Hosea was a pre-exilic Prophet and ministered to the Northern Kingdom (ten tribes) of Israel. His time of ministry was approximately from 781-711 B.C. Hosea was commanded to take a wife of whoredom. It seems strange that God would suggest such a marriage, but Hosea's marriage was an illustration of the conditions in Israel at that time. From this union there were three children born:

Jezreel was so named because, God said I will avenge the blood upon the house of Jehu and will cause to cease the house of Israel, verse four.

The second child was a girl named Loruhamah. She was named to inform Israel that I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, verse six.

The third child a son was named Loammi, meaning I will not be your God, verse nine.

To summarize the above, God was saying; I will destroy the Land of Israel, I will take away mercy, and I will no longer be your God. Why was God going to do this to His people? First they had abandoned God and worshipped Idols. Then they accepted the heathen gods of the people around them. They were practicing all forms of pagan sexual rites and burning their children on the hands of Moloch, the national god of the Ammonites.

In verse 10, we see a future restoration of Israel. The Apostle Paul also refers to a restoration of Israel in Romans Chapter 11. Many of the teachers of Amillenniumism believe that God has written off Israel never to restore them again. It is true that following the 70 years of exile in Babylon, some of the Northern Tribes returned along with the two Southern Tribes. However, from that time until now most of the twelve tribes were scattered throughout the western world and for the last 2400 years have been known as the "Diaspora." The Apostle Peter wrote to the Diaspora in both his First and Second Books of Peter. We have been witnessing the return of the Jews from the Four Corners of the earth in the last 56 years. In 1948 they began returning and are still migrating to Israel today. In the last thousand years the Jewish people have again been divided into two groups, The Ashkenaz populated much of Northwest Africa and Spain. The Sepharidic populated Central and Eastern Europe. As both groups return to Israel in our lifetime they are abandoning these past cultural divisions and becoming one Nation in Israel.

Hos.1
[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 Lo-ruhamah: 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 Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
[9] Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: 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.

Jonah was a very bitter man. Bitterness is a terrible thing. Someone has noted that bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die. Before we judge Jonah too harshly, we need to appreciate that Jonah probably saw some of his family abused by these people. They were terribly cruel. The experience of Jonah was no better than that suffered by our soldiers at the hands of the Japanese, Chinese or Iraqis. It was unthinkable and terrible. We would be wise not to judge others until we have walked in their shoes, because that is the very standard that God will use to judge us at the judgment seat.

In chapter two, we find Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and nights. The chapter opens with these words, then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly...Think of it. He is in darkness. Stomach acids are burning him. Seaweed wraps his head. The stench is unbearable. It is as close to hell as you could imagine. No wonder Jonah says, he cried out of the belly of hell in verse two. I think Jonah was ready to go to heaven. To him going to heaven was preferable to preaching in the camp of such a hated enemy who might repent. I understand Jonah. There was a time when I would have rather died than be a preacher of the Gospel. I even wondered if God might kill me. God does take people to heaven in chastisement. In the warnings surrounding the Lord's Table in the book of Corinthians, we read that many sleep. Many believers died for their carnality at Corinth. That is why I understand Paul's words about preaching given in 1 Corinthians 9:17 ... if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. I often say that I was drafted when it comes to ministry. To my shame, I am not a volunteer, but then, neither was Paul.

From my soul I can cry out with Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. I can testify with the apostle Peter that it was not anything but the love of God that broke my heart to submission. My call to ministry, came through Jesus' question to Peter, do you love me? I wonder today, do you love Jesus? If you do, serve Him with all your heart.

Jonah.2
[1] Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
[2] And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
[3] For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
[4] Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
[5] The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
[6] I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
[7] When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
[8] They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
[9] But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
[10] And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Hosea 3

Can you even begin to imagine that God would ask you to take your spouse back again, after he or she had continued to commit adultery; even to the point of buying them back from the slave block, where they had been reduced to the lowest form of humans? It is simply beyond any human reasoning and yet, this is exactly what God asked Hosea, His faithful prophet to do, as a picture to the nation and people of Israel that they where in fact committing spiritual adultery with God.

Why is it that we are so slow to learn? Why is it that we do not have ears to hear? Why is it that we do not obey God's voice through His chosen preachers? Why is it that we will not obey God's Word that many let lie idle all the week? It is because we, too, are a stubborn hearted people and choose to go our own way and do our own things. Are we any different than those Israelites who would not listen to God? Probably not, but God is still giving His message of Salvation to any who will hear! Will we change our ways as a Nation that has been previously blessed by God? Probably not, as most people do not and will not obey. Many are caught in the destructive attitudes of complacency and somebody-else-will-get-it mode. Folks, this is what brought the people of Israel to their knees in captivity and this is exactly what will bring Christian America to her knees, as well. We don't seem to care! What will God have to do to bring Christians to obedience and submission? The Scripture is quite clear. God disciplines those that He loves. God disciplines His children! God is removing His grace from this great country and God is removing His grace and favor from those who will not stand up for Christ.

What must we do? Here is the greatest question as it also has a great answer! We must repent. This is not a repentance of sorry, but this is a repentance of turning! We must turn to God and seek His face. We must obey His Word that lays unopened before our very eyes. We must allow God to break up our fallow ground, the spiritual hardness of our hearts and obey the Spirit of God. Our vain professions do nothing but bring sorrow, but our humble cry of repentance will bring God's favor and grace and mercy! Where do you want to be?

"Dear Heavenly Father, we repent of our sin and ask You to show us the way of salvation through repentance and trusting in Your only Son, Jesus Christ! Amen."

Hos.3
[1] Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
[2] So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
[3] And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
[4] For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
[5] Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Jonah 1: 17. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Matthew 12:39-41. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The word "Better" is recorded 13 times in Hebrews. Every time there is a comparison with something else. In our text "better" is not used, but we see Christ's priesthood to be "better" than Aaron's. Some years ago, I was talking with an official from a large cult who was bragging that he was of the Aaronic priesthood. Without a stutter, I told him I was of the Melchisedec priesthood, the order of Jesus. He was dumbfounded and had no answer.

Hosea 2

(1) The primary purpose of Hosea's prophecy, like that of his eighth-century contemporaries Amos, Isaiah, and Micah, must be understood against the background of the message and theology of Deuteronomy. Hosea's role as a prophet was to expose the nation's breach of covenant and announce God's intention to implement the covenant curses. The major themes of Hosea's message can be summarized in three words: sin, judgment, and salvation. In exposing Israel's sin, Hosea emphasized its idolatry (e.g., Hosea 4:17; 8:4, 6; 10:5; 11:2; 13:2).

