Charges

Job 9:33-10:2 – If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me.

1 Kings 19:3-4 – Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Hosea 4:1 – Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.

Hosea 5:1 – “Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

Hosea 12:2 – The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

Application:

• ·         Because Job is so bitter, his mind has conjured up a false picture of God.
• ·         Elijah concluded that his work was fruitless and consequently not worth living.
• ·         As the Lord’s spokesman, Hosea brought charges against unfaithful, covenant-breaking Israel.
• ·         The priests, Israelites and the royalty were all responsible for maintaining justice, but it miscarried at their hands.
• ·         In their deceitfulness Israel and Judah were living up to the name of their forefather.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV