Hosea 1

WEEK  22                                                Hosea 1

FRIDAY  Reflections

Of all the things God asked anyone to do, what he asked Hosea to do has to be the hardest. This wasn't just doing something humiliating or life-threatening; this had to do with Hosea's heart, his love. Many scholars believe God placed a supernatural love in Hosea for Gomer, but this love couldn't protect him from shame or pain. It wasn't just that Gomer was going to be a prostitute, but that he couldn't be sure some of the children were his. The whole marriage would be an example to Israel of the way they treated God, what God was feeling (in the naming of their children), and what God planned to do.

 

Hosea knows, as he enters the marriage, the kind of woman he is going to marry. He knows his future. Yet he loves her and has children with her. This is what God did. God took a people filled with wrong ideas and a questionable history (they were pagan slaves after all) and made them His bride, as it were, His beloved. What came of that union was a people who didn't acknowledge Him as God and would go away into captivity.

 

This is just chapter one. As much as Ecclesiastes isn't my favorite book because of its despairing overtones, Hosea comes close behind. The heartbreak Hosea is going to face pulls at my heart, yet I am reminded how I have, at times, lived like Gomer. Perhaps it is guilt that causes me to dislike this book?

Hosea 1:1-11
(1)  The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
(2)  The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
(3)  So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
(4)  And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
(5)  And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
(6)  And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.
(7)  But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
(8)  Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
(9)  Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
(10)  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
(11)  Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

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Matthew 22

WEEK   22                                           Matthew 22

THURSDAY  Reflections

Some may wonder why a father can't call a son/descendant Lord if they are a king. In Jesus day the understanding was that the oldest was always the senior to the younger. The child no matter how great can't exist without the older so the older is always superior. The descendant of David should always be his inferior, yet scripture records David referring to his son/descendant as his superior. By all normal standards, it is impossible. Naturally speaking, Jesus could claim rightfully that he was David's son, but never his Lord. Again this is only if we follow the natural law.

 

The only way that David could call his son Lord would be if he was his father, the creator of his family line. Yet this is exactly what the gospels claim Jesus is. The gospels teach that Jesus wasn't just born in the human lineage, but he was more, he was God. Jesus is God, therefore the creator of David's and all family lines. Supernaturally, Jesus could be both son and Lord to David. Yet this possibility couldn't even be imagined by the religious leaders. Jesus here was proclaiming he was God and they never even saw it. That is okay, I didn't see this particular hint for years either and I'm a Christian. 

Mat 22:1-46
(1)  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
(2)  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
(3)  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
(4)  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
(5)  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
(6)  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
(7)  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
(8)  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
(9)  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
(10)  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
(11)  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
(12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
(13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.
(15)  Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
(16)  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
(17)  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
(18)  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
(19)  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
(20)  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
(21)  They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
(22)  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
(23)  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
(24)  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
(25)  Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
(26)  Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
(27)  And last of all the woman died also.
(28)  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
(29)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(30)  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
(31)  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
(32)  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(33)  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
(34)  But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
(35)  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
(36)  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
(37)  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
(38)  This is the first and great commandment.
(39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(40)  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
(41)  While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
(42)  Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
(43)  He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
(44)  The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
(45)  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
(46)  And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

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Proverbs 20

WEEK   22                                          Proverbs 20

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." This is just one reason why I do not drink. I am not deceived, for me to drink would be for me to become an alcoholic. Too often, people like to believe that they can handle it. I'm not drunk, I just get buzzed. Jesus drank wine. Wine is good for you (in limited amounts, but that is often forgotten). Yes, you might disagree with my ideas on complete abstinence from alcohol, but be very careful you aren't deceiving yourself with your own drinking. The consequences of being wrong could be fatal.

 

This isn't the only piece of wisdom in this chapter. What other verse gets your attention or pricks your conscience?

Pro 20:1-30
(1)  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
(2)  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
(3)  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
(4)  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
(5)  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
(6)  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
(7)  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
(8)  A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
(9)  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
(10)  Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
(11)  Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
(12)  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
(13)  Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
(14)  It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
(15)  There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
(16)  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
(17)  Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
(18)  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
(19)  He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
(20)  Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
(21)  An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
(22)  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
(23)  Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
(24)  Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
(25)  It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
(26)  A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
(27)  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
(28)  Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
(29)  The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
(30)  The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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Joel 3

WEEK  22                                               Joel 3

TUESDAY  Reflections

Because of the sins of Judah and Israel God removed his protection and the nations because of the sins of Judah and Israel God removed his protection and the nations surrounding them attacked. This might not have been an issue if they had not used their opportunity to do more than just conquer. They used this opportunity to abuse and mistreat the people of God, and as we see in verse 19, they abused the innocent.

 

A lesson I see here is that the nations were given opportunities by God to attack, but they abused this opportunity. For me, I can't help but think that in my dealings, I might have opportunities given to me because others haven't done right, but this doesn't mean I need to abuse them. For example, a person doesn't do right in his business, and a business person has the opportunity to buy the business because it is failing. The right thing to do would be to take the opportunity, but not to abuse the person selling by making them take an offer that steals from them. Yes, they may have no choice but to sell it for whatever they can get, but this doesn't mean you purposely offer them less than what you would otherwise. God is, after all, keeping track. Yes, building a factory in a foreign country might mean lower wages because there is a lower standard of living, but this wouldn't mean you don't offer a reasonable wage. I could give other examples, but you understand. God is keeping a record; be righteous in your dealings.

 

Again, the words of Joel, like those of other prophets, end in a promise. God is giving hope. He has tried earlier in this prophecy to call the people back to him. God is demonstrating his mercy, not his vengeance. 

Joe 3:1-21
(1)  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
(2)  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
(3)  And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
(4)  Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
(5)  Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
(6)  The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
(7)  Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
(8)  And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
(9)  Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
(10)  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
(11)  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
(12)  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
(13)  Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
(14)  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
(15)  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
(16)  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
(17)  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
(18)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
(19)  Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
(20)  But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
(21)  For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

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2 Kings 7

WEEK  22                                          2 Kings 7

MONDAY  Reflections

There are two lessons in this chapter I would love to dive into: first, seeing but not partaking; second, risking when there is no risk. Instead of picking on one, I will highlight both.

 

The king's adviser didn’t believe God could perform a miracle like Elisha prophesied. Elisha said he would see the answer but would not partake of the blessing. This isn't just a warning for him but for people today. People say God can't save someone like me, or God can't do that. Those who choose disbelief won't receive, but in eternity they will understand what God was capable of, and maybe even in this world.

 

The lepers made the observation: if we stay here, we die; if we go to the enemy, we might live; but if we risk leaving, there is a chance. Staying where they were was a death sentence, without question. So why not take a chance? It makes sense, but many people refuse to take a chance in their lives even when staying where they are means nothing changes. It is a type of death, if not actual death. However, too many people are so familiar with the place they are in that they won't take the chance and change. It isn't easy. We don't know how long the lepers were there at the gate, but they finally said, we might as well try, and because of it, they were saved, as was the city.

2Ki 7:1-20
(1)  Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
(2)  Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
(3)  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
(4)  If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
(5)  And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
(6)  For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
(7)  Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
(8)  And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
(9)  Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
(10)  So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
(11)  And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
(12)  And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
(13)  And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
(14)  They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
(15)  And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
(16)  And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
(17)  And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
(18)  And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
(19)  And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
(20)  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

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