God calls upon Philistines and Egyptians (people whom Israel saw as evil
and enemies
) to assemble to Samaria (the capital of Israel) and then examine the conduct of Israel. God is sure: though Israel is supposed to be a city of peace and justice that cares for the poor, these surrounding nations will readily see that within Israel there is deep oppression. God’s point then is this: O Israel, quit living in denial. Even those around you, who do not know me like you do, can readily see your sin and guilt!
Let us now ask ourselves this question: how would we fare if those around us, who do not know God and his Word, would have a close look into our lives? What would they see? No, they would not see perfection—we all know that! But what would jump out at them? Would they see:
A consistent devotion to God and his ways for how to live?
A serious desire and attempt to handle conflicts in God’s ways?
A handling of money that shows
stewardship
?
Or would they see:
A consistent selfishness?
A pattern of handling conflicts in which the most important person is
me, myself, I
?A handling of money that evidently has no real concern for how the Lord wants his people to use it?
Would they perhaps see a godliness that is only a veneer that tries (unsuccessfully!) to cover up the reality and dominance of ungodliness and selfishness?
Again consider the question: how would you fare if unbelievers were able to have a close look inside and examine your life?
9 Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst.”