Mercy still shown to Judah
Hosea 1:6-7
And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him:
“ Call her name Lo-Ruhamah,
For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel,
But I will utterly take them away.
7 Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah,
Will save them by the LORD their God,
And will not save them by bow,
Nor by sword or battle,
By horses or horsemen.”
This is the second child that is born to Gomer, a girl. Her name literally means “no mercy”. God here explains that He is through with showing mercy to the house of Israel. They have had their chance, but now is the time for them to be conquered by the Assyrians and taken away as captives. But the part of the verse we are going to look at today is how God is still willing to deal with Judah.
The very army that defeats the northern tribes of Israel, decide to go south and do the same with Judah. They are successful in taking much of the area but then they get to Jerusalem. Arrogant over their defeat of the north they start taunting the God of the Jews, not understanding that God had used them to chastise His people.
There is a great story about what goes on in Isaiah. It is two chapters long and goes into great detail about how all the sides involved were feeling and thinking. Either read or listen to Isaiah 36 &37 then answer these questions.
How are the promises to Judah made in Hosea 1:7 fulfilled?
What is Sennacherib’s attitude about God?
Who is sent to fulfill Sennacherib’s order to conquer Israel?
What does the Rabshakeh (love this name) say about the God of Judah?
What proof does the Rabshakeh offer that he can fulfill his threat?
How do the emissaries react to the threat?
What does Hezekiah do when he receives the threat?
What happens to the Rabshakeh?
What does Hezekiah do with the new letter he receives from Sennacherib?
What does Isaiah tell them?
What does God do?
How does Sennacherib die?
Why do you think God did it this way?
I’ve asked you a lot of questions about this story because I want you to think about what is really going on. It’s a great story about God’s might and ability to save those that turn to Him but it also shows us that sometimes our enemies come against us simply to show everyone around us what power God has. But it is also a warning to not become too complacent in God’s deliverance, for in the next two chapters Hezekiah blows it and God tells Judah that they will be conquered by the Babylonians in the future.
It also tells us not to expect God’s mercy to always be there for us. How often we hear someone say that now they are going to have fun, but in the future they will think about God. Israel no longer had that future and in 70 years or so, Judah would not either. I think that is why in Hebrews we are warned not to put off our relationship with the Lord. We have no idea what our future holds.
Hebrews 3:13
13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Take some time to write out for yourself why it is important for you to stay close to the Lord daily.
Showing posts with label Hosea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hosea. Show all posts
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
My Reason for doing this study
What I am thinking about the Book of Hosea
We are called to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, body and spirit. So why do I feel like I need to be digging into this idea of spiritual adultery to present at retreat? Why is my emphasis on not turning, looking, going back? If we simply love the Lord the way we are supposed to, won’t we avoid any of the pitfalls I am studying about?
What is being impressed on me is that we are unable to do the things that we should or even want to because of our nature. We do not remember from moment to moment, let alone from day to day, what the Lord does for us. We may be thanking God one minute for healing us, but then the next we are trying to figure out how we are going to put food on the table. What had happened to our realization that everything comes for the Lord. That even our ability to work was a gift from Him.
And then there is the problem of sin and idolatry. We cannot go very long without falling into one or the other. We either say something that should not have been said. Think about something that should be avoided or we allow something to come between us and our love for Jesus, usually ourselves. We need constant reminders to get our eyes back on Jesus.
And now we add spiritual adultery into the mix. At first it seemed to me to be the same thing as idolatry and even though there are similarities, I am finding that there are subtle differences. They go hand in hand, but there is an attitude that is different. This is part of what we will be studying.
But again, why do I feel like this is necessary to study in such detail? What are the practical implications of this study and others we have or will do for our retreats? I am feeling that God has called us to get into the details, the minutia, and then share that with others so that they will have a foundation to work out their everyday living; that there will be an understanding for them as they try to love the Lord each and every day but fail. That God’s unfailing love will manifest in their lives and they will know that this is a lifelong process that can only be lived one day, one moment, at a time. There are no quick fixes, only eternal security in the one who created us.
Everything is the way it is in order for God’s glory to shine in every situation. We need Him constantly throughout the day to do and work in us. And when that happens, we and others see His glory. When we fail, we see His glory in His love for us. When we repent we see His glory in His forgiveness. When we are delivered we see His glory in His victory. When we go through difficulties we see His glory in His steadfastness and promises.
