Hosea 14

WEEK 5                                          Hosea 14

FRIDAY  Reflections

Now ends the book of Hosea, not with more judgment but with a cry to return to God. As the chapter ends, they and we are reminded that wise people understand the things Hosea has discussed, and wise people will serve God. The transgressor's only option is failure.

Let us be wise and choose God and His ways.

Hos 14:1-9
(1)  O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
(2)  Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
(3)  Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
(4)  I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
(5)  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
(6)  His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
(7)  They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
(8)  Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
(9)  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

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2 Corinthians 1

WEEK  5                                          2 Corinthians 1

THURSDAY  Reflections

As this first chapter ends, Paul explains his reason for not stopping by Corinth another time like he had planned. The reason was that he did not want the meeting to come off as if he were trying to dominate their faith. Yes, they were messing up and doing wrong, but at this time, Paul felt stopping by and setting them straight would not ultimately be to their benefit. His hope was that they could work together to overcome their problems.

 

I learn from this that at times the right thing to do is not to confront an issue head-on. Yes, there is a time for direct confrontation, and Paul does this from time to time, but as we see here, not always. Sometimes we have to let people work out their issues without us being domineering and ruining the relationship. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, friends, not rivals, family, not employees. 

2Co 1:1-24
(1)  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
(2)  Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3)  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
(4)  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(5)  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
(6)  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
(7)  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
(8)  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
(9)  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
(10)  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
(11)  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
(12)  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
(13)  For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
(14)  As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
(15)  And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
(16)  And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
(17)  When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
(18)  But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
(19)  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
(20)  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
(21)  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
(22)  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
(23)  Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
(24)  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

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Psalm 99

WEEK   5                                        Psalm 99

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

We understand that things are not fair, but we want them to be. Inside us is this idea that things should be right. This is because God put it there. The problem, of course, is too often people see fairness and justice only from their perspective. They blame others because of lack of opportunities and rightly so, but then they don't use the other opportunities God has given. Others look at their hard work but forget the benefits which help them get there and refuse to recognize it or to reward those who did help. 

God established justice and equity (fairness). He will make all things right. He is the one we need to look to when it comes to being fair, not our own thoughts because, as I pointed out, we can be prejudice. 

Psa 99:1-9
(1)  The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
(2)  The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
(3)  Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
(4)  The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
(5)  Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
(6)  Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
(7)  He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
(8)  Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
(9)  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

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Hosea 13

WEEK  5                                            Hosea 13

TUESDAY  Reflections

God reminds Israel again of who he is. God is the only God they need to know because he is the only one who has saved them. He saved them from Egypt, and He provided for them. He gave them a king when they asked for one for all the wrong reasons. He also will not save them from the destruction of their nation that they have brought on themselves, but God will use it to bring them to salvation.

Hos 13:1-16
(1)  When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
(2)  And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
(3)  Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
(4)  Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
(5)  I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
(6)  According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
(7)  Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
(8)  I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
(9)  O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
(10)  I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
(11)  I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
(12)  The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
(13)  The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
(14)  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
(15)  Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
(16)  Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

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2 Kings 14

WEEK  5                                                2 Kings 14

MONDAY  Reflections

King Amaziah did right, but only just. This is how I read this chapter. Yes, there were things he did well. He didn't exact revenge on the children of wrongdoers as was the custom (though God forbid it).  He didn't allow idols per se, but did allow people to worship in other places and presumably other gods. He was a man of war trying to take more and more by warfare, which cost Judah, and probably gave the motivation for others to kill him. We today would describe someone like Amaziah as a Christian, but just barely, and most definitely carnal and immature. This is a shame because he missed out on all God could have done for him. God has so much more for those who follow Him with their whole heart. 

2Ki 14:1-29
(1)  In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
(2)  He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
(3)  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
(4)  Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
(5)  And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
(6)  But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
(7)  He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
(8)  Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
(9)  And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
(10)  Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
(11)  But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
(12)  And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
(13)  And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
(14)  And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
(15)  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(16)  And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
(17)  And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
(18)  And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
(19)  Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
(20)  And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
(21)  And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
(22)  He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
(23)  In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
(24)  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
(25)  He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
(26)  For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.
(27)  And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
(28)  Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(29)  And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

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