I grew up on a very small farm "oversized garden". Each spring we spent turning the soil over, discing it and even running a harrow over it to make in soft and smooth. All that work was done just so that we could plant corn, and other vegetables as well as seeds for grain and hay. We wanted to give them the best opportunity for growth. Yes, it was hard work but it was worth it when all those veggies were being eaten at the table. Today, many farmers employ the "no-till" method. Simply placing the soil in the growth with minimal about of work done to soften the ground. While that works for seeds, it does work in the Christian life.
Spiritual growth requires hard work. The Lord is call Israel to break up the hard ground and seek the Lord. Get ready of good and not for evil. No farmer would spend his time preparing the soil simply to grow weeds. Why should be invest ourselves into something that does not bring glory to God.
Hosea 10:11-15 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself. 12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, 14 Therefore a tumult will arise among your people, And all your fortresses will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle, When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. 15 Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off. NASU
Explore for yourself.
How is Ephraim like a trained Heifer? What does this mean to us today?
Who is bring this judgement? Why?
When you plow... "what"... you will reap.... "what"? What is the fruit produced?
What have they trusted in? What is the church today trusting? (Be careful with your answer)
Why would God choose to destroy our "fortresses"?
Why is the King being cut off at dawn?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Don't need God?
If the truth be known many of us do not like when someone tells us what to do. At work, home or even when we are on vacation, we hate it when others have a level of authority over us.
People today are proud to declare, they are their own master. No one tells me what to do! How sad, because there are many around us who could help us learn from there mistakes and wise choices. When we see this in little children we know how foolish this attitude can be because as adults we know there are many things that they don’t understand. This truth applies to us adults as well. Notice what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. NASU
You are faced with a simple choice. Will you be wise and receive counsel from the Lord or will you say "I have no KING but ME!"
Hos 10:3-10
3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king, For we do not revere the Lord. As for the king, what can he do for us?" 4 They speak mere words, With worthless oaths they make covenants; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear For the calf of Beth-aven .Indeed, its people will mourn for it, And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, Over its glory, since it has departed from it. 6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria As tribute to King Jareb; Ephraim will be seized with shame And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel. 7 Samaria will be cut off with her king Like a stick on the surface of the water. 8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains,"Cover us!" And to the hills, "Fall on us!" 9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah? 10 When it is My desire, I will chastise them; And the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt. NASU
Explore for yourself.
When the Lord is not "King" of our life how do we speak? (Israel was doing this)
Why were the people crying? What happens to Ephraim and Israel?
What is Samaria "like"?
What is taking place to the high places?
Why will Israel cry out for the mountains and hills to "cover them" and "fall on them"?
People today are proud to declare, they are their own master. No one tells me what to do! How sad, because there are many around us who could help us learn from there mistakes and wise choices. When we see this in little children we know how foolish this attitude can be because as adults we know there are many things that they don’t understand. This truth applies to us adults as well. Notice what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. NASU
You are faced with a simple choice. Will you be wise and receive counsel from the Lord or will you say "I have no KING but ME!"
Hos 10:3-10
3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king, For we do not revere the Lord. As for the king, what can he do for us?" 4 They speak mere words, With worthless oaths they make covenants; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear For the calf of Beth-aven .Indeed, its people will mourn for it, And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, Over its glory, since it has departed from it. 6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria As tribute to King Jareb; Ephraim will be seized with shame And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel. 7 Samaria will be cut off with her king Like a stick on the surface of the water. 8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains,"Cover us!" And to the hills, "Fall on us!" 9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah? 10 When it is My desire, I will chastise them; And the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt. NASU
Explore for yourself.
When the Lord is not "King" of our life how do we speak? (Israel was doing this)
Why were the people crying? What happens to Ephraim and Israel?
What is Samaria "like"?
What is taking place to the high places?
Why will Israel cry out for the mountains and hills to "cover them" and "fall on them"?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Rich Get Richer-NOT!
Now that is a phase that can challenge anyone. The rich get richer but the poor get poorer.
Hosea tells Israel that they are a luxuriant vine producing lots of fruit but, that is where the problem begins. Yes, they are "getting richer", yes they have more but it is those very things that have taken them further away from God. They have made more alters (places away from God to worship) and they have become faithless. Instead of seeing their success as coming from God they begin to see this as the works for their hands.
