“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” ~Jesus (John 14:1-4)
PROPHECY
Jesus: Judgment and Cities
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” ~Jesus (Matthew 11:20-24)
What We Have Forgotten
The prophet Jeremiah’s heart is grieving for his people as he views their lives through the eyes of the LORD. They don’t and won’t. At least for some time to come. The generation the prophet is addressing is one who has refused to see and hear the Word of the LORD.
The LORD asked a question, “Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness?” There is a contrast the LORD desires them to see. Have I been barren and left you with nothing or has My witness to you been that of darkness and not light?
Hear the Word through the prophet:
“O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel, a land of darkness? Wherefore say My people, ‘We are lords; we will come no more unto Thee’? Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” Jeremiah 2:31-32 (KJV)
The people had become self dependent rather than depending upon the LORD God. Some people have said and believe that faith is a crutch, or that God Himself is a crutch. Some have said things like, “Only the weak need God.” I need God, and I can only have God in my life as God gives Himself to me through His Son Jesus Christ. Am I weak? You better believe it. When it comes to the things of God; when it comes to pleasing God; when it comes to getting into the very presence of God; when it comes to having a relationship with God, and fellowship with Him; yes! I am weak. None of those things can be mine on my own. They are given to me as a gift of God.
You may be your own lord, but you do not know God; nor can you as long as you have that attitude and heart. If God wants you He will have you. You will submit to Him and He will have His own way in your heart and life.
The virgins of Jeremiah’s day wore special ornaments, which was a reminder of their virginity, and their purity. Brides, as always, seem to greatly admire their wedding gown, and may even become quite prideful in that attire. There is something quite beautiful about a bride in her gown, coming down the aisle, and it causes the groom to take a deep breath, and gasp at her beauty. “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?”, seems to indicate that these had more care for their ornaments and their gowns, than they had for the Word of the LORD. They had not forgotten their ornaments, nor their beautiful clothing, and gowns, but they had “Forgotten” the LORD; “Days without number”.
I can see this as very similar to our own day of 2013 in the United States of America. Many pride themselves as “Christian” yet live as though the filling of lustful desires are what this life is about. It is time that the Church in the U. S. of A. repented of her sins, and returned our focus to the One who bled and died for our sins, was buried, and bodily arose from the grave; and He lives forever more.
Christian, may we never forget the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. May we always be reminded of the body and the blood of Jesus; broken and shed that we might know God. The only true and righteous One who loves us, and gave Himself for us.
For those of you who have not believed, and trusted the finished work of the cross of Christ; the day is drawing near when He will return. Then you will see Him as He is. You will stand before His great white throne of judgment and be found guilty. Why allow that to happen when He has already paid your sin debt. He offers it to you as a free gift of grace. Repent and believe.
He is coming again. How will He find us?
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Through the Bible in a Year – 091513
Facing Perilous Times
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1. RECOGNIZING THE LAST DAYS (vv. 1-4).
2. THE COUNTERFIET GODLINESS, ONE EVIDENCE (v. 5).
3. TURNING AWAY FROM THE COUNTERFEIT TO GODLINESS (v. 5).
– Tim A. Blankenship
Through the Bible in a Year – 090813
Our Relationship to the Time We Live
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; 3:1-5
1. DO NOT BE SHAKEN OR TROUBLED (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2).
2. A FALLING AWAY SHOULD BE EXPECTED (v. 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 4:2-5).
3. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THOSE IN LEADERSHIP (2 Thes. 3:1).
4. PRAY FOR THE WORD OF GOD TO MOVE FREELY (3:1).
5. PATIENTLY AWAIT THE COMING OF CHRIST (3:5).
Do Not Be Found Out
Has anyone ever stopped to think about the foolishness of idolatry. That is the desire for things, the greed for wealth, the lust for power, and/or the opposite sex; and in some cases of this day the perversion of the same sex. That is, afterall, what idolatry is all about.
We live in an era not dissimilar from Jeremiah’s. The people were living in basic comfort, secure in their wealth, and easy lives. Though, ours is plagued somewhat with fear of terrorism we still go about doing whatever we please; paying the exhorbitant prices for gasoline, and everything going up due to that; yet we purchase, or at least those who can do. Power for more of the things desired.
Hear the word of the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah:
“As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, saying to a stock, ‘Thou art my father;’ and to a stone, ‘Thou hast brought me forth:’ for they have turned their back unto Me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us.’ But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.” Jeremiah 2:26-28 (KJV)
It seems quite clear that the people of Judah have been caught in the practice of idolatry, worshipping other gods, which are not gods at all, but more burdens for the people to carry. Have you ever noticed the junk that we in our society build up and keep in closets, garages, security vaults, magazine racks, and how valuless they really are?
In the prophet Jeremiah’s day they were here being accused of having wood idols, and giving it praise for being their father. Also of telling one made of stone that was their mother. In the worship of other gods, they turned their back on God, denying Him as their birthparent as a nation. By turning their back and not their faces we find a great hypocrisy.
The hypocrisy is that while everything is going good, life is easy and comfortable, they really have no care to remember God, His holy days, nor His Law or His Word. However, when they start hearing about an enemy, or having some other troubles they begin to cry out to the true God for help. God, the LORD, says to that, “Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble;” It is like He is saying to them you have plenty of gods you love and adore more than Me, “Let them help you”. The prophet continues by saying, “For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.” You would think that the more gods the better. Right? Wrong.
The one true God is sufficient to meet our every need. In fact there is no other god but the LORD God. The one who loves us enough to send His Son to die in our place.
We continue now to the next two verses:
“Wherefore will ye plead with Me? Ye all have transgressed against Me, saith the LORD. In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.” Jeremiah 2:29-30 (KJV)
At times when people face catastrophe they tend to recognize that God does exist. When things ease off, and start getting back to normal it is back to the worship of things,getting those desires met, achieving those personal goals at the cost of life, limb, or friendships, or spouses and family. When this happens, some of it is genuine, and some is not. The one’s who are genuine will continue being faithful when the things start being good again. They will hear the voice of the LORD and will obey Him. They do not turn away.
These are the ones whom the LORD will bless. These are the ones whom the LORD has genuinely saved.
These “two faced” people are about as dependable as a flat tire, and no rim with it. The correction of the LORD does no good, accomplishes nothing, and they hate the prophets who tell them the truth for the saving of their souls.
Do not turn your back on God. Do not be a two faced individual who worships God on Sunday, then, through the rest of the week no one will ever know any difference from watching your life, hearing your dirty words, and dirty jokes. Turn your face toward Jesus Christ, and you will be made just before holy GOD. When you have given your life to the LORD through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ your life changes, for His glory and your good. You will love the Law, the History of His people, the Wisdom of the sages, and the prophets; both the Major and Minor prophets. You will love God’s Word. You will desire to please the LORD. It is not a burden but a pleasure to love the LORD, His Word and the life He gives us.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Like The Animals???
It is so very sad to look around at society and see things going to the dogs. A few years ago an NFL star was sentenced to prison time for killing dogs. Even though, he was unjustly and illegally fighting them is a sign of worse things to come.
We are human beings created in the image of God. We have been given, by God, the rule and dominion of this earth. The man I speak of may have deserved a fine, maybe some loss of time from playing on the team he was on, and maybe even a fine from the NFL for the bad name against them.
It is so unhuman to give greater power and authority; and better treatment to the animal kingdom than to the human being. It is when we begin acting like animals that we begin treating humanity more like animals.
Hear the word of the Lord spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
“How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, ‘There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.'” Jeremiah 2:23-25 (KJV)
Many reading this will probably think, “Well how is this relative or practical for our society today?” I personally think that is an easy answer. When we have parents wanting to do things to protect their daughters from sexually immoral living by having them take a shot to protect them from a form of cancer that can be gotten only by pre-marital sex at too young of an age, then we are telling our children, “Your urges are uncontrollable, just follow your ‘heart'”. In other words your sexual drive is stronger than your mind and will. Just go with how you feel and this vaccine will protect you. People we are more than animals. We have a will. We can make moral choices. Animals do not.
This was the problem with the people in Jeremiah’s day. They were giving themselves to Baal worship and this involved all sorts of immoral conduct. Then, they would say on the Sabbath day as they pretended to worship the Lord GOD, “We have not gone after the Baals”.
I do not mean to sound brash in what I am about to write here, but there are many of our young ladies and young men who go around acting like animals in heat. No control; just doing what may seem like the natural thing to do. This is not pleasing to our Lord. Even sadder to say is that many of these doing this profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When you walk in the Spirit of God, you do the will of God.
What is the answer for our society today? We need to quit giving our young people the okay for sexual immorality. When birth control pills are given them, and a vaccine is provided to them to protect them from pregnancy and disease; we are in fact giving our okay to them. Let’s stop doing that. Let’s teach them the law of God’s Word. Let’s teach them by our own personal examples. The youth of America appreciate honesty, straight forward truth, and they will respect you for it. They will not respect “Hemming and Hawing around” about matters to get to the point. As the people of God we who are adult Christians need to practice what we preach and teach. We should always be seeking the Lord to lead in our lives, and to give us the mind of Christ.
There is a lot of loose living in society. We as Christians should live a tight knit life in Christ, love our spouses, and be always faithful, and worship God and God alone through His Son Jesus Christ.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Through the Bible in a Year – 090113
A Token of God’s Righteous Judgment
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
1. THANKFULNESS FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS (v. 3).
2. A GROWING FAITH (v. 3).
3. PATIENT FAITH IN PERSECUTION AND TRIALS (vv. 4-5).
4. THE VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS (vv. 6-10).
-Tim A. Blankenship
Reminder of His Love
In the last article on this chapter of Jeremiah, the final verse of our text was the last part of verse 19 which tells us, “And the fear of Me is not in you,’ says the Lord GOD of hosts.” That is usually the reason for departure from God.
As we look into the following verses we see the Lord having them recall their deliverance from bondage, then playing the harlot, turning against their deliverer.
“For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me? For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord GOD.” Jeremiah 2:20-22 (KJV)
One of the things that we can see throughout God’s dealings with the chosen people is that He loves them. His grace is everlasting, and His mercy endures forever. That is a theme for His people throughout all of Scripture.
God had delivered His children from the bondage of Egypt, and burst the bonds which held them. He had done this in just a matter of days while working in Egypt through the plagues upon the land and the people. They witnessed the mighty power of God. Not just Israel, but Egypt witnessed this awe-inspiring events which turned the heart of Pharoah, at least for a time, to let God’s people go.
The people had promised God they would not transgress His law. They did. That is why the declaration is made, “When on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down playing the harlot”. The pagan, Gentile altars were on the high hills, and under the trees. God is charging the people with spiritual adultery. That is, the forsaking of the true Husband for an imposter. They had turned away from holy God for unholy pleasures. They had forgotten the attitude of Moses. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way –
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV)
The prophet Isaiah in a previous time had spoken of Israel as a vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). He speaks of the Husbandman planting the vineyard, but all He received were wild grapes. God says through Jeremiah, “Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality”, and now they have turned their backs on God and are worshipping stone, wood, flesh. They have in fact become an “alien vine”. That is not what God planted. That is the picture we see.
When they have made themselves unclean before God, they then, evidently feel guilty, try to wash themselves clean with the strongest cleanser they have available that day. They would go and worship the false gods, taking pleasures that should not have been their’s to have. After their violation of holiness with God they would then seek to make themselves clean before God, and without true repentance.
Thus God says, “Yet your iniquity is marked before Me”.
The lesson for the follower of Jesus Christ is that we have been delivered from sin. Our sins have been forgiven. The law of the Lord is written in our hearts. We are free to live righteously, holy, and undefiled lives through the power of the Spirit of Christ who lives in us. When we sin we have an advocate with the Father. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9. There is need for repentance and that is a turning from sin and to the Lord Jesus.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Corrected By Your Own Sins
In our world today we hear parents saying things like, “I want the best for my children”, or “I will do whatever I can to protect them from harm”, while at the same time let them live in immorality. Even letting the “Make up their own minds concerning morality or religion.” Parents putting their daughters on birth control pills, so they will not get pregnant is one good example of what I refer. Another is the new vaccine which supposedly protects young girls from getting a cancer which can only be contracted by sexual intercourse prematurely. That is another example.
One of the things I have noticed about God is that He does not prevent us from sinning, in most situations. He does let our sin cause us grief and sorrow.
Therefore do parents do their children good by trying to protect them from means that should teach them responsibility.? It is my belief that it is harmful to their eternal well being to try and protect them from the means that could be used to bring them to God, or to become right in fellowship with Him
Here is God’s Word from the prophet Jeremiah:
“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he spoiled? The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when He led thee by the way? And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor; or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” Jeremiah 2:14-19 (KJV)
God is not as concerned for our physical health or wealth as He is our holiness. He despises sin and wickedness. He despises even more His own people turning away from Him. When we look to other means for safety, such as the people in the prophet’s day were doing in “Take(ing) the road to Egypt…” and “…the road to Assyria” we have turned from the Lord our God.
God is greatly grieved when His own people turn from Him to serve other gods, which are not gods, but only stone, wood, metal, or flesh. Why would the people of God do such a thing? One of the things that was prevalent in Jeremiah’s day was they had grown comfortable, wealthy, fat, and satisfied with themselves. They had the attitude, “We can never fall. We are a God blessed nation. We have the temple of God, and He will never let anything happen to it”.
I look around our Nation today, and I see much of that same attitude. Even though there is the imminent threat of terrorists infusion, bombings, and destruction we still are not trusting our Lord. We have placed more confidence in our economy, our bank account, our government, but where is our faith in God?
Since the bombing of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 we have been under the merciful hand of God. Our Nation has not been attacked within our borders since that time. Is that because of our great government, our President, our wonderful Congress, and Senate? No way. It is due to the mercy and grace of God. However, that mercy and grace protecting us from terrorists attack will be removed. It has been the hand of God. He has been calling us back to Himself, and giving time for others to come to Him. That time may soon be over, then we will see the worst of terrorism.
Our own wickedness, our own backslidings will correct us. God gave a message to the two and one half tribes of Israel who were to settle on the East side of Jordan. After telling they they were to go and give aid to their brethren who were going to settle on the West side, He said through Moses,
“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 (KJV)
If your life is filled with fear; you are not trusting the Lord. If you are trusting in things, or government for security; you are not trusting the Lord. If you are looking to any thing other than to God; your own sins will correct you. If you are His He will make you holy, and He will do whatever it takes to make you so.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Leaky gods Vs. Living Water
The men who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of Judah had forsaken the LORD. They did not even realize their spiritual condition. That is a horrible thing for the “man of God” not to even notice that God is not present. The false prophets were prophesying by Baal, a false god, of pleasure. He was the god that took the place of the LORD in the hearts of Jerusalem.
Are things any different in the day in which we live (2013)? With Oprah’s “Secret”, a god that is not “Jealous”, and television commercials which make gods and godesses out of men and women with their products, we are becoming more and more of a pagan people. We are a vain people. In my mind there does not seem to be any difference; with the exception of clothing, and location.
In the text we look at today we see the LORD is bringing charges against the children of Jacob (v. 4).
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD –
“Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:9-13 (KJV)
The charge brought against them is forsaking Him. What does it take to forsake the Living God? The answer to that is: Just by diliberately turning to another source of encouragement, and strength one forsakes the Living God.
Notice this charge. What other nation has forsaken their gods? None. Earlier in the Nation’s life they wanted to be like other nations by wanting a king. Read First Samuel, and you will see their request for a king. How is it that now they could not be like these other nations, and trust only in their God. The God of gods, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
When a follower of Christ Jesus follows someone or anything else they lose the Glory that was theirs in Christ. The Psalmist wrote –
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, ‘Where is now their God?’ But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” Psalm 115:1-8 (KJV)
Why would someone want to drink water from a cistern, when you can have flowing fresh clean water? That is what had happened to the people of God. They had left the glory of the LORD to pattern their lives after that of death and darkness. Any time God’s people follow the world, the flesh and the devil we get out of His glory, ie., the Glory of God.
These cisterns God tells us of, are even leaky cisterns. They cannot even hold water. These cisterns would catch the water from what little rainfall they might receive, and dew falling from the roof of the mornings, then go out of the morning and find only a wet well, but no water to drink.
You become like what you worship. So beware. The “Secret” which Oprah promotes is no secret at all. It began with the lies of the devil in the garden of Eden, “You shall be like God…”. And they died. Follow the Word of the Lord, and you shall live.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Is God Missing In Your Life?
The Word of the LORD is important to the prophet of God. Without the Word he has no message. No message of any importance anyway. The most important message the people need is that of what God says.
It is sad when we hear news reports of missing people. Here, of late, we have heard especially of young women, wives, and mothers missing. Some of them end up being found dead. No one enjoys hearing of a missing individual, but how would we feel if God were missing? Would we even notice?
For the second time in the second chapter of Jeremiah we have a “Thus says the LORD…” (vv. 2, 5). Jeremiah realized that since God had called him to be a prophet, and not just a prophet of men, but a prophet to proclaim only the Word of the LORD, with promise of protection, keeping, and power in the words He would proclaim (1:17-19).
In verses two and three God reminds them of their early faith, and holiness. Now the prophet addresses, at God’s direction, their forsaking God. They had gotten to a state of comfort, which led to a lethargic, complacent mindset, and then, completely turned their backs on God.
Hear the Word of the LORD:
“Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.” Jeremiah 2:4 (KJV).
There seems to be a message of warning in this phrase alone. The name “Jacob” was a name of self-dependence; of one’s using their own methods to accomplish their own ends. Jacob had trusted the LORD God, and God changed his name to Israel. “Jacob” actually meaning ‘Heel catcher’ because he had a handhold on Esau’s foot when they were born. “Israel” meaning ‘Prince of God’, or ‘He struggles with God’. (NOTE: You can find this history in Genesis 32:22-32). So in addressing them as “House of Jacob” could it be that the LORD, through the prophet, is reminding them from whence they came; that they have forgotten their faith?
“Thus saith the LORD, ‘What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, ‘Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled My land, and made Mine heritage an abomination. The priests said not, ‘Where is the LORD? And they that handle the law knew Me not: the pastors also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.'” Jeremiah 2:4-8 (KJV)
Easy living, comfort, the fatness of the land, or a good economy, are some of the things that lure people away from faith, and trust in the LORD God. It can happen so easily. For a Christian today it starts by neglecting your daily quiet time with the Lord. It continues as you neglect your prayer life. The next thing you know you missed a Sunday morning worship gathering due to being up too late Saturday night – you were out with friends, went to a movie, or just did not take an initiative to be in bed to get to church as usual. It really does not take much effort for a child of God to get away from godly practice.
The worship of Baal can be as simple as seeing other things as more important than that personal quiet time with God. Be careful. Be careful to maintain that quiet time, that special time you have with the Lord Jesus each and every morning. In this quiet time you receive strength, and encouragement for the day. You may not think so at the time, but that strength will be there as you need it.
When we start neglecting that personal time with God, the next thing to go will be our worship of God, and fellowship with other believers. The house you live in, the boat, and going to the lake for water skiing or fishing begins taking the place of God, fellowship with Him and your brothers and sisters in Christ. When this happens; you have become a modern day Idol worshiper. Just a thought – is an idle worshiper and Idol worshiper? My answer to that is YES!!!
The prophet Jeremiah reminds the recipients of this message of the work the LORD has done for the Nation (vv. 6-7). God had indeed brought them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, where no one lived. Though it is not mentioned, per se’, He also provided them with water from the Rock. He is our Water in a dry and thirsty land where no water is (Psalm 63:1).
Twice it is mentioned in this text; the question, “Where is the LORD?” First it was the “fathers” (v. 6), then it is the priests (v. 7). They were not even missing the presence of the LORD. Why would you ask, if you do not even notice that God is missing from your “worship”. The LORD has come and dwelt among His people. He went to the cross and died for our sins in the Person of His Son Jesus the Christ. He was buried carrying all our sin, our guilt, our shame, our condemnation away; then He arose bodily from the grave, and is now seated at the Father’s right hand always interceding for all who will come to Him.
