Page 12 - lesson12.vp

12 Hope of Israel Ministries BIBLE Correspondence Course Lesson 12

4. As soon as Josiah understood that the ways that seem right to man!
nation had SINNED because they had not known This same principle is repeated in the
to keep the law, did he punish the priests of the New Testament. YEHOVAH God rejects those
counterfeit religions? Read thoroughly II Kings who reject the knowledge of His way (Hosea
23:1-20. Then what was Josiah’s command? II 4:6). He GIVES THEM OVER TO SERVE
Kings 23:21. THE HOPELESS WAYS OF MAN WHICH
5. Was YEHOVAH God pleased with END IN MISERY AND DEATH! (Romans
Josiah’s works? II Kings 23:22-25; II 1:20-32. See also Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25.)
Chronicles 35:1. When Josiah died Judah again lost sight
6. Did Josiah keep the Passover service of YEHOVAH God; they ignored His Sabbaths
according to the words of the Book of the law? II and rejected His annual Festivals. To bring them
Chronicles 35, verses 1 and 13. After the to obedience Almighty God chastened them by
Passover had been kept, did Josiah stop, or did sending them into NATIONAL CAPTIVITY!
he also understand that YEHOVAH God THIS SAME FATE AWAITS ANY NATION
expected His people TO CONTINUE AND WHICH SPURNS YEHOVAH’S LAWS AND
KEEP THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED NEGLECTS HIS HOLY DAYS! YEHOVAH’s
BREAD AS WELL? Verse 17. methods remain eternally the same (Hebrews
COMMENT: Notice that Judah had 13:8)!
reverted to worshiping pagan gods and lost the 8. What was the attitude of the people
knowledge of the worship of their Creator. who returned from Babylonian captivity? Ezra
When the understanding of the law was restored 6:21-22.
they began to serve the Eternal again. COMMENT: Because they had been
IMMEDIATELY they restored the observance chastened for not properly keeping
of the ANNUAL HOLY DAYS -- the festivals YEHOVAH’s Sabbaths, it was not long before
which are the SIGN between YEHOVAH God they ADDED CARNAL, HUMAN RE-
and His people! STRICTIONS to the laws of YEHOVAH God,
7. What does YEHOVAH say about the making the Sabbaths a BURDEN to
important part the keeping of His ANNUAL YEHOVAH’s people. One of these HUMAN
Sabbaths plays in His Master Plan? Ezekiel restrictions was to prohibit using leavened bread
20:10-12. Was it by these annual Sabbaths that during the Preparation Day -- the 14th of Abib.
Israel would recognize the true God, and YEHOVAH HAD NEVER MADE SUCH A
YEHOVAH Himself would recognize the RESTRICTION! But the Judahites thought they
people who keep these days as HIS PEOPLE? could be more righteous than YEHOVAH God.
Verse 20. So we find that during the time of the Messiah,
COMMENT: These ANNUAL SAB- the Passover is referred to as “a day of
BATHS ARE A PART OF THE SIGN unleavened bread.” The Judahites were
YEHOVAH’S PEOPLE MUST HAVE! Read observing a total of eight days instead of the
this 20th chapter of Ezekiel carefully, and perfect, SYMBOLIC seven Days of Unleavened
review Israel’s history of Sabbath breaking, and Bread YEHOVAH God originally commanded.
what YEHOVAH says about it. Notice the They had forgotten the spiritual lesson of
punishment YEHOVAH enforces upon those obedience YEHOVAH intended for them to
who neglect to keep His annual Holy Days. learn from these days!
Verse 25. Properly translated verse 25 reads,
“Wherefore I gave them over to STATUTES Hope of Israel Ministries -- Taking the
THAT ARE NOT GOOD AND JUDGMENTS Lead in the Search for Truth!
WHEREBY THEY SHOULD NOT LIVE," the

Days of Unleavened Bread -- Your Part in YEHOVAH’s Master Plan