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.
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