The one’s who saw to the keeping of the scrolls of the law were doing it, and not even knowing the Person of the Law. The Living Word of God appeared to these in His day, they saw His works, they heard His teachings and testimony, and they still rejected Him. They did not know what they had been copying. It was just a job, a task to perform and keep them busy. Something upon which to boasts.
The rulers turned their back on the LORD. They had grown to despise the true prophets of God and chosen the false prophets of men, ie., Baal. That way they heard only what they wanted to hear. There is no profit in the false words of the profit [prophet] makers.
Is God missing in your worship, or have you even noticed? He is as close as His name. Jesus.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
The Case Against God’s People
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Known for that because of his mourning for the sins of the people of Judah, and Jerusalem. He sees the failings of the priesthood, of which he was part. The weaknesses, the hypocrisies, and often blatant lies and deceptions; not only among the priests but among those who called themselves prophets of God.
God could speak with Jeremiah. Jeremiah heard, and many times responded to what God said. Hear what God says to Jeremiah near the beginning of his ministry;
“Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of His increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.'” Jeremiah 2:1-3 (KJV)
God begins in the first message by confirming them in their first belief. They had followed, at least through Abraham, had been obedient in the wilderness, and had grown in love with the LORD. There was kindness, fondness, love in their hearts for the LORD, realizing that He alone was responsible for their having a land, a promise. They had been chosen from the place of God’s amazing grace and mercy. They were undeserving. They were unworthy. They were sinners among the other sinners of the earth. There was nothing special about them, thus in there early days they loved the LORD.
Despite the fact of their departure the LORD reminds them of His promise, “All that devour him will offend; disaster will come upon them,’ says the LORD”. No one can expect God’s blessing who lifts their hand against the people, the nation, whom God ordained to give us the Scriptures, ordinances, and laws. Yet there is room for His judgment. Pray for Jerusalem – Israel.
As Christians we must remember our “First love”. That love we had for Jesus when we first believed. The things of the world around us have a power which can lure us away from loving Him. God commended five of the early churches of the Revelation, but would only condemn two of them because they had departed from Him.
If you truly know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then, there was a time when you walked with Him, you loved Him, cherished Him, and it did not bother you that there were times He seemed distant, but you trusted His Word when He said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Something has happened in the past few days, weeks, months, or years that have caused you to get away from Him, His Word, from praying, and cherishing His abiding presence. You have become more consumed with sports, entertainment, comforts, leisure, conveniences, and even family activities, than with your walk with Him. It is time to return to Him, before the judgment of your sin comes on you.
He puts His protecting hand on all who have trusted Him. You can believe He will keep you, protect you, and anyone who raises an evil hand against you will suffer by His hand. Be assured God loves you with an everlasting love. Enjoy it, revel in it, rejoice in it, and He will be glorified.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
The Making of The Preacher
The call of the prophet was one of separation. It was one for Jeremiah that would separate him from his family, due to the message he would be proclaiming, it would even keep him from marriage. There were times he would even feel that God had forsaken Him. We will see these things as we progress through this wonderful prophecy which our LORD God has given us.
The passage of the prophet for today is chapter one, verses 17-19;
“Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” Jeremiah 1:17-19 (KJV).
The idea of “girding up the loins” is the idea of getting one’s self ready for the task at hand. You might say of a preacher called by God, “Get yourself ready to do My bidding”. As Paul spoke to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV). Jeremiah was called to preach the Word of the Lord and he must be prepared. He must know that calling is sure, because there were going to come times in his ministry where that would be all that he had.
“Arise”, get up and get going, the time is short. “Speak to them all that I command thee”. There can be no changing of the message to soften the impact. It must be spoken as God has given it. It is sad to say and to think, but there are many preachers, who are pastors of churches and preach (if you can call it that) messages that are watered down versions of the truth, thus not the truth, but lies. They would rather be popular with their people. Popular with the people unpopular with God. Which would we be? God says to the prophet, “Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them”.
If we as preachers neglect to preach Jesus; His death on the cross; His burial; His bodily resurrection; and His promise… “I will come again” then we fail to preach the Word of God. That is the essence of all of Scripture.
The prophet is called to stand, to be strong. God tells Jeremiah, “I have made you this day a defenced city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests , and against the people of the land.” This is God’s promise to Jeremiah of God’s protection from harm. Even when the judgment comes on the land, even though the people, the kings, the princes, and the priests turn against him Jeremiah is promised protection. His life will be kept and preserved. Someone has said, “The man of God in the will of God is immortal, until God is through with him”. That is a profound statement. Of course the one who made that statement must have been speaking of this temporal life we live here on earth, because with Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are immortal anyway.
The promise of God for protection would be a mighty force in the faithfulness of Jeremiah. The promise is a mighty power in our lives as well. To think that his own family, friends, king, princes, and others would try to harm him, even try to kill him, and he having the promise of God’s protection and keeping. “They shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.” Would you rather have the friendship of the world, or the protection and power of God on your life? Think about it. You cannot have both, if you are going to be a preacher of God’s Word.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
The Judgment Coming
Judgment is in fact already here. Judgment has come. As Christians we must learn to live righteously in a godless nation, godless generation, and within a lukewarm church.
For the nation of Judah it seems that the North was the direction from which judgment would come. I think it interesting to note a Psalm that directs our attention to the North without naming the North. It is Psalm 75, and it says, “Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.’ For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” (vv.5-7). You notice the silence concerning North? Does Judgment come from the North? In the case of Israel and Judah it does.
Hear what the LORD spoke to Jeremiah:
“And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, ‘What seest thou?’ And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. Then the LORD said unto me, ‘Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. And I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.'” Jeremiah 1:13-16 (KJV)
The judgment of which Jeremiah warned was coming on all the inhabitants of the land. It seems that the noble people, those of notable birth, or those who have great wealth sometimes think, “Oh, that won’t happen to us” or “We can become a part of the upper society people, and we can just fit in”, but the prophet’s message from the LORD is judgment on “all the inhabitants of the land”. Judgment is not a pleasant thing to talk about, but when the LORD calls you and gives you a message to proclaim, and tells you not to withhold a word, then you better obey.
Every preacher, and especially pastors would love to spend all their preaching, preaching of the goodness, love, grace, mercy of God. We would be thrilled just to always be preaching about the good we see in our fellow human beings, because there are good things done, there are good lives lived, and people saving physical lives; and encouraging others. The preacher, the pastor is not the man of God he should be, if he preaches not that we are sinners; condemned, dying and that our only hope of salvation is through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. To preach the cross of Jesus you must tell why He died on the cross, that means talking about our darkness of sin. We must tell why the Father had to judge His own perfect, sinless Son, turn His back on Him; and why Jesus went through that horrible three hours of total darkness while He was stretched between heaven and hell. We must preach that God made Him to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
The judgment coming on Judah was coming from the north. It was in fact, coming from God. It was the plan of Jeremiah’s father, his family, and Jeremiah that he would be a priest in Jerusalem. That was a ministry that was much respected in Jeremiah’s day, and that of his family. Jeremiah even had plans of marriage, but that was not to come about. We will see that in a later word from God to the prophet. Prophets of God do not choose to be prophets; they are called by God to be prophets. That is the prophet Jeremiah. Prophets who call themselves serve themselves, lead others astray, and despise God’s prophets.