God created the world and humanity in such a way that things have to be the way they are; there is no way around it. There can never be a human utopia and we can never reach perfection while we live on this earth. It is completely and utterly impossible. That is why Jesus’ life is soooo unique. He lived a sinless life! We cannot even live a sinless day, unless of course, we are in a coma with no brain activity, but not much gets accomplished that way.
So I am feeling that some of us are called to get into the details and then share them with others. They then take a quick look, in comparison, and then can live their life more effectively for the Lord. Just as the Prophets were called to speak out the truth, the people had the choice then to believe and change or continue doing what they had been doing.
Our ministry is then similar to that of the prophets. To find the truth, to speak it out and pray for the results. We can do no more, and certainly we can do no less. This is a solemn responsibility, to be taken very seriously.
We are called to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, body and spirit. So why do I feel like I need to be digging into this idea of spiritual adultery to present at retreat? Why is my emphasis on not turning, looking, going back? If we simply love the Lord the way we are supposed to, won’t we avoid any of the pitfalls I am studying about?
What is being impressed on me is that we are unable to do the things that we should or even want to because of our nature. We do not remember from moment to moment, let alone from day to day, what the Lord does for us. We may be thanking God one minute for healing us, but then the next we are trying to figure out how we are going to put food on the table. What had happened to our realization that everything comes for the Lord. That even our ability to work was a gift from Him.
And then there is the problem of sin and idolatry. We cannot go very long without falling into one or the other. We either say something that should not have been said. Think about something that should be avoided or we allow something to come between us and our love for Jesus, usually ourselves. We need constant reminders to get our eyes back on Jesus.
And now we add spiritual adultery into the mix. At first it seemed to me to be the same thing as idolatry and even though there are similarities, I am finding that there are subtle differences. They go hand in hand, but there is an attitude that is different. This is part of what we will be studying.
But again, why do I feel like this is necessary to study in such detail? What are the practical implications of this study and others we have or will do for our retreats? I am feeling that God has called us to get into the details, the minutia, and then share that with others so that they will have a foundation to work out their everyday living; that there will be an understanding for them as they try to love the Lord each and every day but fail. That God’s unfailing love will manifest in their lives and they will know that this is a lifelong process that can only be lived one day, one moment, at a time. There are no quick fixes, only eternal security in the one who created us.
Everything is the way it is in order for God’s glory to shine in every situation. We need Him constantly throughout the day to do and work in us. And when that happens, we and others see His glory. When we fail, we see His glory in His love for us. When we repent we see His glory in His forgiveness. When we are delivered we see His glory in His victory. When we go through difficulties we see His glory in His steadfastness and promises.
God created the world and humanity in such a way that things have to be the way they are; there is no way around it. There can never be a human utopia and we can never reach perfection while we live on this earth. It is completely and utterly impossible. That is why Jesus’ life is soooo unique. He lived a sinless life! We cannot even live a sinless day, unless of course, we are in a coma with no brain activity, but not much gets accomplished that way.
So I am feeling that some of us are called to get into the details and then share them with others. They then take a quick look, in comparison, and then can live their life more effectively for the Lord. Just as the Prophets were called to speak out the truth, the people had the choice then to believe and change or continue doing what they had been doing.
Our ministry is then similar to that of the prophets. To find the truth, to speak it out and pray for the results. We can do no more, and certainly we can do no less. This is a solemn responsibility, to be taken very seriously.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Hosea...Week 1....Day 2 Obedience
Hosea
Week 1 Day 2 Obedience
2 When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea:
“ Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry
And children of harlotry,
For the land has committed great harlotry
By departing from the LORD.”
3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.The next few days we are going to take a look at obedience. The one thing that really stands out to me about Hosea is his instant obedience. God told him to marry a harlot and the next verse we see Hosea carrying out the command. In Hosea’s case we do not see any arguing with the Lord, we do not see any hesitation in the timing. What we do see is instant obedience. How refreshing! But how not like the way I normally react. How about you?
I want to learn how to be obedient like Hosea so we are going to spend some time looking at what the Lord has to say about obedience.
Hosea 6:5-7
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And your judgments are like light that goes forth.
6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 “ But like men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
Here in Hosea, God tells us what about obedience?
Let’s compare some words to get a clearer picture of what is being said:
Mercy_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sacrifice_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Knowledge______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Burnt offerings___________________________________________________________
Transgressed____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dealt treacherously________________________________________________________
Looking at these words, what are you beginning to understand a little more clearly about obedience?
