adversary. 14 "The yoke of my transgressions is bound; By His hand they are knit together. They have come upon my neck; He has made my strength fail. The Lord has given me into the hands Of those against whom I am not able to stand. 22 "Let all their wickedness come before You; And deal with them as You have dealt with me For all my transgressions; For my groans are many and my heart is faint." Ezekiel 14:11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be My people, and I shall be their God,"' declares the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 18:22 "All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 28 "Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31 "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 21:24 "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear-- because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand. Ezekiel 33:10 "Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus you have spoken, saying, "Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?"' 12 "And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, 'The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.' Ezekiel 37:23 "They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 39:24 "According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."'" Daniel 8:12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?" Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. Amos 1:3 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron. 6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population To deliver it up to Edom. 9 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Tyre and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they delivered up an entire population to Edom And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. 11 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, While he stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, And he maintained his fury forever. 13 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead In order to enlarge their borders. Amos 2:1 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. 4 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they rejected the law of the LORD And have not kept His statutes; Their lies also have led them astray, Those after which their fathers walked. 6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for money And the needy for a pair of sandals. Amos 3:14 "For on the day that I punish Israel's transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off And they will fall to the ground. Amos 5:12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate. Micah 1:5 All this is for the rebellion of Jacob And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the rebellion of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? What is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? 13 Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitant of Lachish-- She was the beginning of sin To the daughter of Zion-- Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel. Micah 3:8 On the other hand I am filled with power-- With the Spirit of the LORD-- And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin. Micah 6:7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. Sins (02403)(chattath) is the main OT word for sin. Chattath literally describes deviations from a target (Jdg 20:16; Pr 19:2), God's holiness in this case. This word was often used of covenant violations (especially idolatry; cf. Lev 26:18, 21; Deut 9:21; Jer 17:3). TWOT on chattath - The verbal forms occur in enough secular contexts to provide a basic picture of the word’s meaning. In Jdg 20:16 the left-handed slingers of Benjamin are said to have the skill to throw stones at targets and “not miss.” In a different context, Pr 19:2 speaks of a man in a hurry who “misses his way” (RSV, NEB, KJV has “sinneth”). A similar idea of not finding a goal appears in Pr 8:36; the concept of failure is implied. The verb has the connotation of breach of civil law, i.e. failure to live up to expectations, in Ge 40:1....In the many instances in which the verb occurs in the Qal stem the object is either God or his laws, or else the verb is intransive. In so acting, man is missing the goal or standard God has for him, is failing to observe the requirements of holy living, or falls short of spiritual wholeness. What is the rebellion of Jacob? - Matthew Henry answers - It is idolatry it is the high places that is the transgression, the great transgression which reigns in Israel that is spiritual whoredom, the violation of the marriage-covenant, which merits a divorce. Even the high places of Judah, though not so bad as the transgression of Jacob, were yet offensive enough to God, and a remaining blemish upon some of the good reigns. Howbeit the high places were not taken away. (Commentary) Sins - Robert Culver (Systematic Theology) = Several other words in the biblical vocabulary represent sin as something negative, something omitted: missing a target when one should hit it, failing when one should succeed, ignorance of what one should know, falling when one should stand, neglect of duty when one should attend to it, defaulting a debt when one should pay it. (Ed: Note that the middle letter of sin is "I"! The application is obvious!) Is it not Samaria?... Is it not Jerusalem? - Both rhetorical questions call for an affirmative reply! Therefore the NET Bible translates the reply to both questions "It certainly is!" McKay explains the names of Samaria and Jerusalem "emphatically locate those responsible as being in the capital city. It is from the attitudes of those in government and in the ruling classes of Samaria that evil influences have spread through the land. Those who should have been nourishing the life of the nation have instead been poisoning it." Matthew