To often (but not always) this is what happens in our society today. I remember hearing the story of a conversation between a wealthy man and the country farmer. The country farmer was asked what else he would need to bring satisfaction to his life. He said, "I live off the land and what God provides for me and my family I have no other needs." The rich man was asked the same question, his reply was "MORE".
When we look to ourselves, there is never enough. The Lord was telling Israel that they have been looking to themselves and the result has been they have turned away from Him. He will break their alters.
Hos 10:1-2
10 Israel is a luxuriant vine;
He produces fruit for himself.
The more his fruit,
The more altars he made;
The richer his land,
The better he made the sacred pillars.
2 Their heart is faithless;
Now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
And destroy their sacred pillars.
NASU
Let your heart be broken so that God can heal!
Explore for yourself.
How does God describe Israel?
What is the consequence of the fruit produced? How should this bring caution to our lives?
What happens when the heart goes astray?
Hosea tells Israel that they are a luxuriant vine producing lots of fruit but, that is where the problem begins. Yes, they are "getting richer", yes they have more but it is those very things that have taken them further away from God. They have made more alters (places away from God to worship) and they have become faithless. Instead of seeing their success as coming from God they begin to see this as the works for their hands.
To often (but not always) this is what happens in our society today. I remember hearing the story of a conversation between a wealthy man and the country farmer. The country farmer was asked what else he would need to bring satisfaction to his life. He said, "I live off the land and what God provides for me and my family I have no other needs." The rich man was asked the same question, his reply was "MORE".
When we look to ourselves, there is never enough. The Lord was telling Israel that they have been looking to themselves and the result has been they have turned away from Him. He will break their alters.
Hos 10:1-2
10 Israel is a luxuriant vine;
He produces fruit for himself.
The more his fruit,
The more altars he made;
The richer his land,
The better he made the sacred pillars.
2 Their heart is faithless;
Now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
And destroy their sacred pillars.
NASU
Let your heart be broken so that God can heal!
Explore for yourself.
How does God describe Israel?
What is the consequence of the fruit produced? How should this bring caution to our lives?
What happens when the heart goes astray?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Searching for the Good Stuff.
I remember as a child going out during the summer and picking wild raspberries. What a delight to come home with a kettle full of berries. Not simple because they tasted good but because I know what they would become. My mom would turn them into pies, and jellies. Yum, yum.
God is telling Israel He found then like wild grapes. He gather them in knowing what they could become but rather then yielding to the plans of God.
Now they are about to become something far worse.
Hos 9:10-10:1
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.
But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,
And they became as detestable as that which they loved.
11 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird —
No birth, no pregnancy and no conception!
12 Though they bring up their children,
Yet I will bereave them until not a man is left.
Yes, woe to them indeed when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen,
Is planted in a pleasant meadow like Tyre;
But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.
14 Give them, O Lord — what will You give?
Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15 All their evil is at Gilgal;
Indeed, I came to hate them there!
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of My house!
I will love them no more;
All their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will bear no fruit.
Even though they bear children,
I will slay the precious ones of their womb.
17 My God will cast them away
Because they have not listened to Him;
And they will be wanderers among the nations. NASU
So now the choice is now up to you. Will you become what God intends or will you be like Israel and stray away.
Explore for yourself!
1. What are the "days of Gibeah?" What will God do?
2. What was Israel like? What did God see? What they seek?
3. What did they become like? What happened to their glory?
4. What is happening to the family lines? What warning is there for them?
5. Despite being planted in the meadow....what will happen?
6. What will God give them? What won’t they have any longer?
7. What will befall them? Why?
8. Where will they "be"?
9. What warning is there for us in all of this?
God is telling Israel He found then like wild grapes. He gather them in knowing what they could become but rather then yielding to the plans of God.
Now they are about to become something far worse.
Hos 9:10-10:1
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.
But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,
And they became as detestable as that which they loved.
11 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird —
No birth, no pregnancy and no conception!
12 Though they bring up their children,
Yet I will bereave them until not a man is left.
Yes, woe to them indeed when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen,
Is planted in a pleasant meadow like Tyre;
But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.
14 Give them, O Lord — what will You give?
Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15 All their evil is at Gilgal;
Indeed, I came to hate them there!
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of My house!