The argument had been throughout the prophets by the people of Israel was that they had made sacrifices and offerings but still they were having major problems. They could not understand why the Lord would punish them or fail to bless them, when they were going through the motions. Let’s take a look and see some of their behavior problems.
King Saul was the very first king of Israel. He was chosen by God to be their king because he looked the part. He was tall, handsome, physically fit and could carry himself in a kingly manner. At first, Saul was very humbled by being chosen. We even have a report that he was filled by the Spirit and able to prophesy just like the prophets but being king soon changed the way he felt about himself and his relationship with the Lord. He made the mistake of thinking much too highly of himself and treating the Lord casually, almost as an equal.
Read the story in 1Samuel 15 about King Saul and his failure to completely follow the Lord’s commands.
Thinking about obedience, why do you think this story is so important?
Is there anything in this story that you see as being unfair? (After all Saul did say he was sorry for doing things his own way. Do you think he was really sorry, or just sorry he got caught?)
What were the long term ramifications of Saul not obeying God completely?
Let’s look at Samuel’s response to Saul’s words of trying to justify his actions:
1 Samuel 15
22 So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
What are some of the things that Samuel is accusing Saul of doing?
Today is word day, so look up:
Rebellion________________________________________________________________
Witchcraft_______________________________________________________________
Stubbornness_____________________________________________________________
Iniquity_________________________________________________________________
Idolatry_________________________________________________________________
Rejected_________________________________________________________________
The next time you justify your actions to God for not completely obeying what it is you know you should be doing, think back to Saul.
BTW a descendant of King Agag is the Haman in the Book of Esther that was so determined to destroy all the Jews in Persia. So remember, there are always consequences to our disobedience, we may not be around to see them, but none the less, they are still there.
Tomorrow we will take a look at what Jesus had to say about obedience.
But for today, take time to write out how obedience is important in your walk with the Lord. Also, be real with yourself and write down some of the reasons that you have a hard time being obedient every time.
Week 1 Day 2 Obedience
2 When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea:
“ Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry
And children of harlotry,
For the land has committed great harlotry
By departing from the LORD.”
3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.The next few days we are going to take a look at obedience. The one thing that really stands out to me about Hosea is his instant obedience. God told him to marry a harlot and the next verse we see Hosea carrying out the command. In Hosea’s case we do not see any arguing with the Lord, we do not see any hesitation in the timing. What we do see is instant obedience. How refreshing! But how not like the way I normally react. How about you?
I want to learn how to be obedient like Hosea so we are going to spend some time looking at what the Lord has to say about obedience.
Hosea 6:5-7
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And your judgments are like light that goes forth.
6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 “ But like men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
Here in Hosea, God tells us what about obedience?
Let’s compare some words to get a clearer picture of what is being said:
Mercy_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sacrifice_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Knowledge______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Burnt offerings___________________________________________________________
Transgressed____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dealt treacherously________________________________________________________
Looking at these words, what are you beginning to understand a little more clearly about obedience?
The argument had been throughout the prophets by the people of Israel was that they had made sacrifices and offerings but still they were having major problems. They could not understand why the Lord would punish them or fail to bless them, when they were going through the motions. Let’s take a look and see some of their behavior problems.
King Saul was the very first king of Israel. He was chosen by God to be their king because he looked the part. He was tall, handsome, physically fit and could carry himself in a kingly manner. At first, Saul was very humbled by being chosen. We even have a report that he was filled by the Spirit and able to prophesy just like the prophets but being king soon changed the way he felt about himself and his relationship with the Lord. He made the mistake of thinking much too highly of himself and treating the Lord casually, almost as an equal.
Read the story in 1Samuel 15 about King Saul and his failure to completely follow the Lord’s commands.
Thinking about obedience, why do you think this story is so important?
Is there anything in this story that you see as being unfair? (After all Saul did say he was sorry for doing things his own way. Do you think he was really sorry, or just sorry he got caught?)
What were the long term ramifications of Saul not obeying God completely?
Let’s look at Samuel’s response to Saul’s words of trying to justify his actions:
1 Samuel 15
22 So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
What are some of the things that Samuel is accusing Saul of doing?