In chapter 2, we find one of five cycles of judgment (2:2-13) and salvation (2:14-3:5). Hosea 2 opens with the prophet divorcing his wife for her unfaithfulness. It is a warning that God will divorce Israel if she does not repent. (2) She resolved to pursue her lovers (the Baals; cf. vv. 13, 17; 11:2) because she believed they supplied her physical nourishment (food . . . water), protection (wool and . . . linen; cf. 2:9), and pleasure (oil and . . . drink). However, before she is to be set aside God will try and block her access to these illicit lovers. This is a good pattern for a Christian who might encounter infidelity in their mate. Second, as we read the chapter, God will remove Israel's blessings. There are blessings that come with marriage, if a spouse is unfaithful at some point these blessings should be removed as God did to His people. It is interesting to note that these were the very blessings Israel was seeking through the worship of Baal.

(3) The themes in verses 5-9 are repeated in verses 12-13. In implementing the covenant curses the Lord would destroy the produce (her vines and her fig trees; cf. Deut. 28:38-42; Joel 1:7; Amos 4:9), which Israel erroneously regarded as the pay given by her paramours in exchange for her services (cf. Hosea 9:1; Micah 1:7). The book concludes with the ideas of renewed love, renewed marriage and renewed blessing. We ought never to give up on such a commitment as marriage easily. However, it would have been unholy for God to ignore such deep sin and it is for us, as well. In some cases, divorce is the right thing.

(1) (2) (3) Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

Hos.2
[1] Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ru-hamah.
[2] Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;
[3] Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
[4] And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.
[5] For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
[6] Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
[7] And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
[8] For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
[9] Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
[10] And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.
[11] I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
[12] And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.
[13] And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.
[14] Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
[15] And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
[16] And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
[17] For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
[18] And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
[19] And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
[20] I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.
[21] And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
[22] And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
[23] And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Hosea 6

This chapter is a call by God to repentance of the people. The first three verses are quite interesting, as they are a clear reference to the beginning of Christ's millennial reign. Hosea has recorded here for us, Israel's future words of repentance. There are three referenced days mentioned here also. It could be that these days represent one year each starting with the resurrection of Christ when Israel was set aside and the gospel message given to the Gentiles. If so, we are at the end of the second day and are looking for the third day to take place, which is going to start with the rapture and then the seven-year tribulation and then the millennial reign of Christ here on the earth. These days are not in reference to the resurrection of Christ, as illness and not death is in the context. So it is rather a reference to the quickness of healing and restoration by God to the nation of Israel in the millennium, as in the quickness with which the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:1-14 respond.

Our God is a gracious and merciful God! He tells us here exactly what He desires from us. So many people are deceived to think that they can bring some good personal thing to God and He will have to accept them. But God tells us clearly what He wants. He desires faithfulness!

1Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. He desires mercy. Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; He desires for us to know Him. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. We see that Israel's commitment to the Lord was fleeting and superficial and so He had to send prophets to them with stern words of warning, calling the people to the promises of loyalty just as in a marriage relationship. But Israel had violated the marriage vows.

Say, isn't that where many of us are today? We say we are Christians, but does God think so? We say we are faithful, but again, what would God say about our lives? We say we seek Him, but really and honestly, do we spend the time that God desires us to spend with Him?

"Dear Lord God, forgive us our failings and help us to live lives pleasing in Your sight. We thank You for Your loving-kindness and tender mercy. Amen."

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.
[2] After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[6] For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
[7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
[8] Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
[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.
[10] I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
[11] Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

Hosea 7: 1-16

This chapter is divided into three distinct parts as recorded above. Verse 2 is a commentary on all that follows, 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. The above verse is like unto Genesis 6: 5. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. In addition, Jeremiah 7:24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. All these words were directed towards Israel, but they are also applicable to today's church. In this writer's ministry, he has seen the fundamental churches fall into the ways of the Liberals, the New Evangelicals and today its very difficult to tell the difference. It has often been said, "As the seminaries go, so go the churches." Fundamental Bible Colleges of yesteryear are now Liberal Arts Colleges and majoring in Bible is a thing of the past.

The second section: verses 8-11. We no longer seek the Lord to know his will. Rather, we trust in the flesh and counsel of men. We should be getting on our knees and seeking wisdom from the Lord. Israel was trusting in the nations around them instead of going to God. The arm of the flesh, in men's hearts seems to be stronger than trusting the God of creation and sustination. Note the half-cooked pancake in verse 7. Baked on one side and raw on the other, now that turns you off, does it not, at least it does me!

The last five verses refer to the coming Assyrian captivity. (Also recorded in 2 Kings 17) The text tells us that God is still interested, but there is still no repentance in Israel. They have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: They assemble themselves for food and wine and rebel against me, Verse 14. So many Christians today are Christians in name only. Yes, they went forward in a church! Yes, they got wet in the baptistery! But their was no change in their lives, they still swear, drink, refuse to accept separation as it is taught in the Bible. They go to church if they feel like it or if it does not interfere with Sunday plans. It makes this old preacher wonder if they are really saved or just went through the motions? He is not judging, but was called to be a fruit inspector and if we do not see fruit what then?

Hosea 7. 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.
[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.
[3] They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
[4] They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneeded the dough, until it be leavened.
[5] In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
[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.
[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.
[8] Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
[9] Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
[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.
[11] Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[15] Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
[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.

Hosea 5

If we have come to faith and salvation, God does not deal with us in judgment. He deals with us as children and patiently works to bring us to faith and obedience. In the case of Israel, it was impossible to hide their idolatry from God. It was also impossible that God would not chasten them and demand repentance as any good father would his son. The nation as a whole had given way to spiritual adultery as Hosea's wife had given way to physical adultery. Neither God nor Hosea could tolerate sin of this magnitude. Righteousness demands the correction of such wives, and barring repentance, putting aside. Nothing else would be right.

In this experience, Hosea would know the pain in the very heart of God over the infidelity of His people. It is interesting to note how God dealt with Israel in this regard. First, He withdraws the blessings of Israel's covenant relationship with God. Second, He withdraws His protection relative to their enemies. In other words, He refuses to let Israel have the benefits of the marriage covenant without the responsibilities of the marriage covenant. In the case of Hosea's wife, she gives birth to illegitimate children. This is not the best thing to put on your resume as a prophet of God. Yet, the experience of God Himself with Israel was no different and so Hosea's wife in no way necessarily reflects any serious failure in Hosea's life. Rather, it was part of God's call on his life. The ways of God are simply past our understanding. I am grateful to God that I have no such calling to my knowledge. It would have to be a most difficult experience.

Because of their spiritual failure, Israel was under the curse recorded near the end of the book of Deuteronomy. We need to appreciate that we pay a price for sin in this life. Far too many Christians today believe that they can get ahead in this life by choosing the path of sin. Sadly, this is only true on the short run. In the end what goes around comes around and they will come to reap even as they sow. Like Israel Hosea's wife ended up on the slave market. This is the fruit sin allowed by God for the purpose of restoration. Sadly, I don't believe every marriage that ends in divorce in this life is destined for restoration as will be the case with Israel. Oh how we need to learn to be faithful to God and family!

Hos.5
[1] Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
[2] And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
[3] I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
[4] They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
[5] And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
[6] They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
[7] They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
[8] Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.
[9] Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
[10] The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
[11] Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
[12] Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
[13] When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
[14] For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
[15] I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

Hosea 10 2-8 Cf. II Kings 17:1-12, Deut. 19:10-30; 20:7-17

II Kings 17 is a commentary on Hosea 10. This commentary in II Kings 17 goes into more detail than Hosea does and names those who participated in the overthrow and carrying away of the ten northern tribes in 722 B. C. Hosea wrote preceding the captivity and warned Israel it was coming, but all to no avail. It is so sad that people do not heed the warnings that are posted on the highways of life. People are totally unmindful of the consequences and go on their merry way not concerned because they have been lulled to sleep by Satan and their own fleshly desires. When you approach an uncontrolled railroad crossing, you see a white post with "X" bars that tell you to "Stop, Look and Listen." Yet many hundreds of people, each year in America, ignore the sign and drive on the tracks in front of a speeding train to an untimely death. The Bible is filled with warnings that even Christians ignore on a daily basis. A paper written, by a preacher of another denomination, came across my desk about homosexual marriages several weeks ago and after reading it, I was appalled at his ignorance of the Scriptures. Hosea mentions men of Gibeah, Hosea 10:9 and Hosea refers to Gibeah because these men were idolaters and sodomites, and they are called "sons of Belial," Judges 19:10-30 & 20:7-17. Not every time the sons of Belial are mentioned in Scripture does it refer to sodomites, but in this reference, it definitely does. Also in I Cor. 6:9-10 are very two interesting verses, or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (New American Standard) Hosea mentioned the men of Gibeah because these sinful acts were practiced during Hosea's ministry to Israel. God judges sin, either here or in eternity, never forget that. The last three verses of our study tell us Israel has plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity. What was true for Israel is also true for America. We have murdered 40 million unborn babies since "Row vs. Wade." We are in the process of removing God from our culture and His Commandments from our schools and judicial systems. What's next? Open persecution for the church and born again Christians is coming unless we get on our knees and seek a revival!

Hosea 8

(1) A trumpet must be blown to signal an impending battle (cf. 5:8). An enemy (the Assyrians) was ready to swoop down on Israel like a powerful eagle. The announcement of judgment recalls the covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28:49. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand... What were some of the problems that resulted in such judgment?

Note they rejected God's leaders and chose their own. In verse 4 we read, ⁴They 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. The judgment was not just swift it was powerful. We read in verse 7, they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind... The nation was scattered to the wind and had a heart for the world. We read in verse 8 and verse 13, ⁸Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 13 ...they shall return to Egypt.

It is important to know that with all of the rebellion and sin, Israel was careful to maintain the outward forms of piety.

(2) Israel made a pretense of devotion to the Lord, addressing Him as her own God and claiming to acknowledge His authority over her. This profession, however, was mere lip service (cf. 4:1, 6; 5:4). Her sinful actions spoke louder than her words. In reality she had rejected what was good (the Lord's moral and ethical requirements; cf. Amos 5:14-15; Micah 6:8).

(3) By setting up golden calves (one in Dan and one in Bethel), Jeroboam repeated the sins of an earlier generation (cf. Ex. 32:1-4).

(4) The words throw out follow the Septuagint. However, the Hebrew is literally, "He has rejected your calf, O Samaria" (nasb). God would simply not allow sin to go unchallenged in the life of His people. We would be wise to realize that the same principle applies to the church and the lives of all who believe.

(1) (2) (3) (4) Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

Hos.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.
[2] Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
[3] Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
[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.
[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?
[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.
[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.
[8] Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
[9] For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
[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.
[11] Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
[12] I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
[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.
[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.

Hosea 12

From our text, we see charges brought by God through Hosea, laid to the account of the Tribe of Ephraim in the last part of 11:12, and the first part of 12:1, 2. These charges were for lying, for practicing deceit, for not walking with God and instead, seeking their own ways, and for making deals with those that were direct enemies with God.

Does this sound familiar? We live in a society today that practices lies and deceit as the norm, even to the top of leadership in our country. We see our country being taken over by those that are seeking their own ways and imposing their worldly and sinful views on those that could do something about it, if only they would just stand up and do so. We see many in our country moving toward one world government and pushing God out of schools, out of churches, and out of families. We should not be surprised either, as the Scripture tells us that, indeed, folks will ultimately seek their own selfish ways. Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

So, knowing all this then, what are we going to do about it? Are we too, going to idly sit by and let them bring their ungodliness to fruition or instead are we going to stand up, as God-Fearing Christians and do what is right? If we are really true Christians, we, 2 Pe 1:4 Whereby are given ...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. In fact, as True Christians, 1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Sadly, when many consider what God desires, but will not obey, we understand, 2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Say, where are you going to stand? What are you willing to do for God today?!

"Dear Lord God, it humbles us to think of what we face when we will not obey You. Please forgive us and guide us in Your Truth. Amen."

Hos.12
[1] Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
[2] The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
[3] He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
[4] Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
[5] Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
[6] Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
[7] He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
[8] And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
[9] And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
[10] I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
[11] Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
[12] And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
[13] And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
[14] Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Hosea 13:1-16

This chapter begins with Ephraim, one of the sons of Joseph; the second son received the blessing over the first born in Gen. 48:14. Ehpriam was one of the larger tribes and had much authority in Israel until they openly worshipped Baal and practiced other forms of idolatry, and led the nation into idolatry. Ephriam diminished when they exalted themselves, (Read Proverbs 16:18).

Note verses 3-8 where God tells Israel that they shall vanish as the chaff is blown away, and as the smoke from a chimney dissipates in the air. It is a sad commentary, but 70 years later, when Israel and Judah returned from the captivity, only a small remnant of Israel returned compared to the returnees of Judah. Note 13:7-8 where God tells Israel that she shall be torn by wild beasts. The word "Caul"
in the King James is rendered "chest" in several other versions. The meaning is, wild beasts rip open the chest and belly to kill and eat the heart and liver first. The caul is a "flap" of the liver.