I will love them no more;
All their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will bear no fruit.
Even though they bear children,
I will slay the precious ones of their womb.
17 My God will cast them away
Because they have not listened to Him;
And they will be wanderers among the nations. NASU
So now the choice is now up to you. Will you become what God intends or will you be like Israel and stray away.
Explore for yourself!
1. What are the "days of Gibeah?" What will God do?
2. What was Israel like? What did God see? What they seek?
3. What did they become like? What happened to their glory?
4. What is happening to the family lines? What warning is there for them?
5. Despite being planted in the meadow....what will happen?
6. What will God give them? What won’t they have any longer?
7. What will befall them? Why?
8. Where will they "be"?
9. What warning is there for us in all of this?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
OUCH!
Growing up there was a phase we would all say from time to time, "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Sadly we know that that saying is far from the truth. Many times we still hurt because of those words which were spoken, mostly because they were spoken in a mean and nasty spirit meant to bring harm not help.
God, through Hosea is speaking some pretty "harsh" words to Israel. Words that are meant to get their attention to their own behavior. He tells them they are playing the Harlot. The result of these actions can be devastating. They will not remain in the land God has promised. The acts of worship will mean nothing to God because they are not obedient but simply going through the motions.
Without change punishment lies ahead. Even those who were to warn Israel have become useless allowing for their capture rather than escape.
Hosea 9:1-9 1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved harlots' earnings on every threshing floor. 2 Threshing floor and wine press will not feed them, And the new wine will fail them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, And in Assyria they will eat unclean food. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord, Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their bread will be like mourners' bread; All who eat of it will be defiled, For their bread will be for themselves alone; It will not enter the house of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival And on the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For behold, they will go because of destruction; Egypt will gather them up, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their treasures of silver; Thorns will be in their tents.
7 The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great. 8 Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God. 9 They have gone deep in depravity As in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins. NASU
Why would God speak these words?
Because He is seeking to get Israel to repent and turn from their evil ways.
God has told us all that we are sinners; not because He means us evil or hurt but cause He want to understand that we can find hope in Him and we believe the truth He proclaims and accept the forgiveness He offers.
Romans Road: 3:23, 6:23 5:8 10:9-10
Explore for yourself!
1. Why weren’t they to rejoice?
2. What did they "love"? What wouldn’t that do?
3. What will be the problem with the threshing floor and wine press?
4. How will the new wine fail them?
5. Will they go? What will they eat?
6. What two things won’t they do? What will their bread be like?
7. What will happen to those who eat of it?
8. What will they be missing?
9. How is God’s sovereignty shown?
10. What has come to Israel? Why does he say "let Israel know this?"
11. Why is the prophet a fool? And demented?
12. What was Ephraim? What has changed? What are they now?
God, through Hosea is speaking some pretty "harsh" words to Israel. Words that are meant to get their attention to their own behavior. He tells them they are playing the Harlot. The result of these actions can be devastating. They will not remain in the land God has promised. The acts of worship will mean nothing to God because they are not obedient but simply going through the motions.
Without change punishment lies ahead. Even those who were to warn Israel have become useless allowing for their capture rather than escape.
Hosea 9:1-9 1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved harlots' earnings on every threshing floor. 2 Threshing floor and wine press will not feed them, And the new wine will fail them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, And in Assyria they will eat unclean food. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord, Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their bread will be like mourners' bread; All who eat of it will be defiled, For their bread will be for themselves alone; It will not enter the house of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival And on the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For behold, they will go because of destruction; Egypt will gather them up, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their treasures of silver; Thorns will be in their tents.
7 The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great. 8 Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God. 9 They have gone deep in depravity As in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins. NASU
Why would God speak these words?
Because He is seeking to get Israel to repent and turn from their evil ways.
God has told us all that we are sinners; not because He means us evil or hurt but cause He want to understand that we can find hope in Him and we believe the truth He proclaims and accept the forgiveness He offers.
Romans Road: 3:23, 6:23 5:8 10:9-10
Explore for yourself!