The judgment coming to Jerusalem was like all the kingdoms of the north were coming to set up quarters, homes, or shop right in the gates of the city. They would be encamping all around. The people of Judah would no longer be free. Not only is this against the city of Jerusalem but all the cities of Judah. This would include Bethlehem and Bethel.
The coming of these people of the kingdoms of the north was God’s utterance against their forsaking the LORD. There were those who were worshipping the LORD, but few and far between. Those who were worshipping were probably remaining silent. The priests who were praising God in their hearts and worshipping him, must have been silent concerning the condition of the hearts and lives of the people; thus were allowing them to continue to live in their sin and rebellion. Therefore, they were not the priests of God that they should have been. Take the offering the people bring no matter the true condition of their heart, or that they had been to the temple of Baal, and participated in those rituals. They will be okay as long as they are faithful to the temple of God. LIES, LIES, LIES. God is not glorified except with total devotion, commitment, and worship to Him and to Him alone.
Even though a man and/or woman may attend worship on Sunday morning, evening, Wednesday evening, and anytime the church house door is open, but they live for themselves the other days of the week, the rest of the time, and glorify not God with their life and living; they worship not, and love not the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They have, in fact, forsaken the Lord, and “worship the works of their own hands”.
I want no man, woman, boy or girl to be without hope. I do, however, want you to have meaningful hope. Hope that will come to pass. Meaningful hope endures the times we face. Meaningful hope looks to the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; and His promise of returning to earth to reclaim. That is the Christian’s hope. We look forward to seeing Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living GOD.
Urgent!!!
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what seest thou?’ And I said, ‘I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, ‘Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.'” Jeremiah 1:11-12 (KJV)
There are a few times the almond tree, and rod are mentioned in Scripture. Aarons rod was an almond rod (Numbers 17:8) Other times the word “Almond” is used in the Old Testament are found in Genesis 43:11; Exodus 25:33, 34; 37:19, 20; Ecclesiastes 12:5, and our text today.
Four of those are references to the actual tree or fruit or to an article made in the likeness of an almond, such as a bowl.
Aaron’s rod budded showing life; it was also evidence that Aaron was God’s appointed man for the time.
The prophet has been called to proclaim the Word of God to a sinful and rebellious people. He has been told by God, that he has been known by Him even before he was conceived in the womb of his mother. Jeremiah the prophet has been told to speak every word God puts in his mouth.
Now comes the time to check his vision. “Jeremiah, what do you see?” (1:11) “I see a branch of an almond tree.” If a man is going to proclaim the Word of the Lord GOD, then he must be able to see what God is about to do, or at least what he desires to do.
Here is what God says about the seeing of the almond tree branch. “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word”. (v. 12)
The almond tree was an early tree. It wakened from its dormancy earlier than any other tree. The thing Jeremiah saw God used to tell him that the Word of God was going to be done just as God declared it through him, and it would be very quickly. It would be earlier than any other.
The message of God’s Word would be faithfully preached by the prophet, but not without sorrow and pain. There would be no delay. Jeremiah must hasten to the work of his ministry.
Just how close are we to the time we will see the fulfilling of the final prophecies of the Word of God. They are at the door. Jesus could return for His Bride at any moment. Do not delay to call on His name in repentance for sin, and trust completely in Him for salvation.
The picture of the almond tree for Jeremiah was a message that God was going to perform His word quickly. We live in an era of time very similar to Jeremiah’s. It is a time for the preacher to preach the Word; not back away, nor soft pedal it; but deliver it with urgency. The time we have is short.
As Jesus Christ was on the cross, suffered, bled and died there that tree brings forth life. The message of Jesus is the message with urgency. Believe Him and live. Continue in unbelief and perish. That is the only choices we have.
Could it be that the cross was made from an almond tree?
The Preacher and His Preaching
I am thankful for the pastors/preachers who faithfully stand in their places of preaching and deliver the word of God to the people God has placed in their charge. Elijah felt he was all alone, that there was no one else who was faithful in all of Israel. Man of God never feel that way. You are not alone.
However, there are pastors who want to leave their people feeling good, encouraged, and entertained. Most of the “feeling good” is about themselves; and the preacher neglects to preach for the glory of the Lord, the correction of sin. We must preach the word of the LORD. There is nothing else to preach.
Jeremiah was evidently called as a young man, and from a family of priests. When God came to him he was uncertain, calls himself a child, and unable to speak. However, notice what GOD says to him…
“Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.’ But the LORD said unto me, ‘Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee,’ saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, ‘Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:6-10 (KJV)
The preacher must be faithful to preach the word. Rightly divide or interpret the word, and according to the whole of the word of God. No verse of Scripture stands alone; it must me interpreted in the light of all other Scripture. We cannot interpret Scripture according culture; culture must be understood and interpreted by Scripture. When culture, society, government, human law, or science contradict Scripture; Scripture is right and true. If the preacher does not believe that or practice that then repent, or get out of the pulpit, and quit deceiving the people with your lies.
The prophet/preacher is a messenger of God. Called by God we must speak what God says. We must preach it without fear or favor of men or women. We must preach it if it means our lives, our homes, friends, our employment or acceptance of other people.
The main message of the Word of God is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ died for ours sins, was buried, and He bodily arose from the grave three days later. He took the wrath of sin that was deserved by us, suffered the judgment of our sin from His Father, becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. The Righteous Son of God was made unrighteous; that the unrighteous might be made Righteous. In His resurrection Jesus overcame the power of sin, death (which is the penalty for sin) and hell (eternal condemnation). When you preach Jesus and the cross, the burial and bodily resurrection you preach the word of God.
Where is the prophet to preach? Where ever God opens the door of opportunity. If that means a church with small number of people to the sidewalk in front of the White House, or the steps of the United Nations building on the U.S. Supreme Court; or front of an idol in a foreign land. God gives the words when the man of God is faithful to His Word. Preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
GOD is All-Knowledge
The prophet is sharing his call from God with us as we look at the rest of chapter one. Our verses today will just be verses four and five. I want to keep these articles relatively short. They are usually the ones which will be read, if most people are like me in that respect.
“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 (KJV)
While Jeremiah was serving as a priest with his family it surely grieved his heart to see the wickedness in the land. Many times this is the way God moves and works in calling men to serve as pastors, preachers, teachers, and other works. He places a burden upon the heart, and you go and grow in that as you hear the Lord and see Him work you just find yourself enjoying what He has called you to do.
