“The Lord says to the people of Israel, ‘seek Me and live’.” (Verse 4). “Seek the Lord and live. . .” (Verse 6). “Seek Him who created the Seven Stars and the constellation Orion, Who turns darkness into morning and day into night, Who calls forth the water from the ocean and pours it out as rain upon the land. The Lord, Jehovah, is His name.” (Verse 8).
Do these verses above remind you of 2 Peter 2: 8-9? “But don’t forget this, dear friends, that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord. He isn’t really being slow about His promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But He is waiting, for the good reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and He is giving more time for sinners to repent.”
Besides idol worship, Israel became known for corruption and injustice. “How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth! You trample the poor and steal their smallest crumb by all your taxes, fines, and usury.” (Verses 10-11). They were supposed to be God’s chosen people, but even so, they were still sinners. But God’s love for the people He created does not overcome His holiness nor His justice because He is perfect in all of His ways.
God’s message to the people was direct. “I hate your show and pretense – your hypocrisy of ‘honoring’ Me with your religious feasts and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and thank offerings.” (Verses 21-22).
In verses 25-27, God reminded the Israelis that He did not forget the sins of their ancestors. He said that for forty years while they pretended to worship Him they still worshipped the god of the planet Saturn.
God wanted them to change their ways by truly worshipping Him alone and loving their neighbors. “I want to see a mighty flood of justice – a torrent of doing good.” (Verse 24).