The mercy of God is revealed in verses 9-11. Israel has sinned, but there will come a time of restoration. These verses refer to two restorations. 1. Restoring the nation after the captivity. 2. The final restoration of all twelve tribes, under the leadership of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. What pathetic words, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. Self-destruction is a terrible thing. Suicide of an individual is a traumatic experience for a family. However, think of a nation that serves idols, says there is no truth, serves the idols of materialism and sex and commits national suicide, which before God is a sin of magnitude far beyond the individual's self destruction. Why, because so many innocently suffer and a powerful nation falls among the ashes of other nations that have forgotten God.

In the last two verses, God speaks of an east wind. The east wind was Assyria; that wicked, heathen nation was used of God to destroy Israel in 722 BC. Israel's time had come for judgment. God had chosen Israel and Judah as 1. a repository of His truth, 2. a channel through which the Messiah was to come and 3. as a witness to the nations round about them. America has been a great nation, sending more missionaries than all the other nations combined, but we have also failed and we, too, shall be the recipients of God's judgment.

Hos.13
[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.

This is a reference to the Messiah. (1) The Messiah was sent to and returned from Egypt so that the prophet's words, Out of Egypt I called My Son, might be fulfilled. This is a reference to Hosea 11:1, which does not seem to be a prophecy in the sense of a prediction. Hosea was writing of God's calling Israel out of Egypt into the Exodus. There were similarities between the nation and the Son. Israel was God's chosen "son" by adoption (Ex. 4:22), and Jesus is the Messiah, God's Son. In both cases, the descent into Egypt was to escape danger, and the return was important to the nation's providential history. While Hosea's statement was a historical reference to Israel's deliverance, Matthew related it more fully to the call of the Son, the Messiah, from Egypt. Israel's deliverance, and ours, is tied to the Messiah.

However, before her repentance there would be terrible difficulty. The nation would be hated, murdered and hunted. As God had sustained the nation with manna from Heaven, He would hunt them with the sword of their enemies. When all hope of survival is lost, they will turn back to God in faith and repentance. (2) In the past He had given Israel food to eat. Now, ironically, He was about to send swords to eat Israel!

Some believe that God's purpose for Israel failed and she is rejected and set aside. What they do not realize is that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God chooses Israel unconditionally. He draws here with irresistible grace. (3) The Lord would not totally abandon Israel. The effects of His wrath would be tempered by His compassion, and He would ultimately call His people back from exile. It is the same with those gentiles that God calls out of this world. His choice and love toward us are both irresistible and unconditional, as it is with Israel. Today, the church is the Israel of God. Sadly, we too, have rebelled and turned from God's great grace and mercy. It does not appear yet what we shall be, but we are now the sons of God by God's grace and believing. The world, indeed, has a strong influence, but it is nothing to be compared to God's great love and grace.

(1) (2) (3) Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

Hos.11
[1] When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
[2] As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
[3] I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
[4] I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
[5] He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
[6] And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
[7] And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
[8] How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
[9] I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
[10] They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
[11] They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
[12] Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

15th

The Land Laid Waste

Joel 1

As you read through the three chapters of the book of Joel, you will find that the overriding theme is "The Day of the Lord." The prophet, Joel, is calling the people to repentance and showing them the results and the consequences of their sin. The land all around them had been devastated by grasshoppers and drought. What is interesting, is that Joel is calling the leaders of the land and the leaders of the families, the fathers, to change their ways and to begin to train their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren about the ways of the Lord.

This is interesting indeed, as we take a look at our own country and in our own families and churches today. What do we see? We see polarization among governmental leaders of our country. We see many corrupt politicians lying their way to the top. We see corrupted judges telling the people of this land that God and His ways are not politically correct. We see Pastors not preaching the Word of God and caving in to society and to the people and to popular opinion. We see parents of families giving way to corrupted society and being blindly led down the paths of destruction. "O God, have mercy on us!"

Just as in Joel's day, we too, are facing the judgments of God on this unrepentant country. We too, as a nation will be brought low, if we as Christians will not repent, if we as Christians will not stand up for righteousness, if we as Christians continue to walk in the paths of apathy. Can we really say that this is where we want to be, under the judgment of the Lord God Almighty? Wouldn't any humble and repentant person rather desire the blessings of God that come from obedience and submission to His perfect will?! Maybe that is the problem. Most folks are living for self. Most people don't really care about God. Sadly, God will bring judgment on this nation too if we won't obey Him. Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

"Dear God, help us to repent and obey. Amen."

Joel.1
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
[2] Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
[3] Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
[4] That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
[5] Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
[6] For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
[7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
[8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD's ministers, mourn.
[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
[11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
[13] Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
[14] Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
[15] Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
[16] Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
[17] The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
[18] How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
[19] O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
[20] The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

021504dm

16th

Joel's Prophecy of the End Times

Joel 2, Romans 9, Revelation 19

Joel's prophecy reveals the mercies of the Lord to all who call upon Him. God's mercy like His grace, is always available for either a nation or an individual. Joel speaks of the remote future as he unveils His plan at the end of "the times of the Gentiles" as referred to in Luke 21:24.

In Joel 2:2-11, we read of tumultuous times for the armies of the world that converge upon little Israel with the determination of its final destruction. Anti-Semitism has reared its ugly head many times in both Biblical and secular history, but never to the extent of what will be in the future. The armies from the North, East and South will converge upon this little nation. The present opposition in Israel is nothing compared to what is coming.

This final war before the Millennium is going to bring about a supernatural demise of war for a thousand years. Never in history had there been a thousand years without war. There have been wars won by the Lord in times past and the classic ones are

1. Israel and Syria, Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened that he might see the mountains around them filled with horses and chariots of fire, 2 Kings 6:13-17. Then Elisha led Ben-hadad and the Syrian army to Samaria and they returned home.

2. Another was when the four lepers went to the camp of the Syrians and found the camp empty, the army fled in the night, because they heard the sound of horses and chariots, 2 Kings 7:6-20.

3. Also, many modern scholars consider the 6-day war in 1967, as a war fought by the Lord. Why, because Israel's army was out tanked, out planed, and out numbered by the armed forces of Egypt, Syria and Jordan, but little Israel WON! Technically, Syria is still at war with Israel.