1. Why weren’t they to rejoice?
2. What did they "love"? What wouldn’t that do?
3. What will be the problem with the threshing floor and wine press?
4. How will the new wine fail them?
5. Will they go? What will they eat?
6. What two things won’t they do? What will their bread be like?
7. What will happen to those who eat of it?
8. What will they be missing?
9. How is God’s sovereignty shown?
10. What has come to Israel? Why does he say "let Israel know this?"
11. Why is the prophet a fool? And demented?
12. What was Ephraim? What has changed? What are they now?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ugly Pot
No one would want to take and dirty, ugly pot and cook their supper in it. If you could clean it up it would get tossed out and replaced with a shiny new one. God is telling Israel that they are like that ugly pot. They have gone wild, hired lovers, employed allies to "protect them" simply put they have multiplied their sins. The final result of Israel’s sin is judgement.
Hos 8:8-9:1
8 Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Even though they hire allies among the nations, Now I will gather them up; And they will begin to diminish Because of the burden of the king of princes. 11 Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, They have become altars of sinning for him. 12 Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat it, But the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, And punish them for their sins; They will return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings. NASU
Cleaning "your pot"!
So you might ask, "what does that have to do with me?" First let me say that we are all "ugly pots." Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners.....dirty, filthy pots. God has provide a way to "clean our pot." Jesus Christ has died on the cross so that if we place our trust in His cleansing power we will be forgive and cleansed from our sin.
Rom 10:8-12
9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." NASU
(Emphasis mine)
Explore for yourself
1. What happens to Israel? Where are they now? What are they "like"?
2. What has Ephraim done? (What does this mean?)
3. Why does God go after them? What will happen? Why?
4. What is readily available?
5. What did God provide for them? What did they do with them?
6. How is they offering described? What did Israel forget?
7. What awaits Judah? What warning is their for us?
Hos 8:8-9:1
8 Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Even though they hire allies among the nations, Now I will gather them up; And they will begin to diminish Because of the burden of the king of princes. 11 Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, They have become altars of sinning for him. 12 Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat it, But the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, And punish them for their sins; They will return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings. NASU
Cleaning "your pot"!
So you might ask, "what does that have to do with me?" First let me say that we are all "ugly pots." Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners.....dirty, filthy pots. God has provide a way to "clean our pot." Jesus Christ has died on the cross so that if we place our trust in His cleansing power we will be forgive and cleansed from our sin.
Rom 10:8-12
9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." NASU
(Emphasis mine)
Explore for yourself
1. What happens to Israel? Where are they now? What are they "like"?
2. What has Ephraim done? (What does this mean?)
3. Why does God go after them? What will happen? Why?
4. What is readily available?
5. What did God provide for them? What did they do with them?
6. How is they offering described? What did Israel forget?
7. What awaits Judah? What warning is their for us?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
"Fireproof" is coming
FIREPROOF is a feature-length movie in theaters September 26. This action-packed love story about a firefighter, his wife... and a marriage worth rescuing will have you on the edge of your seat as the main character explores God’s design for relationships and marriage.
Identity Theft
In our world today "Identity Theft" is a huge problem. Someone steals your identity and presents themselves as if they are that person.
Israel was involved with "identity theft" as well. They claimed to know God.... aka. "God’s children" but God tells them they really aren’t His because if they were they would be obedient to his instructions. He tells them "you have made your god" this means it is not God. It will be destroyed.
Hos 8:1-7 1 Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 They cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!" 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off. 5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. NASU
The question we should be asking ourselves, are we identified as Christian or are we involved in "identity theft" and simply trying to present ourselves as Christian?
Explore for Yourself.
1. What is Hosea to do? Why?
2. Why is the enemy coming?
3. How has Israel responded to the coming of the enemy?
4. What are they "claiming" by their cry?
5. What does God have "against" Israel? What kinds of "gods" did they create?
6.
Why is God saying He had nothing to do with their kings/princes?
7. What did the sow and reap? If the "wind" actually produces something what will happen?
Israel was involved with "identity theft" as well. They claimed to know God.... aka. "God’s children" but God tells them they really aren’t His because if they were they would be obedient to his instructions. He tells them "you have made your god" this means it is not God. It will be destroyed.
Hos 8:1-7 1 Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 They cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!" 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off. 5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. NASU
The question we should be asking ourselves, are we identified as Christian or are we involved in "identity theft" and simply trying to present ourselves as Christian?
Explore for Yourself.
1. What is Hosea to do? Why?
2. Why is the enemy coming?
3. How has Israel responded to the coming of the enemy?
4. What are they "claiming" by their cry?
5. What does God have "against" Israel? What kinds of "gods" did they create?
6.
