Scripture stuff: Altogether rebels

Scripture of the Day::

"Son of man, what is the proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'? Say to them, 'This is what the L-rd says: "I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel." Say to them, "The days are near whene every vision will be fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.

"'But I the L-rd will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign L-rd.'

"'The word of the L-rd came to me: "Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, 'the vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future."

"'Therefore say to them, "This is what the Sovereign L-rd says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign L-rd."'"

~Ezekiel 12.21-28

"L-rd, I have heard your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O L-rd.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

"G-d came down from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.
His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.
He looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed.
His ways are eternal.
I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish...

...In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.
You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.
With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the
wretched who were hiding...

You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nations invading us.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the L-rd,
I will be joyful in G-d my Savior.

The Sovereign L-rd is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

~Habakkuk 3


Fact is, the people of G-d are a rebellious nation, and finally he has to punish them. The prophets foretold the destruction of Israel and of her return. The world watched Jerusalem fall and the world is watching Jerusalem return, just as the prophets foretold. So will peace ever come to Jerusalem? Of course, but not yet, and the price, like peace seems to demand, is more than most can bear. How do I know that?? The prophets foretold it, and they haven't been wrong yet. There is hope, even when discipline looks too much to bear.