4. Lastly, the future war referred to by Joel will not be fought in what we think of as a conventional war, but a supernatural war. Rev. 19:11-21 brings us up to date. The armies of heaven led by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will speak. With His tongue the armies of the nations will be destroyed and an angel will cry out from heaven for the carrion birds to come to the great supper of the Lord. We still have a supernatural God and His Christ; they will be the final Victors. The born again ones shall reign with Christ forever and ever. Satan was defeated, so let us look upon him as our defeated enemy.

021604rjs

17th

God's Call to Israel to Repent

Hosea 14

This sad book ends on such a sweet note of Israel's healing and repentance. As long as we turn back to God in faith, healing and repentance, it does not matter greatly that we turn to such deep sin. Where sin abounds, God in His great grace and mercy is more than able to make grace super abound. What a blessed thought!! It is not that we sin that grace may about, but that we might never be without hope. God is not willing that any should perish regardless of the depths of sin to which they may fall. This grace and mercy exceeds that of the best of men, as light exceeds darkness.

Yet, in the very time this amazing prophecy is given, Israel will harden her heart to God's great love and turn to the depths of idolatry and sin. Yes, this will make God angry, but His righteous anger will not last. His great grace is ever greater than the most disturbing sin. His shade (or shadow) could refer to the Lord's protection (cf. v. 8, where He is compared to a "pine tree"; also cf. Isa. 4:6). However, as Keil notes, it is more likely that "Israel is itself the tree beneath whose shade the members of the nation flourish with freshness and vigor" (C.F. Keil, "Minor Prophets," in Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, 10:166).

Yes, God divorced Israel, but the day is coming when she will be fully restored as the wife of Jehovah. God has taken another bride, but He will never fail or loose His great love for Israel. In verse 9, there is a great lesson for us to learn in all this. We read, 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. Man has his great ideas and theology, but the best of these come short of the mighty power and love of God. There is a great concurrence when it comes to sovereign grace. Man is free to choose his way, but sovereign grace guarantees that man's will concurs with God's great purpose on this earth. God does not falter or fail. Election is unconditional and grace is irresistible. Yet, even as we recognize these great truths we know God is not willing that any should perish and reprobation is not of God, but man. This is as it is with Israel and so it is with the bride of Christ.

Hos.14
[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.

021704dw

18th

Judgment on the Nations

Amos 1

God used each of His prophets to speak to the people of Israel and guide them in His divine truth. We see that God used Amos to tell the people of two primary sins. #1. Of an absence of True Worship, and #2. Of a lack of justice. It was in the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, that they were not seeking and pursuing the Lord with their hearts, nor were they following His standard of justice with their neighbors.

Folks, we need to understand this clearly. This is apostasy! This is continual, willful rejection of God's messenger and they are promised divine judgment. Let us ask a most important question here. Where are we at, right here in our own church and in our own families? Are we worshiping the Lord acceptably? What is worship? Many people ignorantly think that worship is about what they do and that it is about receiving a blessing, and singing, or even listening to preaching. But God's word teaches us that true worship is not about us, it is about God and it is about bringing to God, something that is expensive and that costs us a great deal. 1 Ch 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Worship in Hebrew means to bow down, giving God His due respect and honor. Do you really worship God acceptably or are you just involved in the expressions of worship? True Worship of God is about giving to God what is near and dear to us. That would be our very life. Think about it. Without God, what are you or where would you be right now? True Worship of God "IS" the Christian life, not just a part of it. We are to be saturated in God. Worship is not knowledge of God, or being excited about religion. True worship of God is living a life of repentance, of living a life a submission, of bringing your life and your will, and offering it all to God, for His perfect will to be done in and through you. True worship of God is costly, it is giving to Him what is most precious to you, it is serving Him with your very life! When we truly worship God, we will also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us be encouraged to examine our hearts today, repent of sin, and truly worship God! Dear God, we love You! Forgive us of sin and guide us in truth.

Amos.1
[1] The words of Amos, who was among the herdman of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
[2] And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
[3] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
[4] But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.
[5] I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
[6] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
[7] But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
[8] And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
[9] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
[10] But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
[11] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:
[12] But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.
[13] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
[14] But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
[15] And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

021804dm

19th

Amos Prophesied Against Moab, Judah and Israel and Assyria

Amos 2:1-16

Amos was called of God to speak for the Lord about 824 B. C. Amos' theme throughout the Book is "sin and its consequences." The first 3 verses of Chpt 2 deal with God's punishment upon Moab, it is southeast of the Dead Sea. Moses was buried on Mt. Nebo, in Moab. It was also the homeland of Ruth. The descendants of Moab were, in Bible times, and still are at war with Israel. The land of Moab is now part of Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: 2But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet: 3And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD. The first verse opens several things we need to study. The three transgressions and for four are explained in the following:

1. Balak, king of Moab hired Balaam a prophet, who had money more in mind than doing the will of God. To curse the Israelites and refused them access to cross Moab as they were going to the Promised Land. Text, Numb 22-25:3.

2. Moab was their oppressor in the times of the Judges. Several generations after the first problem and Eglon was king of Moab. Israel had turned from God. God used this heathen nation to enslave Israel for 18 years. And under the leadership of Ehud they were freed from the Moabites.

In I Kings 8:1-2 we see David leading an army against two nations, ThePhilistines and Moabites. These two nation had banded together to destroy Israel and were defeated under King David's leadership.

3.The Moabites joined in a league against King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 20:22 and later against Jehoiakim 2 Kings 24:2. These are the four reasons God brought punishment upon Moab.

Last, Amos mentions in verse 1, "Burning the bones of the king of Edom." I have wanted a Scripture that is against cremation, and here it is! God does not want the bones of the dead to be desecrated, that is to be burned. When the king of Edom, was cremated and his bones were powdered, that was against God's plan for burial of the human body, and still is!

Amos.2
[1] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
[2] But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
[3] And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
[4] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
[5] But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
[6] Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
[7] That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
[8] And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
[9] Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
[10] Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
[11] And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
[12] But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
[13] Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
[14] Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
[15] Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
[16] And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.

021904rjs

20th

Incredible Evil and Judgment

Joel 3

The evil times in our text are unthinkable. We read that 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. Man in sin will eat his own infants to sustain life. The foolish, insane gathering of the nations against God here is described in the Bible in terms of blood flowing up to the horses' bridles. There is no more violent picture in the Bible unless it is the descriptions of Hell.

The corruption of the race described here is the opposite of the peace described in the kingdom. In verse 10 we read, ¹⁰Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears... People, at the time described, will be bent on hate and violence. They will have the power of choice and will bear deep responsibility. Note verse 14 where we read, ¹⁴Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Whether or not we live to see such a day, all of us face moral choices and moral responsibilities. There will be a difference in degree, but not principle.

