If you were going to get candy you wouldn’t go to an Auto parts store. If you were looking to get your hair cut you wouldn’t head to the clothing store. So if you want directions from God why would you go to man.
This is exactly what God is telling Israel, Judea and Ephraim. God is bring judgement into their lives in order that might seek His face but instead they are going to the world around them. He responds to them by telling them since they sought relief from man rather then God, He would like a moth (destroying them) and a lion (tearing the to pieces) and like rottenness (smelling and decaying).
What God brought into the lives of His people was so that they would seek His face. But beyond he destruction that He speak about He also says that He will leave them to themselves (alone without God) until they acknowledge their guilt and seek His face. The affliction is designed by God for a purpose, so that would EARNESTLY seek HIM!
Hosea 5:8-15
Blow the horn in Gibeah, The trumpet in Ramah. Sound an alarm at Beth-aven: " Behind you, Benjamin!" 9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure. 10 The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary;
On them I will pour out My wrath like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
Because he was determined to follow man's command. 12 Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim And like rottenness to the house of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb. But he is unable to heal you, Or to cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver. 15 I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. NASU
Have you been faced with afflictions? Could God be seeking you to acknowledge some guilt in your life and seek His face?
Why not confess that sin to God and seek Him through the reading of the Word of God.
Click on the "How to know Jesus link"
Explore for yourself.
What has God done? Why?
1. What is the warning that comes? What is going to come their way?
2. What significance is there to moving boundaries?
3. What is a "moth"? What is rottenness?
4. Where did Ephraim and Judah go when they were sick?
5. Now what action (animal) does God bring? What is the result?
6. How long will God stay away?
7. What will happen in their affliction?
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Listen Up
How many times does you wife or husband ask, “Are you listening?” or you ask your kids, “are you listening?” Why do we ask that questions? We do it because although they “hear” us they really aren’t “listening” to what is being said. The words are heard but they aren’t producing the actions that are required.
The Lord, through Hosea, is telling the people to “HEAR!” meaning more that catch the words
but responded in a correct way to those words. The Lord is sending judgement because of what is happening and the failure of the people to be obedient.
Hos 5:1-7
5 Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment applies to you, For you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out on Tabor. 2 The revolters have gone deep in depravity, But I will chastise all of them. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself. 4 Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the Lord. 5 Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. 6 They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, For they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their land. NASU
Let me ask you this question today. Have you truly heard what God has said to you?
Matt 11:28-30
28 " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and B YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NASA
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU
Jesus is calling you to invite Him into your life. Please hear Him today.
Explore for yourself.
1. Who is supposed to be listening to Hosea? Why?
2. Why does God say they are not hidden from Him?
3. What has been done? Why can’t they return to God?
4. How has pride gotten in the way?
The Lord, through Hosea, is telling the people to “HEAR!” meaning more that catch the words
but responded in a correct way to those words. The Lord is sending judgement because of what is happening and the failure of the people to be obedient.
Hos 5:1-7
5 Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment applies to you, For you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out on Tabor. 2 The revolters have gone deep in depravity, But I will chastise all of them. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself. 4 Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the Lord. 5 Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. 6 They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, For they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their land. NASU
Let me ask you this question today. Have you truly heard what God has said to you?
Matt 11:28-30
28 " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and B YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NASA
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU
Jesus is calling you to invite Him into your life. Please hear Him today.
Explore for yourself.
1. Who is supposed to be listening to Hosea? Why?
2. Why does God say they are not hidden from Him?
3. What has been done? Why can’t they return to God?
4. How has pride gotten in the way?
Monday, July 14, 2008
Drifting Away
Sometimes we seek things to bring us pleasure and enjoyment only to find out that they really don't satisfy. The more we want the less we truly receive.
These are some of what Hosea is describing. Things have been multiplied in their lives but the glory they had has changed, it is now shame. Ouch, that hurts, having something valuable turning to useless is not what we want out of life.
Pursuing these pleasure begins a downhill spiral in their lives. They more they go after the less it "rewards them". God bring judgement. Not because He is wicked but because of His great love for the children of Israel.
Hos 4:7-19
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity. 9 And it will be, like people, like priest;So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds. 10 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase,Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. 11 Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. 12 My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them;For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,And they have played the harlot, departing from their God. 13 They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant.Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes;So the people without understanding are ruined. 15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath:"As the Lord lives!" 16 Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the Lord now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. 18 Their liquor gone,They play the harlot continually; Their rulers dearly love shame. 19 The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices. NASU
Explore for Yourself
8. What are they doing with their desires? What is important to notice about the people and priest?
9. What warning signs do we have when people simply need more?
10. What things take away understanding? What leads them astray?
11. Why do they sacrifice "in the mountains"? Why do the daughters and wives play the harlot?
12. What statement is made concerning men and their leadership?
13. What was Judah to avoid? What could happen in a large open field with sheep?
14. What happen to Ephraim? What does their rulers love? What will bring shame?
These are some of what Hosea is describing. Things have been multiplied in their lives but the glory they had has changed, it is now shame. Ouch, that hurts, having something valuable turning to useless is not what we want out of life.