Why is God saying He had nothing to do with their kings/princes?
7. What did the sow and reap? If the "wind" actually produces something what will happen?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Smoldering Fire
When I lived in Pa. we had a wood stove in our basement to help keep the house warm on those cold winter days. There was one thing about that wood stove, it needed constant care. Several times each day it required someone to go down and put another log on the fire. If you didn’t "shake out" the ashes to restore the hot fire it just smolder away.
I remember my grandmother’s kitchen stove when they lived on the farm. It was a wood burning stove. All day long she would keep a fire burning so that she could cook at a moments notice. Just a quick log on the fire and the heat was back a full impact.
God is calling Israel to consider the condition of their heart. He tells them it is like an unkept fire. We all know what happens to those fires, smoldering all day long waiting to be taken to "full force" in a moments notice. He is telling them they we "explode" at a moments notice and they consume those who should be leading them.
Being consumed by anger will be so destructive in your life just as it was to Israel.
Hos 7:1-16
1 When I would heal Israel, The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria, For they deal falsely; The thief enters in, Bandits raid outside, 2 And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds are all around them; They are before My face. 3 With their wickedness they make the king glad, And the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, Like an oven heated by the baker Who ceases to stir up the fire From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers, 6 For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me. 8 Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephraim has become a cake not turned. 9 Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it. 10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, Nor have they sought Him, for all this. 11 So Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly. 13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me. 14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. 15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me. 16 They turn, but not upward, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. NASU
God desires to bring healing and restoration into your life. Don’t be like Israel and "resist" the benefits that God desires to bring to your life.
Explore for yourself.
1. What must we accept if healing is to take place?
2. When there is an "infection" in our lives....what must happen in order for healing to occur?
3. What did God remember? What is around? Why did they do their "wickedness"?
4. What does heat do to yeast? How does this relate to sin?
5. What effect is the wine having on the king/prices? What interaction is he having with scoffers?
6. How would a "open oven" work? What would this example be telling us?
7. What warning is there for becoming involved with scoffers?
8. What did they fail to do? What has Ephraim done? What is Ephraim become?
9. What is the result? Why would they notice this? What warning is there for us?
10. What didn’t they do? Why? What animal is Ephraim like?
11. What will God do? What is the "woe" statement? Why? What is their lie?
12. Does this make God "selfish"?
13. What did God want to do? From where must the cry for help come? What do they do?
14. Who gave them everything? What are they like? How will their princes fail? Why?
15. What will be their derision? What does Egypt have to do with their fall?
Do you want healing in your life?
God desires to bring that healing. Click on 2 Ways to live.
I remember my grandmother’s kitchen stove when they lived on the farm. It was a wood burning stove. All day long she would keep a fire burning so that she could cook at a moments notice. Just a quick log on the fire and the heat was back a full impact.
God is calling Israel to consider the condition of their heart. He tells them it is like an unkept fire. We all know what happens to those fires, smoldering all day long waiting to be taken to "full force" in a moments notice. He is telling them they we "explode" at a moments notice and they consume those who should be leading them.
Being consumed by anger will be so destructive in your life just as it was to Israel.
Hos 7:1-16
1 When I would heal Israel, The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria, For they deal falsely; The thief enters in, Bandits raid outside, 2 And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds are all around them; They are before My face. 3 With their wickedness they make the king glad, And the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, Like an oven heated by the baker Who ceases to stir up the fire From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers, 6 For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me. 8 Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephraim has become a cake not turned. 9 Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it. 10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, Nor have they sought Him, for all this. 11 So Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly. 13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me. 14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. 15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me. 16 They turn, but not upward, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. NASU
God desires to bring healing and restoration into your life. Don’t be like Israel and "resist" the benefits that God desires to bring to your life.
Explore for yourself.