The weakness of the flesh and failure will not be a problem for those with faith. Note the great words of hope that we read in verse 16. Here we read, the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. God is good. He is full of love and grace and none need fall short of his grace if they only look to God in faith, love and hope. We can be sure of our salvation in this life (I John 5:13). None need to face judgment without the assurance of faith.

It is interesting to note (1) that the Septuagint places it differently in the canon. In this chapter is a reference to the Valley of Jehosophat. (2) Some scholars suggest it is a yet-future valley to be formed by the splitting of the Mount of Olives at the Messiah's return (Zech. 14:4). The judgment of the end of the age will come. When it does, we need to be armed with faith and hope in God. Are you ready? Are you sure of Heaven and salvation?

(1) (2) Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985

Joel.3
[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 recompence 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.

022004dw

21st

Israel Did Not Accept Correction

Amos 4

O what a sad commentary on the nation of Israel. God had sent them ample warning about turning away from their wicked apostasy of ungodly worship and yet the people would not listen, nor would they turn from their evil, self-willed and self-styled ways. Over and over again God indicts them, "Yet you have not returned to Me", but they stubborn-heartedly would not listen.

But before we be to quick to condemn those people for their folly and foolish disobedience to the God of Creation, let us examine our own hearts and our own ways, lest we be found wanting, as well. How does God reach folks today? Through His Word. Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth, Through the foolishness of preaching. 1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. And through the work of the Holy Spirit! Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Is God unloving? 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God says "seek me and live!" Where does the fault of stubborn heartedness and disobedience lie then? It lies within our own evil and disobedient hearts. Jer 17:9, 10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

What are we to do then? Are we, too, going to be like Israel during Amos time and go our own way in apostasy? Or will we turn away from our evil sin and turn to God our Creator and Savior in humble repentance? May this be our prayer today! Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Amos.4
[1] Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
[2] The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
[3] And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.
[4] Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
[5] And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
[6] And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
[7] And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
[8] So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
[9] I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
[10] I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
[11] I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
[12] Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
[13] For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

022104dm

22nd

Amos' Admonition of Coming Judgment

Amos 5:14-15

We have chosen these two verses 5:14-15 for today's devotion, because they picture Israel at the time of Amos' writing (between 824 and 810 B.C.) and they also picture America's coming judgment unless we "post haste" change our ways. Amos tells Israel there is four ways to avert the judgment, and they are as follows:

1. Seek good; Israel knew what was right and wrong, but because of the fleshly desires of the heart, they refused. They sought the politically correctness instead of the holiness in worship and hatred of evil. Mankind is by the natural birth filled with an evil heart. We are not lost because of sin, but because of the evil heart. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer. 17:9

2. Hate evil; if and when Israel and/or America learns to hate evil as God hates evil then will come revival to both nations. We are like the little child, who was told not to touch the stove, touches it and then says, "Its hot!" We want to stay as close to evil as we can without getting burned. But God says, wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

3. Love the good; we seek that which we love! If you do not "really" love the Lord Jesus, you will not seek Him on a daily basis. When you awaken in the morning, seek Him. David said O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. When attending church, instead of using the pre-service time to socialize and spend the time in trivial things, bow your head and talk to Jesus and ask Him for a blessing for yourself and those around you. It's also a good time to ask God to speak to the hearts of the unsaved that they will respond to the invitation and be saved.

4. Establish judgment, or righteousness, ...establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts (the LORD of the armies of Heaven) will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. This also applies to us today. When the saints seek the face of God and ask for revival, it will stop the judgment that is about to fall upon America. Our nation has turned from God in every aspect of our lives in the last 45 years. Stalin said, "We do not need to make war with the United States, they will self-destruct from internal debauchery." Only a revival can stabilize and turn this nation around. Pray with me!

Amos 5: 14-15 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
[15] Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

022204rjs

23rd

Judgment is Coming

Amos 3

The prophet, Amos, was a shepherd by trade, as the man after God's own heart, King David.

(1) Amos evidently managed or owned large herds of sheep and goats, and was in charge of other shepherds. Amos lived in times of material prosperity. The long reigns of Uzziah (790-739 b.c.) in Judah and of Jeroboam II (793-753 b.c.) in Israel (1:1) had brought stability, prosperity, and expansion to the two kingdoms. Amos lived in a time very similair to our day when, standards of morality had sunk to a low ebb (2:7). Meanwhile, religion flourished. The message God gave him was primarily one of judgment, though it ended with words of hope. In the message of judgment in chapter 3 Amos declared that Israel would be punished because of her unique relationship with God. Her judgment was inevitable because of her unparalleled oppression of people.

We need to appreciate that when we don't do right in this life, we will pay a price for our pride and abuse of others. We will reap even as we have sown. What comes around goes around. Through a series of seven rhetorical questions (in vv. 3-6) Amos reminded his listeners that certain events are inseparably connected (cf. Amos' other sevens in 2:6b-8, 11-12, 14-16). In other words, as surely as a holy God created and ordered this world, we will experience consequences for our sin. These things ought not to take us by surprise, for God reveals all this to His prophets. Such providence ought not to surprise us.

(2) We bring trouble into our lives because of sin. Sadly, religion gives people in sin, false hope. To dispel this false hope, Amos repeated what the Lord said: any "saving" of Israel would be like a shepherd saving a couple of leg bones or part of an ear from the jaws of a wild animal. These little bits of "rescued" evidence were to prove that a shepherd had not stolen or sold one of the sheep, but that it indeed had been torn by a beast of prey (Ex. 22:10-13; cf. Gen 31:39). When judgment comes

(3) God would not only destroy their religious center; He would also tear down the luxurious mansions which resulted from their commercial exploitation. Their security and prosperity would not help in the day of judgment.