Pursuing these pleasure begins a downhill spiral in their lives. They more they go after the less it "rewards them". God bring judgement. Not because He is wicked but because of His great love for the children of Israel.
Hos 4:7-19
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity. 9 And it will be, like people, like priest;So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds. 10 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase,Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. 11 Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. 12 My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them;For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,And they have played the harlot, departing from their God. 13 They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant.Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes;So the people without understanding are ruined. 15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath:"As the Lord lives!" 16 Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the Lord now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. 18 Their liquor gone,They play the harlot continually; Their rulers dearly love shame. 19 The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices. NASU
Explore for Yourself
8. What are they doing with their desires? What is important to notice about the people and priest?
9. What warning signs do we have when people simply need more?
10. What things take away understanding? What leads them astray?
11. Why do they sacrifice "in the mountains"? Why do the daughters and wives play the harlot?
12. What statement is made concerning men and their leadership?
13. What was Judah to avoid? What could happen in a large open field with sheep?
14. What happen to Ephraim? What does their rulers love? What will bring shame?
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Listen, not just hear.
Hosea is telling the people of Israel to "hear" the Word of the Lord. The Lord has something to say. He knows they faithlessness and lack of kindness. These are things that were supposed to be a part of their life (and yours and mine) but they have been replaced with swearing, deception, murder, and adultery. The consequences of these actions are the "mourning" of the land. There is suffering and heartache for all who go down this road.
Be careful that you don’t think these warning are just for Israel. Take this words to hear. The Lord knows all that is going on in your life.
If your facing heartaches and suffering, seek the Lord. He might be seeking to bring you back to fellowship with Him.
Hos 4:1-7
1 Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel,
For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness
Or knowledge of God in the land.
2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof;
For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
NASU
Explore for Yourself
1. What is the "Yet" connecting?
2. Why should no one find fault or offer reproof? What is important about stumbling by day?
3. Why will the prophets stumble at night? What happens to Israel? Who is the "mother"?
4. Why are the people destroyed? Why don’t they have knowledge?
5. What is the role of a priest....what will not happen?
6. List some of the "conditional" statements.
7. What happens to the glory of the children? Why?
Be careful that you don’t think these warning are just for Israel. Take this words to hear. The Lord knows all that is going on in your life.
If your facing heartaches and suffering, seek the Lord. He might be seeking to bring you back to fellowship with Him.
Hos 4:1-7
1 Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel,
For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness
Or knowledge of God in the land.
2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof;
For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
NASU
Explore for Yourself
1. What is the "Yet" connecting?
2. Why should no one find fault or offer reproof? What is important about stumbling by day?
3. Why will the prophets stumble at night? What happens to Israel? Who is the "mother"?
4. Why are the people destroyed? Why don’t they have knowledge?
5. What is the role of a priest....what will not happen?
6. List some of the "conditional" statements.
7. What happens to the glory of the children? Why?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Love At a Price
There was a song that had a line in it, "the things we do for love." Those things, sometimes can be expensive. We go to fancy dinners, movies, even expensive "night on the town" all to show that someone that we really love them. Notice what God instructed Hosea to do to truly love Gomer.
Hosea 3:1 Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then I said to her, "You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you." 4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. NASU
Despite all that Gomer has done, God instructed Hosea to love her again. This meant that was going to truly cost him. Since Gomer was "up for sale" Hosea would purchase her to once again make her his wife. (Those other lovers has dumped and left her) She was instructed never to play the harlot again and Hosea told her he would LOVE her, not just keep her as a slave woman.
God is show Israel that He too love them. He told them that there would be a day when they would return and seek the Lord and "David" their king. This David is Jesus.
1 Cor 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Jesus has purchased you to be his "bride".
Explore for yourself.
1. What command was given to Hosea?
2. What condition do we find Gomer? And Israel?
3. How much did Gomer cost? What did God buy? How?
4. What command came with the purchase? What comes to us? See Acts 20:28, Rev. 5:9
5. What happens to Israel?
6. What does this cause Israel to do? When?
Hosea 3:1 Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then I said to her, "You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you." 4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. NASU
Despite all that Gomer has done, God instructed Hosea to love her again. This meant that was going to truly cost him. Since Gomer was "up for sale" Hosea would purchase her to once again make her his wife. (Those other lovers has dumped and left her) She was instructed never to play the harlot again and Hosea told her he would LOVE her, not just keep her as a slave woman.
God is show Israel that He too love them. He told them that there would be a day when they would return and seek the Lord and "David" their king. This David is Jesus.
1 Cor 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Jesus has purchased you to be his "bride".
Explore for yourself.