The Lord had this planned for the prophet from the time the world was established. One of the things that the man of God needs to know and realize about God is that He is Omniscient, and that simply means that He is AllKnowing. There is nothing that God, the Creator of all that is, does not know. Someone has asked the question, “Is there anything God can learn?” Well the answer to that, if God is AllKnowing, is NO! Because He already knows everything there is to know.
That means He is never surprised by events, “accidents”, incidents, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, car wrecks, bombs exploding, or wars. You could put just about anything in there that you could think of.
God knew Jeremiah before he was conceived in the womb, and you could say, it was God who gave the seed that caused Jeremiah to be. There is a good thing we can see from this and that is that none of us are an accident. God made us to be.
These verses are often used by those who are pro-life, which I am, to show that there is human life in the womb of the mother, concerning the baby. It is not just a blob of tissue, a mass which has invaded the body of the woman. It is a special, ordained by God, individual for whom He has plans; whether the woman does or not. I guess her plans; the woman getting an abortion; are extinction.
The prophet is “Sanctified” which is set apart to be clean, appointed, prepared to do a task, and that task as we shall see is to proclaim the word of the LORD to God’s people of Judah, and to the nations.
He is “Ordained” by God to proclaim the message God puts in his mouth, and upon his lips. He is to speak what God tells him to speak, and not withhold one word. That is the work of the prophet of God. Speak the word of God and do it with all one’s strength, and then the strength of God.
God knows you. He knew you before you were conceived. Yield your life to Him. When you are saved through the cross of Jesus Christ you are also sanctified, set apart, for God’s glory and praise. God has called you to do His will.
GOD Will Rise
PLEASE NOTE: The following article was posted January 18, 2008. My prayer is for God’s people to hear God’s Word and repent.
Can you imagine being born into a family of priests. Can you imagine even more, that after you have grown to be a man, that you receive a call from God to be His prophet. You are told that you will be a prophet to the people of God, that you will be a prophet to the nations. You are also told that you will speak whatever God puts in your mouth.
“The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.” Jeremiah 1:1-3 (KJV)
The name Jeremiah means, “Jah will rise” and “Jah” is short for “Jehovah”. That name is given to us in one of the Psalms. In Psalm 68:4 it is written, “Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH [Jah], and rejoice before Him.” The use of the name Jeremiah and of JAH seems to be that even though the Nation has fallen into ill will with God, that He is raised, He is exalted, and He will be praised by His people.
Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry takes place during some of the roughest of times, especially for a prophet. The people were so secure in their beliefs, that they were living under falsehood. They were thinking that because the temple was present in Jerusalem, then they would never fall.
The task of a true prophet of God would have been quite difficult for Jeremiah, as he was also a priest, and being from a family of priests, that would mean confronting some of the sins and discrepancies of the priesthood. Because of this he would not be very popular. But then, no prophet is ever popular, or well thought of while they are living.
Jeremiah probably prophesied during the latter years of king Josiah’s rule in Judah. Josiah was a good king, who brought reform that could even be called a revival to the nation. It is said of king Josiah, “He did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD” 2 Chronicles 34:2; but it was only shortlived so it was only temporary reform, which grieved the heart of this prophet of God.
When the people only put on a temporary change, because it has been legislated, rather than having a personal relationship with God, and a change of heart, it should grieve the hearts of those who know God.
This heart for God from this prophet would bring much sorrow, pain, and persecution from his family, friends, and the people. There seems to be only one who is faithful to Jeremiah and the Lord throughout this prophecy, and his name is Baruch (Chapter 45). We are each called, as a child of God, to be faithful to God, and support all those who are also faithful to God in proclaiming His Word.
God will rise and be exalted.
Words for Christian Living 060413
“Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 (KJV)
We must always remember that the “Scripture of the prophets” of whom Paul writes are the Old Testament prophets. They indeed, tell us much about Jesus Christ and His gospel. The only Scripture Jesus read, and which Paul read was the Old Testament. Grow in it too.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of GOD – Hosea 13:1 – 14:9
The Redeeming Love of God
The Healing Love of GOD
Hosea 13:1 – 14:9
In the study of Hosea we have seen that the doom of Israel/Ephraim was certain. They had rejected God’s ways for their lives, and their nation’s continued prosperity. Instead, they began to trust their prosperity and abilities, and began to build their own gods. God sent prophets to warn them. Certainly, there were individuals who turned [repented], but as a whole the nation was corrupt.
We will find in this message that the indulgence of sin has eternal consequences. Sin has the power to destroy forever, a nation, or an individual. God in His grace, however, provides a way to defeat the power of sin. Sin’s power could destroy Israel forever; however, God was not through with them. He would raise them up to fulfill His glorious purpose.
“When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. 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.’ 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.” Hosea 13:1-3 (KJV)
Ephraim has been used throughout Hosea to represent the total land of Israel. Now it appears to be speaking of the tribe. They have gone from glory to shame.
Ephraim was a respected tribe, and spoke with authority. Joshua the son of Nun was of the tribe or Ephraim (Numbers 13:8, 16). He, as you may remember, was Moses’ successor who would lead the people into Canaan, the land of promise. He would lead them in battle, and the settling of the land. By this tribe’s faithfulness to God they were exalted among all the people.
When Israel split as a nation, Jereboam also of the tribe of Ephraim, led the people into the worship of false deities, and rejected the true Go. Because of this they would die.
Molten images, the work of their own hands, became the object of their worship. Because of this they would soon disappear, as the chaff of whet, smoke from the chimney, the early dew, and the morning cloud.
“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. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 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.” Hosea 13:4-8 (KJV)
God would go from being their Saviour; to being their Destroyer.
From the time that Moses came back to the land of Egypt to the time of Canaan God brought them through. He worked powerfully in their deliverance from Egypt. He fed them, gave them water to drink, even when there was no water He was their source of supply.
God blessed them abundantly in the “Promised land”, and they soon forgot Him. They began to neglect the reminders of His deliverance for other things. Afterwards, they began to reject God’s will and way for them. Finally, they would forget God and be destroyed.
God would become to them as ravenous beasts seeking its prey. The lion is strong and brave. The leopard is an animal of stealth and speed, sometimes lying in wait to surprise its helpless prey. The mother bear is extremely dangerous, especially, if she thinks her cubs are in danger (Proverbs 17:12). They would be torn and ripped to pieces because of their sin.
There is hope for them. Because there would be a remnant left from which to accomplish God’s purposes.
“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help. 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?’ I gave thee a king in Mine anger, and took him away in My wrath.” Hosea 13:9-11 (KJV)
They went away from God as King to destructive leaders.
Israel, was destroying themselves. It began when they determined to be life “Other nations” and wanted a king (1 Samuel 8:1-7). God was their King. In their unbelief they rejected God as King, and chose to have a foolish, and obstinate man rule over them.