(1) Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

Amos.3
[1] Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
[2] You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
[3] Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
[4] Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
[5] Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
[6] Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
[7] Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
[8] The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
[9] Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
[10] For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
[11] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
[12] Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
[13] Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
[14] That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
[15] And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

022304dw

24th

Vision of Locusts, Fire, and the Plumb Line

Amos 7

2 Ti 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Many people will say that the text in Amos is in the Old Testament and doesn't apply to us today. But 2 Timothy gives us a different picture. In fact, even though God was speaking to Israel in the book of Amos, these very principles apply to us even more today! 2 Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. This knowledge comes from the whole of God's Word, and we are to study it and know it and obey it; thus, becoming mature, complete, and thoroughly furnished children of God. God gave 5 different visions to the prophet Amos. In one of these visions, He mentions a plumb line. What is this plumb line? A plumb line is used to help make something stand straight and not crooked. A carpenter uses a plumb line or a level to make sure that the house is built correctly. This is what God is saying through Amos. God is going to use His spiritual plumb line in the midst of the people. He will evaluate where their lives are, whether straight in repentance and obedience, or crooked in sin and disobedience. God says that He will make this determination, and judgment will come to those who choose their own selfish ways. Yes, this applied to the nation of Israel in the book of Amos and this also applies to us today, right here in America. God is holding the plumb line up to our very life. If we are honest before God, is our life in alignment to His Holy Standard? 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Probably not. But wait! We need to ask this important question. Is this where I am going to choose to stay? One of God's Great leaders said, Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Will you choose to serve God today?!

Amos.7
[1] Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
[2] And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
[3] The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
[4] Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
[5] Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
[6] The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
[7] Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
[8] And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
[9] And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
[10] Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
[11] For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
[12] Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
[13] But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
[14] Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
[15] And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
[16] Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
[17] Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

022404dm

25th

Like a Basket of Summer Fruit, Israel shall soon Perish

Amos 8 :1-3

Our God is consistent in all that He does. God loves the human race, be it Jew or Gentile. God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish, but there comes a time when He says, "Enough is enough!" Following are several illustrations that set the stage for Israel's fall. The first is found in Gen. 6:5, GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. He sent the flood to destroy that pre-flood race, except Noah and his family. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. God destroyed the nations that had occupied the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. We can establish this pattern all throughout Biblical history. In secular history, we see nations rise and fall. History is filled with cities and nations that became powerful for a few years or a century or two and are no more. However, there is one City and one Nation that have stood the ravages of time and still shine forth to this day. Israel and Jerusalem are still standing because God chose them centuries ago.

The basket of ripe fruit represents a nation that was blessed over the centuries, but became idolatrous. They had left their first love and were worshipping the gods of their neighbors. Idolatry in the Scriptures is spiritual adultery, and God will not accept it from any people. The bowl of ripe fruit had become rotten to the core. It was time to cast it out as unfit for even God to eat. The first two commandments are Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ⁴Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, Ex. 20:2-4.

Is it possible that the church today has also slipped so far from the truth that it is in the same spiritual condition as Israel was when Amos was writing to them. YES! The church no longer has moral standards, does not stand up and fight for the right, but feeds itself on pious platitudes and spiritual pabulum. Paul said you should be eating meat, but I have to feed you on milk. You are babes in Christ, unwilling to mature into adult believers.

Amos.8
[1] Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
[2] And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
[3] And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.

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26th

A False Sense of Security

Amos 6

The book of Amos flows with a passionate message of God's judgment. Israel is the apple of God's eye, but God will not continue to tolerate her practice of idolatry. The nation is arrogant as she hears this message. The nation deeply feels security, peace and prosperity. This moves the nation to a state of complacency. She is lukewarm spiritually. This chapter starts out with a curse from God. God hates such a spiritual state above all else. The church at Laodicia was in a similar spiritual state. We read in Revelation 3:15-16 ...I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

The people lived in luxury. They feasted and drank wine by the bowl. We read in Amos 6:9 ⁹And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. The idea is that of 10 men hiding from the sword in one house yet dying by disease. They simply cannot hide from the hand of God. (1) They had turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness (see comments on 5:7). The judicial process, designed to preserve the nation's health, had become a lethal "poison" . The "fruit" of fairness and integrity, intended to refresh and delight, had become instead a corrupt bitter pulp.

The nation could not see the present danger. She could not see with spiritual eyes. (2) Israel's leaders considered themselves immune to disaster... Under Jeroboam II, they had won an unbroken string of military victories (2 Kings 14:25). They had even recovered all their lands east of the Jordan. But Amos subtly and intentionally mispronounced the name of one of the captured towns, Lo Debar (a town east of the Jordan River, mentioned in 2 Sam. 9:4; 17:27), so that it came out in Hebrew as "Lo Dabar," which means "nothing." And with biting sarcasm he stressed the name of another subdued city, Karnaim, whose literal meaning of "horns" symbolized the "strength" of a bull. Amos scoffed that they were rejoicing over what was really "nothing", and were falsely imagining that they had seized "strength" by means of their own strength. They were on the wrong path and needed to repent. Say, what path are you on today?

Amos.6
[1] Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
[2] Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
[3] Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
[4] That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
[5] That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
[6] That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
[7] Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
[8] The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
[9] And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
[10] And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
[11] For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
[12] Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
[13] Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
[14] But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of the wilderness.

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27th

God's Wrath on His Enemies

Nahum 1

We may not be as familiar with Nahum as we are with the story of Jonah and the whale. We remember that Jonah went to the city of Nineveh and preached against their sin and we remember how they repented and God did not bring judgment on them, but instead, had mercy and forgiveness. However, in the book of Nahum, just one century later, the people had returned to their evil, wicked, and rebellious ways. Nineveh was proud of her invulnerable city, with her walls reaching 100 ft. high. They had a mote that was 150 ft. wide and 60 ft. deep. The same God, who had forgiven this great city previously, now had to bring judgment against her. Let us ask the question, "How does all this apply to us today?"

We live in a land flowing with milk and honey. We have been blessed by the Lord more than any other nation or country today! Our "walls" are more than 100 ft. high and our motes are even wider and deeper. We live in a land of wealth and plenty. We foolishly think we need nothing else. We have sadly forgotten God in just about the same amount of time that it took Nineveh. Folks, God is able and will deal with us as a rebellious country, just as He did with the rebellion of Nineveh. Is this where we really want to be? Are we going to sit idly by in complacent apathy and watch it all go down? Unfortunately, it seems so.

Never before, have we had the availability of God's Holy Word for us than at any other time in history! Never before, have we had more Biblically trained and godly preachers who are preaching of God's righteousness, blessing, and judgment of sin. The Roman Empire fell because of their wealth and because of their immorality. The USA stands to fall today for the very same reasons. What can we do as Christians in a nation that has stood for God and His Word, but is now turning its back on Him? Paul says in, Eph 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We must repent of our sin and then we must in God's power, stand and fight. May God help us to do so today!