1. What must we accept if healing is to take place?
2. When there is an "infection" in our lives....what must happen in order for healing to occur?
3. What did God remember? What is around? Why did they do their "wickedness"?
4. What does heat do to yeast? How does this relate to sin?
5. What effect is the wine having on the king/prices? What interaction is he having with scoffers?
6. How would a "open oven" work? What would this example be telling us?
7. What warning is there for becoming involved with scoffers?
8. What did they fail to do? What has Ephraim done? What is Ephraim become?
9. What is the result? Why would they notice this? What warning is there for us?
10. What didn’t they do? Why? What animal is Ephraim like?
11. What will God do? What is the "woe" statement? Why? What is their lie?
12. Does this make God "selfish"?
13. What did God want to do? From where must the cry for help come? What do they do?
14. Who gave them everything? What are they like? How will their princes fail? Why?
15. What will be their derision? What does Egypt have to do with their fall?
Do you want healing in your life?
God desires to bring that healing. Click on 2 Ways to live.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Fake Repentance?
When someone confronts you about doing something wrong (or even just something that annoyed them) how do you respond? Are you quick with "I’m sorry". Do you give any thought to what you did before you say "I’m sorry" or are you looking for a quick way out of your situations hoping they stop "bothering" you with this trivial stuff that gets in your way.
If you are quick with the sorry with out any admission of guilt then I would suggest that you haven’t fully repented or even given much consideration to what your action have done.
Israel has been "caught" sinning. Their response to Hosea’s comment and statement from the LORD is to return. They want it all to "go away" so they can continue to live the way they want to live. Consider the assumption that they make, "he will heal, he will fix and revive us" but no where in those statement do they actually admit that they have SINNED or done anything wrong.
God tells them they are like morning dew (gone in a flash). God will be bring judgement on their lives because He sees into their heart and know they the words of their month do not match what they are really thinking.
Hos 6:1-11
1" Come, let us return to the Lord .For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. 2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain ,Like the spring rain watering the earth."
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. 8 Gilead is a city of wrongdoers, Tracked with bloody footprints. 9 And as raiders wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they have committed crime. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself. 11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people. NASU
Yesterday we celebrated our thirty fourth wedding anniversary . I know that over those years I have said "I am sorry" with the hope that all would go away. But since I never admitted to doing anything wrong there was no effort to make any corrections or change. These days, I try and do better in understanding the mistake that was made and how to truly confess and change.
True confession must involve repentance with an effort to change.
Don’t say, "I’m sorry" unless you truly desire to admit to your sin and change your actions. (Not just hoping you won’t be caught again)
Explore for yourself
1.How did Israel respond to God’s rebuke?
2. What do they say will happen? What are they assuming? What is mission in this statement?
3. What question is asked? Describe their locality.
4. What will happen to them? What is like "like"?
5. What bring delight to the Lord? What is really necessary?
6. What is the "but" statement? How many "tragic" actions are listed?
7. What is important about the "also"? What is the "harvest" set out for Judah? Why?
If you are quick with the sorry with out any admission of guilt then I would suggest that you haven’t fully repented or even given much consideration to what your action have done.
Israel has been "caught" sinning. Their response to Hosea’s comment and statement from the LORD is to return. They want it all to "go away" so they can continue to live the way they want to live. Consider the assumption that they make, "he will heal, he will fix and revive us" but no where in those statement do they actually admit that they have SINNED or done anything wrong.
God tells them they are like morning dew (gone in a flash). God will be bring judgement on their lives because He sees into their heart and know they the words of their month do not match what they are really thinking.
Hos 6:1-11
1" Come, let us return to the Lord .For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. 2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain ,Like the spring rain watering the earth."
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. 8 Gilead is a city of wrongdoers, Tracked with bloody footprints. 9 And as raiders wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they have committed crime. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself. 11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people. NASU
Yesterday we celebrated our thirty fourth wedding anniversary . I know that over those years I have said "I am sorry" with the hope that all would go away. But since I never admitted to doing anything wrong there was no effort to make any corrections or change. These days, I try and do better in understanding the mistake that was made and how to truly confess and change.
True confession must involve repentance with an effort to change.
Don’t say, "I’m sorry" unless you truly desire to admit to your sin and change your actions. (Not just hoping you won’t be caught again)
Explore for yourself
1.How did Israel respond to God’s rebuke?
2. What do they say will happen? What are they assuming? What is mission in this statement?
3. What question is asked? Describe their locality.
4. What will happen to them? What is like "like"?
5. What bring delight to the Lord? What is really necessary?
6. What is the "but" statement? How many "tragic" actions are listed?
7. What is important about the "also"? What is the "harvest" set out for Judah? Why?
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