Sure, God anointed Saul as king, but Go also knew that Saul would be representative fo the majority of the kings in Israel. In his rebellion and pride he rejected God’s way.
“The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. 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. 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. 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. 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.” Hosea 13:12-16 (KJV)
The judgment of God is not fro revenge, nor only punitive. In judgment He seeks to redeem.
“The iniquity… is bound up” is communicating to us that God has a record of Israel’s/Ephraim’s sin. They cannot hide it (v. 12).
God likens their judgment to that of a woman giving birth to a child. He is a stubborn child. Unwilling to be born into what God desires, causing greater pain for his mother. The child represents the individual – the mother Israel. Before the nation can be healed, the individual must repent and accept the ways of God (v. 13).
“Death ultimately involves eternal punishment in hell (‘The second death’) for those who refuse God’s redemption (Revelation 20:13-15). Taken together in the larger biblical context, Sheol and death picture sin’s power to demand the penalty of eternal death. In the case of the people of Hosea’s day, Sheol and death would be the power of their sin to destroy them forever as God’s people.” John Traylor page 120.
God was determined to redeem Israel. He would ultimately do that through the death of His Son Jesus on the cross. Placing all the sins of mankind upon Him, God put the power of sin to death. Romans 8:3 says, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” (NKJV)
The law of God demands eternal death because of sin. God says, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave.” See 1 Corinthians 15:55-56. God would raise Israel up once again. God would have compassion on them (v. 14).
Death, through judgment would have to come before resurrection. This shows the power of God to redeem. When there is no hope that appears, there is hope and possibility in God. He is the God of resurrection – of New Life.
“O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 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. 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.'” Hosea 14:1-3 (KJV)
God calls for Israel to truly repent.
Forget the rituals, the gifts of offering, and sacrifices. Offer to God “Words”. Not empty and vain words, but “Words” of a heart that is truly broken and repentant. Life that is changed, turned around, by God is true repentance.
Israel had to turn around to realize there was no hope in anyone or anything, but God. In God is mercy, grace, and hope.
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 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. 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.” Hosea 14:4-8 (KJV)
After true repentance great things begin to occur.
Remember, God has brought them to repentance. God heals their backsliding hearts. Now, they cling only to Him.
Israel would experience the fullness of God’s love. There will be no need for His anger any longer. God is their source of refreshment, and blessing. The bringing forth of this fruit is the result of their trusting in God.
“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.” Hosea 14:9 (KJV)
The word of, and the way of the Wise.
The Wise receive the redemption of God, and stop depending on false gods.
Hosea points the one who is wise to the love and joy of our Saviour. There is life in God’s way. Death awaits the foolish who reject God’s way of life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man [no one] cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6) Someone once said, “Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living.” The way is hard it is not easy. The truth is all you can trust. The life is eternal through faith in this One who died for our sins.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of God – Hosea 11:1 – 12:14
GOD’S Compassion for His People
Hosea 11:1 – 12:14
Concern and Compassion took a cruise on an ocean liner. While they were out looking over the outer railing someone fell overboard. Concern cried out, “Man overboard”. Compassion cried out, “Man overboard”, and dived in to rescue the imperiled man.
The above story shows the difference in concern and compassion. One cries out, but does nothing. The other cries out gets involved, and commits themselves to the task. God’s greatest compassion was shown to us by Jesus Christ His Son dying on the cross. He [Jesus] was committed to t he task of dying for your sins and mine; redeeming us forever unto GOD.
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 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.” Hosea 11:1-4 (KJV)
God’s love and compassion is demonstrated in His care for Israel despite their deceit and departure from Him (Romans 5:8).
Verse one of this text is mentioned in Matthew 2:15 as a prophetic verse pointing to Jesus Christ coming out of Egypt. The life of Jesus is a kind of parallel of the journeys of the descendants of Abraham – except of course for their doubts, fears, and unbelief, their sin. Jesus’s life showed them; and us that life can be lived for GOD.
As Israel came out of Egypt, though, they determined to turn away from God and to worship Baal. It was God who led them by their arms (as a father teaching his child to walk). It was He who healed them, and delivered them out of the bondage, and slavery of Egypt.
GOD worked in the life of the nation drawing them to Himself through human bondage. “Cords of a man” while loving them to bring them out to be His own purchased possession. He would remove the yoke of bondage, and feed them in His grace and mercy (v. 4).
“He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And My people are bent to backsliding from Me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt Him.” vv. 5-7
Despite Israel’s rebellion deceit and fraud toward God He still promises not to completely destroy them; but to restore them.
In these verses we see the results of Israel’s rejection of God’s love. First, they would go into Assyrian captivity (v. 5). Those who would flee to Egypt would die there (See 9:6). The second result was the continued desolation of Israel, and their land (v. 6). They had rejected God and chosen to seek the foreign gods. The third and most tragic was their rejection of God’s love led them to a persistent and fixed state of rebellion (v. 7).
Every time a person hardens their heart against God, by rebelling against His authority, His Word the heart only gets harder. Remember Pharoah of Egypt! He hardened his heart for the last time, until God hardened it. Woe to the one whose heart is hardened by God.
“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. 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. They shall walk after the LORD: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 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.” vv. 8-11
God’s love is persistent and consistent toward His people.
God’s thoughts had somehow been toward destruction. His heart was/is broken with compassion. These questions are powerful. We do not understand the mind of God, so let us not get in a titther over these thoughts. He could have destroyed Israel, but the thought of it brought compassion, and would cause Israel to stop and think. They, like the rest of humanity, deserved destruction. They did not deserve God’s compassion.
God says that His is not like man. Man’s ways are to destroy all that is against him and his way. God’s way is to change the heart of man. In His compassion, grace and mercy He would bring them to Himself, and put them back in their own land (v. 11).
“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. 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. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will He recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 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; even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” Hosea 11:12 – 12:6
GOD calls for a change. There is nothing new with God.
There is still a spark of faithfulness in Judah. Israel has gone too far. They have gone beyond “the point of no return”, but for God’s grace. When sin is finished, and life is ruined God’s grace continues (Romans 5:20).
The wind (12:1) offers no nourishment, just as surely as there is no spiritual life in worshipping idols. There is no hope for Israel/Ephraim in Assyria.
Israel practiced deceit and treachery against God. There is a horrible portrait of Israel in Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus to be crucified. They would rather live without God than to obey Him. They would find out the tragedy of life without God.
God remained faithful as He always does. He never changes (Hebrews 13:8).
Jacob was born rebellious and deceitful. His name means “Supplanter” or “Deceiver”. He used deceit and trickery to take that which he wanted from his brother Esau (Genesis 25:24-34). “Jacob prevailed with God and men only when he yielded himself to God.” TRAYLOR
God changed Jacob from deceiver; seeking God his own way to Israel meaning “Prince of God”. The nation of Israel was spoken to by God through the man Israel, formerly Jacob. As God changed Jacob’s heart to trust the Lord He also would change the heart of the nation.