Nah.1
[1] The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
[2] God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
[3] The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
[4] He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
[5] The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
[6] Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
[7] The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
[8] But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
[9] What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
[10] For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
[11] There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counseller.
[12] Thus saith the LORD: Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
[13] For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
[14] And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
[15] Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

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28th

The Destruction of that Great City, Nineveh

Nahum 2: 1-13

Nahum, the prophet, foretells the destruction of the city to which Jonah preached and Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes. Now, one hundred years later they have returned to the slime and degradation of the past and God's judgment is about to fall. The city was literally destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians under Nebopalassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar. Secular history tells us the enemy painted their shields red to look like blood and rushed the city with such force that they literally destroyed the gates and the guards because of this fearsome force that knew no quarter. Their chariots were also painted red and each carried lighted torches with which they destroyed the houses with fire as they passed from street to street. Also, the floodgates of the rivers were opened and the rushing waters washed away the great buildings of the city and thousands were drowned. Nineveh had been a city that sacked and killed those whom they conquered with no concern for the women and children. They had ripped the bellies of the pregnant women open with the sword, raped the little girls and old women, made slaves of the captives, and grew extremely wealthy with the booty taken from every conquered enemy. Beware, what you sow, you will also reap. Today, our youth sow their wild oats on Saturday night and on Sunday go to church and pray for a crop failure. Did I say youth, how about the adults, also?

It seems that most of the devotions of this month have been on the subject of God's judgment on Israel, but His judgment falls on all who break His commandments. It is God who raises up nations and puts them down. He is the Supreme controller of the earth and all that live on it. He sends the floods, earthquakes, storms, droughts, and controls nature. Never let these words leave your mouth, "Mother Nature" there is no such a thing! They were coined to dismiss the fact that God is in control. Dan. 4:34-35 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: ³⁵And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Let us also praise the God of our Salvation!

Nah.2
[1] He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
[2] For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
[3] The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
[4] The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
[5] He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make hast to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
[6] The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
[7] And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
[8] But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
[9] Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
[10] She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
[11] Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
[12] The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
[13] Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

022804rjs

29th

Ruth--An Unshakable Faith

Ruth 4:13-17

Ruth is an unusual woman. We read how that she leaves her family and her people in order to follow her mother-in-law Naiomi. Naomi, her husband, and her sons left Israel during a famine in order to try to get by. In a foreign land, Naomi's husband and sons die. Without a doubt, this experience is very hard. Naomi does not want to be a burden to her daughters-in -law and encourages them to return to their families. Ruth refuses. She says, (Ruth 1: 16-17)...whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. She has come to know God by faith, and has no desire to return to her people and their ungodly ways.

As Ruth comes to Israel, the people notice her godly character and life. She attends not only to her own needs but also to the needs of her mother-in-law. There is no indication that in spite of the hardships and doubtful future that she will do anything other than follow the path of faith and righteousness. Her godly character opens the hearts of her people to take care of her needs. Naomi senses the opportunity and helps Ruth to provide for their needs.

Think of it. Ruth was not raised in a godly culture. The example provided for Ruth by Naomi's family was not all that good. However, she came to know God and she casts her lot with her mother-in-law. We read of her testimony in Ruth 3:11. Here we read all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. What was it that made such a differnce in her life? I think it is clear that she came to put her trust in God. She was a woman of faith. When we consider her experience in life, we might think that she would not believe. Yet, faith is not a matter of experience but the heart. We read about this in Hebrews 11:27. In this text we read about one who...endured, as seeing him who is invisible. In other words, faithfulness flows from out relationship with God and not our experience of blessing.

Ruth 4: 13-17. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
[14] And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
[15] And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
[16] And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
[17] And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

023004dw

God's Case Against Israel and Warning to Judah

Hosea 4:1-19 -- Please read this chapter (below) before you read the devotion!

We are going to paraphrase several verses in the chapter and use them to illustrate the sins of America. "Hear you the word of the Lord you children of America: for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of your land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land." You have denied there is such a thing as absolute truth. You are in the process of removing anything that points to God or His Son, Jesus. You have removed the Ten Commandments and prayer from the public schools and legal institutions. You have removed morality and standards and replaced them with four letter expletives. Honesty and integrity are out. Your gods are materialism and money. "Your language is swearing and lying, killing and stealing, committing adultery, life means nothing to you, and you kill for the fun of it." We hear women and girls using gutter language with no shame or morality. We curse in the name of the Lord Jesus and His Father, but we never curse in the name of Allah, Buddha, or some other false deities. Have you ever wondered why this is? Satan wants us to curse God, but does not care about the pseudo gods of the world, because he knows they are not gods at all.

We teach all about sex in the grade schools and give out condoms so that our teens and even preteens can experiment. We are just like the Israelites of old. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. ¹⁴I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. Israel is likened unto a backsliding heifer, ¹⁶For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer. Is the church in that same condition? We accept the world's loose morals and reject the divine rules of God. We are afraid to stand up and condemn the acts of our nation. We do not want an old fashioned revival, because we might have to give up our worldly pleasures. The Apostle Paul was right, when he said in 2 Thess 2:3, Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that antichrist be revealed, the son of perdition.

Hosea 4: 1-19. Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
[2] By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
[3] Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
[5] Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
[6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
[7] As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
[8] They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
[9] And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
[10] For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
[11] Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
[12] My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
[13] They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
[14] I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
[15] Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
[17] Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
[18] Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
[19] The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

020404rjs

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Hosea 1:1-11

Jonah Chapter 2

Hosea 3

Hosea 2

Hosea 6

Hosea 7: 1-16

Hosea 5

Hosea 9

Hosea 10 2-8 Cf. II Kings 17:1-12, Deut. 19:10-30; 20:7-17

Hosea 8

Hosea 12

Hosea 13:1-16

Joel 1

Joel 2, Romans 9, Revelation 19

Amos 1

Joel 3

Amos 4

Amos 3

Amos 7

Amos 8 :1-3

A False Sense of Security

Amos 6

Nahum 1

Nahum 2: 1-13

Ruth 4:13-17

Please email us to share a testimony of how this ministry has been a blessing to you, Please email us to request these devotions be sent to you daily via email!

Hosea 1:1-11

Jonah Chapter 2

Hosea 3

Hosea 2

Hosea 6

Hosea 7: 1-16

Hosea 5

Hosea 9

Hosea 10 2-8 Cf. II Kings 17:1-12, Deut. 19:10-30; 20:7-17

Hosea 8

Hosea 12

Hosea 13:1-16

Joel 1

Joel 2, Romans 9, Revelation 19

Amos 1

Joel 3

Amos 4

Amos 3

Amos 7

Amos 8 :1-3

A False Sense of Security

Amos 6

Nahum 1

Nahum 2: 1-13

Ruth 4:13-17

Please email us to share a testimony of how this ministry has been a blessing to you,

Please email us to request these devotions be sent to you daily via email!