1. What command was given to Hosea?
2. What condition do we find Gomer? And Israel?
3. How much did Gomer cost? What did God buy? How?
4. What command came with the purchase? What comes to us? See Acts 20:28, Rev. 5:9
5. What happens to Israel?
6. What does this cause Israel to do? When?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Winning Them Back
Can you remember back to your dating days? I sure you can, as a man I can remembering doing many things to win the heart of my (now) wife. Hosea is describing for us some of the things that he is doing to win back is wife. We can see that he has even provided for her needs without her knowledge. Despite her lack of response, he continues to pursue her out of obedience to God.
Hos 2:8-23
8 "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil,
And lavished on her silver and gold,
Which they used for Baal.
9 "Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time
And My new wine in its season.
I will also take away My wool and My flax
Given to cover her nakedness.
10 "And then I will uncover her lewdness
In the sight of her lovers,
And no one will rescue her out of My hand.
11 "I will also put an end to all her gaiety,
Her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths
And all her festal assemblies.
12 "I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
Of which she said, 'These are my wages
Which my lovers have given me.'
And I will make them a forest,
And the beasts of the field will devour them.
13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals
When she used to offer sacrifices to them
And adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry,
And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me," declares the Lord.
14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her. 15 "Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 "It will come about in that day," declares the Lord,"That you will call Me Ishi And will no longer call Me Baali. 17 "For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, So that they will be mentioned by their names no more. 18 "In that day I will also make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety. 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In loving kindness and in compassion, 20 And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. 21 "It will come about in that day that I will respond," declares the Lord."I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth, 22 And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and to the oil, And they will respond to Jezreel. 23 "I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people,'You are My people!'And they will say, 'You are my God!'" NASU
We see that God is providing HOPE. In the valley of Achor were set stone to remind the children of Israel of the day God turned from wrath. God will also betroth us forever. But where and when to we see this for us today.
At the cross. The cross of Christ has provided a door of HOPE! Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU
He is describing that door of Hope! And one entering that door (as a child of God) it will be for eternity. John 6:39-40 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." NASU
Are you struggling with you life, even though you have trusted Christ. Today we see that God is still pursuing you. He does not toss people away... and you are one of those people. Why not allow his love to come into your heart again. Be refreshed, respond like when you first met Jesus for of exuberant joy.
Explore for yourself
1. What happens to the vineyards and fig orchards?
2. What is the third "therefore" in v 14? What does God do now?
3. Look at the Joshua 7:26 what is the Valley of Achor? How will it change?
4. What changes with Gomer? What is Hosea called? Rather than what?
5. What will be established?
6. What five things are part of the betrothal? Why are these important?
7. How does the earth respond?
8. What will change with the people?
9. How do this relate to us today? What lessons can we learn and apply?
10. Why are these thoughts so hard to handle?
Hos 2:8-23
8 "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil,
And lavished on her silver and gold,
Which they used for Baal.
9 "Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time
And My new wine in its season.
I will also take away My wool and My flax
Given to cover her nakedness.
10 "And then I will uncover her lewdness
In the sight of her lovers,
And no one will rescue her out of My hand.
11 "I will also put an end to all her gaiety,
Her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths
And all her festal assemblies.
12 "I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
Of which she said, 'These are my wages
Which my lovers have given me.'
And I will make them a forest,
And the beasts of the field will devour them.
13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals
When she used to offer sacrifices to them
And adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry,
And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me," declares the Lord.
14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her. 15 "Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 "It will come about in that day," declares the Lord,"That you will call Me Ishi And will no longer call Me Baali. 17 "For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, So that they will be mentioned by their names no more. 18 "In that day I will also make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety. 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In loving kindness and in compassion, 20 And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. 21 "It will come about in that day that I will respond," declares the Lord."I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth, 22 And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and to the oil, And they will respond to Jezreel. 23 "I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people,'You are My people!'And they will say, 'You are my God!'" NASU
We see that God is providing HOPE. In the valley of Achor were set stone to remind the children of Israel of the day God turned from wrath. God will also betroth us forever. But where and when to we see this for us today.
At the cross. The cross of Christ has provided a door of HOPE! Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU
He is describing that door of Hope! And one entering that door (as a child of God) it will be for eternity. John 6:39-40 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." NASU
Are you struggling with you life, even though you have trusted Christ. Today we see that God is still pursuing you. He does not toss people away... and you are one of those people. Why not allow his love to come into your heart again. Be refreshed, respond like when you first met Jesus for of exuberant joy.
Explore for yourself
1. What happens to the vineyards and fig orchards?
2. What is the third "therefore" in v 14? What does God do now?
3. Look at the Joshua 7:26 what is the Valley of Achor? How will it change?
4. What changes with Gomer? What is Hosea called? Rather than what?
5. What will be established?
6. What five things are part of the betrothal? Why are these important?
7. How does the earth respond?
8. What will change with the people?
9. How do this relate to us today? What lessons can we learn and apply?
10. Why are these thoughts so hard to handle?
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