Today is word day, so look up:
Rebellion________________________________________________________________
Witchcraft_______________________________________________________________
Stubbornness_____________________________________________________________
Iniquity_________________________________________________________________
Idolatry_________________________________________________________________
Rejected_________________________________________________________________
The next time you justify your actions to God for not completely obeying what it is you know you should be doing, think back to Saul.
BTW a descendant of King Agag is the Haman in the Book of Esther that was so determined to destroy all the Jews in Persia. So remember, there are always consequences to our disobedience, we may not be around to see them, but none the less, they are still there.
Tomorrow we will take a look at what Jesus had to say about obedience.
But for today, take time to write out how obedience is important in your walk with the Lord. Also, be real with yourself and write down some of the reasons that you have a hard time being obedient every time.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Hosea is called
Day 1 Know the Lord
We read in Hosea 4:6a
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Let’s start our study here. Hosea was called by God for a specific time and a specific place. He was called to be a living example of God’s love to a people that had forgotten all about their Lord. God says that their destruction was coming because of their lack of knowledge. What was the knowledge that they have seemed to have forgotten? Let’s look at a few of the verses in Hosea that deal with this problem.
Fill in the blanks:
Hosea 4:1
Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or¬¬¬______________of God in the land.
Hosea 2:8
“For she does not ¬¬¬¬_________that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal
Hosea 5:4
Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not ________ the LORD.
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the __________________ of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 7:9
Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not __________ it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not ___________ it.
Hosea 11:3
Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not _________ that I healed them.
Hosea 13:4
Yet I have been the LORD your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to__________any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.
So using these verses as a clue to the Israelites problems what do we see? First of all, they had forgotten who had blessed them in the first place. They were giving credit for their times of prosperity to the gods that the Canaanites had worshipped in the land before they came there. These were gods of fertility and the harvest and natural conditions, such as rain and sunshine. They were in essence taking the good things that the Lord God had given them and then and going and sacrificing these very things to the idols they had constructed. God called this spiritual adultery, because it would be like a wife enjoying what her husband had given to her as far as food, clothing and jewelry and then going to another man and thanking him for all she had by having sex (intimacy) with him instead of her husband.
Take a moment to write down any thoughts you may have about these verses and what spiritual adultery looks like. As we study further, it will be good to come back and look at what you have written here to see if there are any changes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s take a look at the definition The New Bible Dictionary has:
KNOWLEDGE. The Gk. ideal of knowledge was a contemplation of reality in its static and abiding being; the Heb. was primarily concerned with life in its dynamic process, and therefore conceived knowledge as an entry into relationship with the experienced world which makes demands not only on man’s understanding but also on man’s will.
The New Bible Dictionary goes on to give examples from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. If you have time, look up knowledge, understanding, and know (yada in Hebrew). You can find access to Bible dictionaries at websites such as biblegateway.com, bible.org, crosswalk.com, etc. Are you beginning to see the difference between our western idea of knowledge and the Biblical idea. In American Christianity I have heard it explained this way before. “I know in my head what the truth is, but it has not reached my heart”. This is usually said by someone that knows the Lord wants them to do or feel something but they have not. They usually feel that they will eventually have this truth reach their heart.
Think for a moment. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you knew you were supposed to forgive someone who had hurt you, you may have even said the words, but you knew in your heart you had not forgiven them. According to the Hebrew way of thinking, you really did not KNOW this truth at all. You just had an idea that it was so.
Write down an example of something that is true but you do not yet fully know.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Take time to pray:
Lord, I am beginning to realize that I thought I knew what I was supposed to do but I am not allowing your knowledge to be a part of my heart and soul as well as my mind. I see now that is just an excuse to not obey your word to me. Jesus, I repent (am sorry) of this attitude and ask that your Holy Spirit would lead me in all knowledge of you and your ways. Just as I long to love you with my whole heart, body, soul, spirit and strength, I also want to have that intimate knowledge of you in all areas of my life.
Now take time for some positive praise. Write down some things that you know that you know that you know about the Lord God. If you need inspiration go to the Psalms.
I will start: (you can add to this list as more things are brought to mind throughout this study)
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you created the heavens and the earth.
I know that Jesus is God.
I know that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus.
I know that God’s plan will never fail.
I know that you created me uniquely and that I am called to follow you.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 1 Know the Lord
We read in Hosea 4:6a
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Let’s start our study here. Hosea was called by God for a specific time and a specific place. He was called to be a living example of God’s love to a people that had forgotten all about their Lord. God says that their destruction was coming because of their lack of knowledge. What was the knowledge that they have seemed to have forgotten? Let’s look at a few of the verses in Hosea that deal with this problem.
