Hosea 10-14
Reaping A Righteous Relationship
with God
0 MIN READ
Psalm 106:21-48 Righteousness by Impalement
21 They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt, 22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
24 Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise. 25 They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.
32 They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account, 33 for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them, 35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did. 36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.
40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.
47 Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!
who had done great things in Egypt, 22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
24 Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise. 25 They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.
32 They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account, 33 for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them, 35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did. 36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.
40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.
47 Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!
Application
God is gracious in accepting those who repent and rewarding those who are zealous for Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are incredibly patient and gracious with Your people; may I be one like Phinehas, who gives You glory, rather than one who gives You grief. Amen.
Proverbs 24:19-29 Perspective and Planning
19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise, 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? 23 These also are sayings of the wise.
Partiality in judging is not good. 24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
Application
Fearing God avoids judgment; Following wisdom avoids pain.
Prayer
Lord, thanks that You do make clear the paths You want Your servants to take; may I have the grace to walk in them. Amen.
Hosea 10-14 Reaping A Righteous Relationship with God
God opened His case against Israel in 4:1 - ”Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no faithfulness, nor hesed/loyal covenantal love, nor knowledge of God in the land.”He then elaborated upon their lack of knowledge of Him in chapters 4 and 5, and began to detail their lack of loyalty/hesed in chapter 6, which he continued to chapter 11. In chapters 12 and 13, He will summarize their unfaithfulness, and issue yet another call for repentance in the last chapter. Throughout the indictment, God warns of judgment and offers incentives to return to Him. He promises to prevent their total annihilation, and resettle and replant His people in the promised land after their discipline. If you're short on time, make sure you get to the last chapter and see God's offer of forgiveness (14:2) and requirement for the forgiven (14:9 the last verse of the book).
Hosea 10 Sow Righteousness and Reap Hesed
Retribution for Israel’s Sin
1 Israel is a luxuriant vine
that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
he improved his pillars. 2 Their heart is false;
now they must bear their guilt.
The LORD will break down their altars
and destroy their pillars.
3 For now they will say:
“We have no king,
for we do not fear the LORD;
and a king—what could he do for us”?
4 They utter mere words;
with empty oaths they make covenants;
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
for the calf of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—
for it has departed from them. 6 The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.
7 Samaria's king shall perish
like a twig on the face of the waters. 8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
on their altars,
and they shall 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 have continued.
Shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibeah? 10 When I please, I will discipline them,
and nations shall be gathered against them
when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
11 Ephraim was a trained calf
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself. 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 You have plowed iniquity;
you have reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
and in the multitude of your warriors, 14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. 15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great evil.
At dawn the king of Israel
shall be utterly cut off.
Application
Since you'll reap what you sow, what are you purposefully sowing? How do you sow righteousness?
Prayer
God, may I do the things that You've commanded, and the things that please You, and demonstrate my trust in You, knowing that You will respond with loyally loving and protecting me. Thanks for being faithful. Amen.
Hosea 11 Refusing to Repent
Out of Egypt I Called My Son
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness,
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.
God’s Love for Israel
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
10 They shall go after the LORD;
he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD. 12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.
Application
Refusing to repent from our own way and return to the God who so graciously loves and cares for us is beyond stupid and suicidal.
Prayer
Gracious Heavenly Father, thanks for life, and the life You've given me; thanks for protecting me from evils I wasn't even aware of, and at times, from myself; thanks for having compassion on my sin and still wanting a relationship with me; may I respond to Your loyal love by loyally loving You for the rest of my life. Amen.
Hosea 12 Lesson from Jacob
A Reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob
1 Ephraim feeds on the windand pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a covenant with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The LORD has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God. 4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
He met God at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us— 5 the LORD, the God of hosts,
the LORD is his memorial name: 6 “So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
he loves to oppress. 8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9 I am the LORD your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied visions,
and through the prophets gave parables. 11 If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
their altars also are like stone heaps
on the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep. 13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
Application
Where would you be if God had not intervened in Your life? Where will you be if you don't respond to Him?
Prayer
God, thanks for the abundance of Your revelation about what You want, and what is in my best interest; help me live justly, faithfully, and loyally as I await the fulfillment of Your sure promises. Thanks again. Amen.
Hosea 13 No Other God, Nor Savior, Nor Shepherd
God’s Anger against Israel
1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel,
but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 2 And now they sin more and more,
and make for themselves metal images,
idols skillfully made of their silver,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
It is said of them,
“Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!”
3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist
or like the dew that goes early away,
like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor
or like smoke from a window.
4 But I am the LORD your God
from the land of Egypt;
you know no God but me,
and besides me there is no savior. 5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness,
in the land of drought; 6 but when they had grazed, they became full,
they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;
therefore they forgot me. 7 So I am to them like a lion;
like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. 8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;
I will tear open their breast,
and there I will devour them like a lion,
as a wild beast would rip them open.
Death and Resurrection
9 He destroys you, O Israel,
for you are against me, against your helper. 10 Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities?
Where are all your rulers—
those of whom you said,
“Give me a king and princes”?
11 I gave you a king in my anger,
and I took him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
his sin is kept in store. 13 The pangs of childbirth come for him,
but he is an unwise son,
for at the right time he does not present himself
at the opening of the womb.
14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol;
I shall redeem them from Death.
O Death, where are your plagues?
O Sheol, where is your sting?
Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
Judgment on Samaria
15 Though he may flourish among his brothers,
the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come,
rising from the wilderness,
and his fountain shall dry up;
his spring shall be parched;
it shall strip his treasury
of every precious thing. 16 Samaria shall bear her guilt,
because she has rebelled against her God;
they shall fall by the sword;
their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,
and their pregnant women ripped open.
Application
Being conscious every day of our dependence upon God will keep us from rebelling and spare us from the consequences of such stupid sin.
Prayer
My Lord, there is no God nor Savior, nor Shepherd besides You; show me where I might be straying in my loyalty to You, and thanks for granting the grace to turn back to You. Amen.
Hosea 14 The Forgiven Walk in Righteous Ways
A Call to Repentance
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2 Take with you words
and return to the LORD;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”
A Promise of God’s Blessing
4 I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; 6 his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the LORD are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.
Application
Accept God's gracious offer to repent from doing your thing, and decide to walk in His ways rather than your own.
Prayer
God, Your graciousness and loyalty to Your people is incredible! Thanks that You do pardon when we repent; may I be wise and walk in Your ways all of my days. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God displays incredible love, grace, and patience towards His people, even as they rebel and refuse to acknowledge Him. He refuses to totally abandon them, even though they abandon Him. He judges sin, sometimes terrifyingly, but holds the door open for the repentant to come back to Him, and live on His terms. Then He will bless according to His hesed/covenantal loyalty. He can't bless those who are disloyal to Him, for that would be a violation of the covenant (an inconvenient truth ignored by those who ignore God in their daily lives).
Us in a nutshell: We will reap the consequences of our actions, for good or bad. We have free will to accept or reject God, to rebel and reap punishment, or repent and reap blessing. The choice is ours, and God urges us to make the wise one. Those who seek God's forgiveness should walk in His wise ways, or suffer the consequences of straying.
Us in a nutshell: We will reap the consequences of our actions, for good or bad. We have free will to accept or reject God, to rebel and reap punishment, or repent and reap blessing. The choice is ours, and God urges us to make the wise one. Those who seek God's forgiveness should walk in His wise ways, or suffer the consequences of straying.
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