Category: Hosea

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Ephraim was the premier Tribe in the northern kingdom of Israel, as opposed to Judah, where David’s descendants reigned. God holds Israel responsible for their religion and life-styles. Judgment is tempered with mercy for those willing to return to the Lord.

SJA Notes

* Gracious Heavenly Father, please show us what You want us to know today.

“I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.”

There is so much of the gospel, the good news of Jesus, here for us in this passage.

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born a man on earth, we see Him in Hosea’s words!

How did God heal His people? How was His anger turned from them?

It’s Jesus!

“I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Dead. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?”

How did God ransom and redeem us from the power of death? How did He quench the sting of Sheol?

It’s Jesus!

Paul has this direct link in mind in 1 Corinthians 15,

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God has saved us through (and only through) Jesus.

* Lord God,

Please fix within us a right spirit, a heart remade after Your own heart.

Thank You that in Jesus, You in the Person of the Son, we no longer fear death, it has no power over us.

Thank You that in Jesus we see YOUR HELP for us.

Hallelujah, what a loving Father God You are!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Israel was a false vine (they turned to idolatry): Jesus said: I am the true vine! When you read verse 3 remember the Jews before Pilate: We have no king but Caesar! 11:1 is quoted by Matthew as confirmation as to who Jesus is! Matthew 2:15

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please write Your word on our hearts today. Please plant it deep within us, and grow it, that we might be good soil and bear much fruit.

“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?'”

We see this attitude around us today. People railing against God, rejecting Him and His goodness and wisdom.

“They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants;”

We see this very clearly right now! Empty oaths, making covenants that hold no weight, that have no substance.

Think of the vast ocean of folly we see today. People trying to find peace or joy in the lie of sin.

“You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies.”

We see this everywhere today.

And yet. The most damning truth from Hosea here is that this was true then of God’s people.

Is this true of us today?

What else have we to do but fall before the Lord, seek His face, and turn to Him each day.

* God of grace and mercy,

Thank You for Jesus, in whom we You raining down righteousness upon us.

Exalt Your Name amongst Your people, and throughout the world – Hallowed and well-kept!

Please convict us to sow righteousness, to reap steadfast love – to SEEK YOU.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Reap the whirlwind is a Biblical phrase that passed into the English language many centuries ago. Wanderers amongst the nations (9:17) recalls the Gospel perspective – remember James’ description of the Christian Church: the twelve tribes scattered amongst the nations, and Peter’s: God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout …

SJA Notes

* Righteous God, please fix our eyes on You today.

“For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God.”

In some ways this is the simplest of truths. A binary state.

Israel rejecting THE LORD GOD for man-made idols. Things that are _not_ God.

As in Hosea’s time so in ours.

People go after NOT GOD entities. We hero-worship humans and ideas, ideologies and world-views, demons and devils.

Israel still gave the outward appearance of spiritual life. They made sacrifices.

BUT.

God has a hard word for them. For Israel and for us today.

He rejected their offerings. He remembered their iniquities.

This is a stark contrast to the blessing of TRUE religion.

In Jeremiah 31 we read,

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

There is GOD. The true and living Almighty God.

Everything else; people, structures, creation, ideas, thoughts, spiritual entities – everything else is NOT GOD.

* Gracious Father,

Thank You that in Jesus You forgive us, our black mirky sin washed away.

Please help us to tell the good news of Jesus to those around us.

Amen.