Fill in the blanks:
Hosea 4:1
Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or¬¬¬______________of God in the land.
Hosea 2:8
“For she does not ¬¬¬¬_________that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal
Hosea 5:4
Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not ________ the LORD.
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the __________________ of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 7:9
Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not __________ it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not ___________ it.
Hosea 11:3
Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not _________ that I healed them.
Hosea 13:4
Yet I have been the LORD your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to__________any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.
So using these verses as a clue to the Israelites problems what do we see? First of all, they had forgotten who had blessed them in the first place. They were giving credit for their times of prosperity to the gods that the Canaanites had worshipped in the land before they came there. These were gods of fertility and the harvest and natural conditions, such as rain and sunshine. They were in essence taking the good things that the Lord God had given them and then and going and sacrificing these very things to the idols they had constructed. God called this spiritual adultery, because it would be like a wife enjoying what her husband had given to her as far as food, clothing and jewelry and then going to another man and thanking him for all she had by having sex (intimacy) with him instead of her husband.
Take a moment to write down any thoughts you may have about these verses and what spiritual adultery looks like. As we study further, it will be good to come back and look at what you have written here to see if there are any changes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s take a look at the definition The New Bible Dictionary has:
KNOWLEDGE. The Gk. ideal of knowledge was a contemplation of reality in its static and abiding being; the Heb. was primarily concerned with life in its dynamic process, and therefore conceived knowledge as an entry into relationship with the experienced world which makes demands not only on man’s understanding but also on man’s will.
The New Bible Dictionary goes on to give examples from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. If you have time, look up knowledge, understanding, and know (yada in Hebrew). You can find access to Bible dictionaries at websites such as biblegateway.com, bible.org, crosswalk.com, etc. Are you beginning to see the difference between our western idea of knowledge and the Biblical idea. In American Christianity I have heard it explained this way before. “I know in my head what the truth is, but it has not reached my heart”. This is usually said by someone that knows the Lord wants them to do or feel something but they have not. They usually feel that they will eventually have this truth reach their heart.
Think for a moment. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you knew you were supposed to forgive someone who had hurt you, you may have even said the words, but you knew in your heart you had not forgiven them. According to the Hebrew way of thinking, you really did not KNOW this truth at all. You just had an idea that it was so.
Write down an example of something that is true but you do not yet fully know.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Take time to pray:
Lord, I am beginning to realize that I thought I knew what I was supposed to do but I am not allowing your knowledge to be a part of my heart and soul as well as my mind. I see now that is just an excuse to not obey your word to me. Jesus, I repent (am sorry) of this attitude and ask that your Holy Spirit would lead me in all knowledge of you and your ways. Just as I long to love you with my whole heart, body, soul, spirit and strength, I also want to have that intimate knowledge of you in all areas of my life.
Now take time for some positive praise. Write down some things that you know that you know that you know about the Lord God. If you need inspiration go to the Psalms.
I will start: (you can add to this list as more things are brought to mind throughout this study)
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you created the heavens and the earth.
I know that Jesus is God.
I know that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus.
I know that God’s plan will never fail.
I know that you created me uniquely and that I am called to follow you.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Hosea and Gomer--just wondering
After Hosea took Gomer to be his wife, it reads like boom, boom, boom, she had three babies; one right after the other. One would get weaned and then another would be on its way. Can you just imagine her, like so many women; all of a sudden her whole life is consumed with motherhood. She was young and desirable one minute and the next she is up to her eyeballs in diapers. Not the glamorous life she had thought marriage would be.
Let’s make Gomer human and think about her without finger pointing.
• Did Gomer know why Hosea had picked her to be his wife
• Did she want to get married or was she even part of the transaction
• Was motherhood difficult for her or what she had always wanted
• Did the stress of three babies prove to be too much for her
• Did she desire to feel beautiful again
• Was being desired by men more important than fulfilling the desires of her children
• Was she searching for her youth or fleeing from feeling old
• Did she ever see the error of her ways and come to her senses
• When she was bought back by Hosea, what then was her attitude to husband and children
• Did she finally find love and fulfillment with Hosea
In Gomer then, we see a woman not too different from many young ladies around us, even ourselves at times. Our society values youth and beauty over just about everything. The only thing that is close is wealth, but that carries a double edged sword. Wealth from being young and beautiful is OK, but wealth from hard work is not fair to those that did not get the chance.
