Righteousness in Jerusalem?
1 Nephi 17:22; “And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.”
Jeremiah 2:11-13, 29; “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.”
What part in the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel or even back further still in Isaiah does the Bible say that the Israelites were being righteous?
Why would the Lord allow Babylon to invade the homes of righteous Israelites if they were worshipping Him?
Both kingdoms (Judah & Israel) had been in a downward spiraling behavioral mess from the days of Isaiah. They had rejected the Lord by worshipping other gods. They had rejected the Lord by not honoring Him properly in tithes and this had been going on for over a century…yet God still loved them.
We read about His love for them when Jeremiah told them a remnant would be saved and come back to live in Jerusalem. We see He kept His promise in Nehemiah 1:3, Zechariah 8:8, and Ezra 9:7.
Jeremiah 23:3; 31:7-9; “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
31:7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”
The passage in Nehemiah is one of the most telling – “Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.”
Where in any of those examples does it say the Israelites were living a righteous lifestyle?
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