Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Wickedness of, the Cause of Its Calamities

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Jerusalem, the city chosen by God as the dwelling place for His Name, holds a significant place in biblical history. However, despite its divine selection, the city has often been a center of wickedness, leading to numerous calamities as a consequence of its inhabitants' sins.

Idolatry and False Worship

One of the primary causes of Jerusalem's calamities was its persistent idolatry. The people of Jerusalem frequently turned away from the worship of Yahweh to serve foreign gods, despite repeated warnings from the prophets. In Jeremiah 2:28, the prophet laments, "But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them arise if they can save you in your time of trouble; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah." This idolatry was a direct violation of the covenant and provoked the Lord's anger.

Social Injustice and Oppression

Jerusalem's wickedness was also evident in its social injustices. The leaders and people often engaged in oppression and exploitation of the vulnerable. The prophet Isaiah rebukes the city, saying, "Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, and the widow’s case never comes before them" (Isaiah 1:23). Such actions were contrary to God's commands for justice and righteousness.

Moral Corruption and Immorality

The moral decay of Jerusalem's inhabitants further contributed to its downfall. The city was rife with immorality and corruption, as described in Ezekiel 16:49-50: "Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me." This comparison to Sodom underscores the severity of Jerusalem's sins.

Rejection of Prophetic Warnings

Despite numerous warnings from prophets, the people of Jerusalem often rejected their messages and continued in their sinful ways. In 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, it is recorded, "Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy."

Divine Judgment and Calamities

As a result of these transgressions, Jerusalem faced divine judgment. The city experienced numerous calamities, including invasions, destruction, and exile. The Babylonian conquest and the subsequent destruction of the Temple in 586 BC were direct consequences of the city's persistent wickedness. Lamentations 1:8 captures the sorrow of this judgment: "Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away."

Call to Repentance

Despite the severity of Jerusalem's sins, God's desire for repentance and restoration remained. The call to return to the Lord is a recurring theme throughout the prophetic writings. In Joel 2:12-13, the Lord implores, "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion."

Jerusalem's history serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the enduring hope of redemption through repentance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 21:12-15
Therefore thus said the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.
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2 Chronicles 24:18
And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
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Lamentations 1:8
Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yes, she sighs, and turns backward.
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Ezekiel 5:5-8
Thus said the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the middle of the nations and countries that are round about her.
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Library

Sabbath Observance
... of horror, the many aggravations of this piece of wickedness. ... Tyre was far from
Jerusalem, and one does not ... he would have isolated idolatry as the cause of its ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sabbath observance.htm

The Evidences of Christianity, Deduced from the New Testament ...
... you will find them pleading the cause of its ... Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified
at Jerusalem by the ... considered, the most enormous act of wickedness which the ...
/.../the evidences of christianity/the evidences of christianity deduced.htm

Matt. xix. 1
... hand; He goeth not up, however, unto Jerusalem for a ... little things, yet are they
a cause of great ... to the conflict with simplicity, the other with wickedness. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxii matt xix 1.htm

The Idumeans Being Sent for by the Zealots, came Immediately to ...
... were put into battle-array, and came to Jerusalem, under four ... kin to you, without
some very great cause for your ... to do it, there being no wickedness wanting to ...
/.../chapter 4 the idumeans being.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... them out of my sight; I will cause them to ... blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem
with innocent ... filled up the measure of national wickedness, and judgment ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
... the world"its turmoil and wickedness, the cause whereof the ... To such extent does
wickedness rage in the world ... in the instance of the fate of Jerusalem, and in ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twentieth sunday after trinity the.htm

Hebrews vii. 3-Jan
... For this cause are there continual and untimely deaths, but are minded as ... 51:10.)
And another, "Wash thine heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem." ( Jeremiah 4 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xii hebrews vii 3-jan.htm

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
... calamities in the past usually the result of wickedness? ... a valiant warrior who espoused
the cause of the ... tradition as the forerunner of the Jerusalem priesthood ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study v the pioneers influence.htm

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
... Nor is it without cause that the Holy Spirit bears ... does not wound them mortally with
its darts, but ... provoke the wrath of God by similar wickedness keep anxious ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 of faith the.htm

Opposition to Messiah Unreasonable
... The deceitfulness and wickedness of the heart appears in ... of glory, had they lived
in Jerusalem at that ... Their mistaken efforts to suppress that cause, which if ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxiii opposition to messiah.htm