We all know that in order to sell products, advertisers go out of their way to make the product look like it will be fun, exciting and cause us to be youthful and beautiful and exciting as well. Sex sells and keeping us young sells. Millions are spent to entice us into buying products and services that will give us that edge. How often do we compare ourselves to the models and feel like a failure because there is no way we can ever be that beautiful or young or thin or wealthy or whatever…..
I was thinking the other day about modern day whoredoms in the church. For the most part, churches themselves do not have sexual orgies although members may be involved in sex sins. But what the church has recently sold them over to is the prosperity religion. The name it and claim it crowd has brought their brand of religion into the church and sold its members a bill of goods that has caused many to stumble.
We have made God our Genie who will bring us the money we need as long as we make our wish properly. Just like Israel, we expect God to take care of us financially and keep us healthy when we call out to Him, because, after all, we are called by His name.
If idolatry is putting anything or anyone before God and spiritual adultery is giving credit to someone or something for what God has done, how does that affect us in our daily walk with God? Is it even necessary to know the difference or to understand this concept?
God says over and over in His Word, “Let those that have eyes to see, see and ears to hear, hear”. So I feel that I am here to bring some of these things to light so that they can be seen and dealt with; that the truth can be heard, so that the lie no longer has any power. Is it necessary to know the difference? Not really. What is important is that we realize that there is something holding us back and the only way to have victory is with the power of the Holy Spirit. We can never let anything be more important in our life than Jesus. We must always realize that it is God that is in control and all things come under His command. That is what this study will strive to teach.
• God is God
• There is none like God
• God is in control
• We are not God
• We will never be God
• Only God can satisfy
• All is for the glory of God
• God will do whatever it takes
• God’s goal is to show His glory
Let’s make Gomer human and think about her without finger pointing.
• Did Gomer know why Hosea had picked her to be his wife
• Did she want to get married or was she even part of the transaction
• Was motherhood difficult for her or what she had always wanted
• Did the stress of three babies prove to be too much for her
• Did she desire to feel beautiful again
• Was being desired by men more important than fulfilling the desires of her children
• Was she searching for her youth or fleeing from feeling old
• Did she ever see the error of her ways and come to her senses
• When she was bought back by Hosea, what then was her attitude to husband and children
• Did she finally find love and fulfillment with Hosea
In Gomer then, we see a woman not too different from many young ladies around us, even ourselves at times. Our society values youth and beauty over just about everything. The only thing that is close is wealth, but that carries a double edged sword. Wealth from being young and beautiful is OK, but wealth from hard work is not fair to those that did not get the chance.
We all know that in order to sell products, advertisers go out of their way to make the product look like it will be fun, exciting and cause us to be youthful and beautiful and exciting as well. Sex sells and keeping us young sells. Millions are spent to entice us into buying products and services that will give us that edge. How often do we compare ourselves to the models and feel like a failure because there is no way we can ever be that beautiful or young or thin or wealthy or whatever…..
I was thinking the other day about modern day whoredoms in the church. For the most part, churches themselves do not have sexual orgies although members may be involved in sex sins. But what the church has recently sold them over to is the prosperity religion. The name it and claim it crowd has brought their brand of religion into the church and sold its members a bill of goods that has caused many to stumble.
We have made God our Genie who will bring us the money we need as long as we make our wish properly. Just like Israel, we expect God to take care of us financially and keep us healthy when we call out to Him, because, after all, we are called by His name.
If idolatry is putting anything or anyone before God and spiritual adultery is giving credit to someone or something for what God has done, how does that affect us in our daily walk with God? Is it even necessary to know the difference or to understand this concept?
God says over and over in His Word, “Let those that have eyes to see, see and ears to hear, hear”. So I feel that I am here to bring some of these things to light so that they can be seen and dealt with; that the truth can be heard, so that the lie no longer has any power. Is it necessary to know the difference? Not really. What is important is that we realize that there is something holding us back and the only way to have victory is with the power of the Holy Spirit. We can never let anything be more important in our life than Jesus. We must always realize that it is God that is in control and all things come under His command. That is what this study will strive to teach.
• God is God
• There is none like God
• God is in control
• We are not God
• We will never be God
• Only God can satisfy
• All is for the glory of God
• God will do whatever it takes
• God’s goal is to show His glory
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