Saturday, September 25, 2010

Hosea 8

Sowing the wind, reaping the whirlwind

Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

The LORD shall call the Assyrian armies to battle against His own people. Why would he do that? To punish their evil doing in following after false idols.

Hosea 8:2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

They cry unto God, we know you, we are intimate friends with you. Were they really? Are we intimate with God because we put "In God We Trust" on our coins? Some are, but most are rebellious and do not know the God of Israel. Jesus spoke of those who claimed to serve him in strong rebuke.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Psa 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

Hosea 8:3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
Hosea 8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

Putting in kings and leaders who were ungodly, who were liars and cheats and hiding their sins and their motives has only made the nation more unrighteous. The people made silver and gold their idols, much as we have today. Prosperity and financial gain was the god of America and it has gotten into the churches who teach financial prosperity more than repentance and coming to the cross.

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hosea 8:5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

"O Samaria, I reject this calf––this idol you have made. My fury burns against you. How long will you be incapable of innocence? (NLT)

Hosea 8:6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

It shall be broken to pieces as was the golden calf that Aaron made while Moses was on the mountain receiving the ten commandments.

Exo 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
Exo 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strowed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
Exo 32:21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
Exo 32:22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
Exo 32:23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exo 32:24 And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
Exo 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
Exo 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

We will be people pleasers, giving them what they want to hear and do, or we will come out from among them and stand with the people of God. What will you choose? Will you choose gold? The golden calf, the bull market above the Lord your God? He is separating a people unto himself and separating a people to be punished. I want to be with God; a closer and closer walk with him. We all shoiuld want to obey him in living in the grace and responsibilities of a follower of Jesus Christ.

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

The law of sowing and reaping. We reap more than what is sown. What was sown over many years may produce a harvest seems unbearable, but it is the justice of God. What good fruit we should have gathered, others will gather. The devil promises much, but he is a theif.

Hosea 8:8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
Hosea 8:9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

Ephraim will be alone in a strange land, rejected, as a wild ass alone by itself with hired lovers. Ephraim had sold themselves into spiritual adultery first, followed by harlotry.

Hosea 8:10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

The LORD will not forsake them forever, for they shall be gathered again to their land. Not that generation, but in the future they shall be gathered again.

Hosea 8:11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

"Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! (NLT)

Hosea 8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

How sad that the word of God is not valued by so many people. If you have the Spirit of God you should hunger for more truth and righteousness. Sin has kept many from the word.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Many pagans today see the Bible as just a book or as a book of power. They think in terms of magic and supernatural powers to control others or to make money from others. Sometimes the word of God is misused for evil gain, this should not be so.

Simon the sorcerer was one such person

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hosea 8:13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

They had empty sacrifices that they themselves ate of, but that God rejected because they did not want to serve him in truth.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Hosea 8:14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel built temples, but not to the God of Israel. Judah has built fenced cities. They trusted in their mighty cities and wealthy homes, this had become their security. Wow, God sent destruction to them, this should wake us up in America remembering the destruction of the twin towers on 911. But I shall send fire upon his cities...as God sent for the Assyrians he could use Islam today to punish this adulterous nation. Islam shall not escape God's judgment, but God is more concerned for those who call upon his name.

1 Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1 Pet 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Father God, I want more of you. Please have mercy on our nation and use your people to awaken America to trust in you more than prosperity and adulterous idols. I am under the blood of the Lamb. His grace is with me and by His Spirit I keep him close every minute of every day. Amen

Friday, September 17, 2010

Hosea 7

Seeking help from the world

Hosea 7:1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

God was ready to heal Israel, but they hung onto their iniquity, their desire to sin and their wickedness of loving false gods. They were liars and the thief comes in and robbers go out from them looting in the streets.

Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Isa 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
Isa 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
Isa 28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
Isa 28:4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

Hosea 7:2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

Psa 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Deu 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Hosea 7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

Micah 7:3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

They are all adulterers, always aflame with lust. They are like an oven that is kept hot even while the baker is still kneading the dough. (NLT)

Two words stand out to me. They are "hot: like an oven, full of lusts and they have their hands in dough, "leaven" is as sin. They could not keep their hands and eyes away from their adulteries.

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Hosea 7:5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

"On royal holidays, the princes get drunk. The king makes a fool of himself and drinks with those who are making fun of him. (NLT)

He drank with those who mocked God.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Hosea 7:6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
Hosea 7:7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

They lusted after their idols, their drunken parties and the lusts of the flesh. They hated authority and God's righteousness. They did not need him for they were spiritual adulterers.

Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.
Isa 43:22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Ephraim or Israel, the Northern kingdom, has mixed itself with foreign gods and are as a half baked cake. We hear the expression " half baked", like a half baked idea, not thought out, incomplete, foolishly made, ill conceived, undisciplined. Leaving behind their God, all became foolishness and vain.

Hosea 7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

Worshiping foreign gods had sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become. (NLT)

Every time I go to the barber, I accuse him of throwing old man hair on the white lap apron. I feel young, but something's are not the same. Life keeps going, the clock is ticking and many of my friends have passed on or have grown old. Israel was going about life, living as the spiritually dead. Soon they would find themselves in a foreign land with their freedoms taken from them. This lifestyle is common in our nation too, people seem blind to the outcome of their turning away from God and they are becoming slaves to their choices.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Hosea 7:10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

Pride keeps them from returning to their God; hardly anything to be proud about. I have seen proud atheists too.

Prov 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Hosea 7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Like the foolish women who follow false teachers and false gods.

2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Tim 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They were courting countries that could not protect them from God's correction. They are under his correction, guidance and protection and he will curse any nation who comes against them apart from his will. We had better be in the will of God and support Israel.

Hosea 7:12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Hosea 7:13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
Hosea 7:14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves, begging foreign gods for crops and prosperity. (NLT)

An adulterous people turns to wine and fornication to satisfy their wicked hearts. They did not cry out to God, confessing their sins, instead they spoke lies against God and rebelled.

Hosea 7:15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

People may be healed and restored to good health and strength, but if their heart is not right with God, they will still die in their sins. People want the things that supposedly make for success: riches, possessions, power and fame. Soon enough it becomes a character problem, for if the heart is not right with God, He may withhold His blessings and they get deeper into spiritual bondage.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Hosea 7:16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

They are like a deceitful bow, or a faulty bow that does not shoot straight, just as they miss the mark with their adulterous lives because they do not return to their LORD. Their princes who complain and blame God with their many words, they shall be silenced when overcome by the sword. The land of Egypt where they ran to for adultery and protection despised them. Listen now, if we run from God and get deep into the world's sin, the world will despise you for being a hypocrite and a poor example of a follower of God. Be true to your calling; the world doesn't need more empty people without purpose, they need the hope that you have in The Lord Jesus Christ.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hosea 6

Willful Disobedience

Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

The LORD corrects his people for their healing if they come to him humbly seeking to obey him.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

This prophecy sounds a lot like the burial and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. He identified with his people and took their sins upon himself. He took our chastisement and by his stripes we were healed.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

"If we follow on" If we learn of his ways, for he is a faithful God.

Isa 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

2 Sam 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
2 Sam 23:4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
2 Sam 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

He will refresh his people and restore them if they will learn of him and obey him.

Hosea 6:4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

They tried for a time to keep the laws, but soon they were carried away by the distractions of the world and their own evil hearts.

Jesus spoke a parable of those overcome by the things of the world.

Mark 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Hosea 6:5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

Because they rejected the prophets words, they must suffer the results of their own stubborn ways.

Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Outward rituals did not cover their wicked hearts; God sees the hearts and the lack of obedience; they had no good fruit. The LORD wanted them to show mercy and to learn of his ways. We learn the heart of a person moreso by their fruit than from their words.

Hosea 6:7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

They were like men, like Adam who transgressed the will of God. They did so willingly inviting the vengence of God upon themselves. They acted like infidels who openly mock and challenge God to do something.

Hosea 6:8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
Hosea 6:9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

Priests that consent to immorality. Priests who wink at sin and are man centered instead of preaching the holiness and vengeance of God upon sin. They may rob them of their money, using it inappropriately, but more so they condemn them to hell by not warning them of the penalty for their sin. Too many profess to be of God, but they do not show a change of heart. Good works follow a new heart. To preach to them that all is good with them, when they have never confessed their sins and turned to follow Jesus may fill a church. However they are condemned from lack of conviction and easy grace. To be a disciple requires total commitment to Jesus Christ, not to say bless me as I do what I want to do. The Lord knows who are his, may we also know if we are saved from the wrath of God through faith in His Son. We are to preach the cross and the need to turn from our sins and to ask for forgiveness and his Spirit to guide us.

Hosea 6:10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

The word for "horrible thing" is the same root word for "hair". Their spiritual whoredom causes the hair to stand on end. They certainly grieve the Holy Spirit.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Hosea 6:11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

They would harvest the correction of God, for they are captive to sins and they needed to be turned around to serve God. First they must confess that they are in error and seek to be forgiven. God reveals our hearts, but most make excuses and hide from God. Sin is not a trivial thing. God sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross as payment for our sins. Reflect on this and do not take grace for granted.