(445) – THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL 1

“For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite’” (Is. 57:15). Jehovah is so sublime that the psalmist says: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). David declares: “Give us help against the enemy, for the help of man is vain” (Ps. 108:12).

The oppressed of this world, the poor and hungry, even though they do not know him, they call out to God. In a moment of desperation their lips utter: God, help me. In the last moment, when there is no more hope, their eyes look up to heaven.

Solomon said: “That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago” (Eccl. 3:15). As Jehovah declares in Mal. 3:6 that he does not change, so, whatever he has done in the past, he is going to do in the future.

Jehovah created a people for his glory, a people whom he called by his name (Is. 43:7). Jehovah declares everlasting love for his people (Jer. 31:3). He declares in Deut. 14:1 that they are his children. Let us look at the way he treats his beloved children:

1. JEHOVAH AFFLICTS HIS CHILDREN – The Bible text says: “The generation to come, your children who shall rise up after you, and the foreigner who shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses with which Jehovah has made it sick; [and that] the whole land of it is sulfur, and salt, [and] a burning, [that] it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: even all the nations shall say, ‘Why has Jehovah done thus to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’ Then men shall say, ‘Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah’” (Deut. 29:22-25). Can a holy and pure father treat his children with such fury, to the point of destroying them by the fire, plagues and curses until they are completely destroyed? If this is holiness, it does not bring forth love and mercy, but deadly and vengeful hatred.

2. JEHOVAH OPPRESSES HIS CHILDREN WITHOUT MERCY– The prophet Ezekiel says: “As I live, says the Lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you” (Ezek. 20:33). In the second book of the Chronicles of Israel it is written about the kingdom Rehoboam, son of Solomon: “When Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, ‘They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries’” (2 Chr. 12:7-8). It is common practice in the government of Jehovah to deliver his people in the hands of the wicked. “I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men; and I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I, Jehovah, have spoken it” (Ezek. 30:12). This type of behavior cannot coexist with holiness, for holiness is the highest degree of virtue, and Jehovah treats his children tyrannically.

3. JEHOVAH TORMENTS HIS CHILDREN – To torment is a practice of demons and unclean spirits. The evangelist Luke reveals this to us: “He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed” (Luke 6:17-18). Peter followed the steps of Jesus, healing and delivering: “Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed” (Acts 5:16). It is astonishing: Jehovah placed an evil spirit in king Saul, which tormented him: “Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him” (1 Sam. 16:14). Those who defend Jehovah changed the expression, “an evil spirit from Jehovah TROUBLED HIM” to “AN EVIL SPIRIT TROUBLED HIM”, to protect him. The truth is that Jehovah confesses that he torments his people, for his name is Jehovah Jireh, which means, Jehovah will provide. He said: “I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away; and you will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it” (Lev. 26:16). How could a god who declares that his name is holy act like filthy demons, while tormenting as they do?

4. JEHOVAH DESOLATESJehovah declares that he created the desolator to destroy “I will lay your cities waste, and will bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not take delight in the sweet fragrance of your offerings. I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies that dwell therein will be astonished at it. I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste” (Lev. 26:31-33). “I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men; and I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I, Jehovah, have spoken it” (Ezek. 30:12). Jehovah declared to Abraham that he is the Almighty — El Shaddai. The Almighty is precisely the king of the desolators. The prophet Isaiah is the one who says: “Wail; for the day of Jehovah is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be feeble, and everyone’s heart will melt. They will be dismayed. Pangs and sorrows will seize them. They will be in pain like a woman in labor. They will look in amazement one at another. Their faces will be faces of flame. Behold, the day of Jehovah comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy its sinners out of it” (Is. 13:6-9).

Is the task of the holy one of Israel, Jehovah, the Most High, to lay waste the inhabitants of the earth? Is this his holiness? If it is, it is false, for the true holiness forgives, loves, serves, heals, guides, teaches, and, finally, acts like Jesus acted (Heb. 2:9-11).

By Pastor Olavo Silveira Pereira

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