There are three truths stressed in verse six about being changed:
- Turn from sin to God;
- God’s expectation is that those who turn to Him live with kindness [mercy] and justice [judgment]. Practicing the qualities of God;
- Have a personal relationship and experience with God.
“A merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. 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. 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. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. 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. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall He leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.” vv. 7-14 (KJV)
The nation had reached a point where being a “Kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) counted as nothing to them.
What happened? They had gotten so engulfed in being an economically blessed nation they became more concerned with business, rather than a personal relationship with the God of heaven. A merchant rather then priestly they even practiced deceit with one another in order to grab all they could [“balances of deceit”]. They then added denial to their sins (v. 8). Their goals of life were corrupt. They had changed from the incorruptible to that which corrupts.
God says that He will still make them “…To dwell in tabernacles”. This is a promise of return. He has spoken so through His prophets. Their Feasts would be restored, and there would be joy in the land, and they would walk in God’s ways. The prophets of God always warned of impending judgment, and with the words of judgment they also included words of promise and hope.
Because of his iniquity Jacob fled to Paddan-Aram to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.
Just as surely as Jacob suffered for his sin the nation of Israel would be chastised, and rebuked, and learn of the emptiness of self-seeking, serving ways.
Jacob became a “Slave” of his uncle for a wife, and he was deceived. You do reap what you sow. He served his uncle Laban, then as a shepherd to get the wife he had chosen.
The nation of Israel would go into Assyrian bondage in order to become the people God desired them to be.
Moses was the prophet who delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage. By this same prophet Israel was fed, protected, and refreshed. The is a greater Prophet who will deliver all from the bondage of sin when He is believed and followed. This greater Prophet is Jesus (See Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:20-23).
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of God – Hosea 9:1 – 10:15
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Hosea 9:1 – 10:15
Herschel Ford has told a story of a man who committed suicide. He was rising higher and higher in a hot-air balloon. He took a knife and began to cut the three ropes holding the gondola to the fabric of the air-ship. A crowd below was watching. They shouted warning after warning. “Don’t cut it”, until he came to the third, and still they were shouting, “Don’t cut it”. He did not listen, and fell to his death.
When people persist in cutting off the strands that keep them in the way of God we commit spiritual suicide. Cutting the cords of God’s love ends in destruction. God continues to warn His people, giving us ample opportunity to turn from our sin and walk in His paths. This period of grace does not last forever. He does and will cut it off, and bring evil to an end.
“Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto Him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD. What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore He will remember their iniquity, He will visit their sins.” Hosea 9:1-9 (KJV)
How blind the children of the LORD tend to be when the LORD’S judgment and justice has come upon us. When the Bible speaks of judgment it often puts it in the present tense – as being here. Now!
There was no reason for joy in Israel due to the fact they had left God to walk in the harlotries of other nations. The “other people” were rejoicing in their idol worship – the licentious sexual behavior of Ashtoreth. God’s people were never called on to worship anything but God. To do so was “Whoredom” and wickedness in God’s sight.
The very idea of them actually worshipping Baal was proof of their unfaithfulness to God.
There are seven features of God’s judgment upon Israel listed in verses two through six:
- God would attack the heart of fertility worship by taking away the bountiful harvest (v. 2);
- He would remove them from His land (v. 3);
- He would place them in Assyria in Egyptian-like captivity (v. 3);
- God would bring an end to their wicked worship (v. 4);
- God would cut them off from their appointed feast days (vv. 5-6a);
- They would die in captivity (v. 6);
- God would desolate Israel’s fertility idols and shrines (v. 6).
In verse six “Memphis” is a place in Egypt where the dead are buried. They would die.
“What will ye do?” Hosea asked. How one responds to God’s warning determines one’s eternal destiny.
There is a story told of two brothers who lived in a sheep herding area of Europe. These two brothers were caught stealing sheep. The sentence the community gave them in judgment was that they be branded on their foreheads with the letters S T and understood to mean “Sheep Thieves”. These young men in later years met Jesus as their Saviour and their lives were radically changed. They became a credit to their community; giving help to people in need; aiding struggling city coffers when they possibly could. All the time bearing the marks on their foreheads “ST”. As the years went by one day a young boy with his mother saw these two godly men with “ST” branded on their foreheads; “What does that “ST” mean?” The mother answered her son and said, “I don’t know; but I suppose it means Saint.” There is hope and change for all who will believe God, trust His Saviour and His Word.
The people of Israel were guilty of rejecting God’s prophet, and accepting the foolish jibberish of the paid off cult and court prophets. Calling God’s man a fool. Hosea remained faithful to God, because he was certain of God’s calling and confident of God’s message. The sin and iniquity of the people causes them to hate the message of God and His messenger.
“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. Give them, O LORD: what wilt Thou give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of Mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.” Hosea 9:10-17
From the preceding verses we find Israel in persistent rebellion, and judgment will sweep them away.
In verse 10 Israel is likened to a fruitful vine found in the wilderness- and what a magnificent find that would be to a weary and thirsty traveler. They are also likened to a first ripened fig – the best. Made this way by God in His bountiful grace they have chosen to leave this condition in God to serve idols, and destroy their land, their homes, their kingdom, and their relationship with God, who placed them in His glorious position.
They bring shame and their glory flies away as a bird. Their children shall die. The wombs of the women will be fruitless, those who do conceive will never hold a live child in their arms (v. 14). The greatest tragedy of sin is found in verse 12 “…Woe also to them when I depart from them!” For God to depart, to hold back His mercy and grace is catastrophic to His people. They get what they deserve. The blessings they had before was God’s mercy on display.
Verse 15 makes a bold statement of God’s hatred for sin and evil. Israel had given themselves to evil, were bound to evil, and could not get free. The “Wickedness of Gilgal” is a reference to Saul’s rebellion in 1 Samuel 13. King Saul determined to not wait for Samuel, and to offer sacrifice himself. In this he showed much pride, impatience, and rebellion toward the laws of God. He also tried to sacrifice to justify his disobedience (1 Samuel 15), which is also seen of Israel in Hosea’s day.
God would cast them out to be strangers and foreigners in other countries. God loves His people so much He will not allow us to live in unrepented sin.
“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: He shall break down their altars, He shall spoil their images. For now they shall say, ‘We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?’ They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us;’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us.’
O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. It is in My desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.” Hosea 10:1-11
Now, God says, that, they are an “Empty vine”. This is a drastic contrast to what we found in verse 10 of chapter 9.
Israel had a heart condition. No electrocardiogram would be able to detect the problem. Nevertheless, they had a bad heart. Their heart was divided. God cannot use divided hearts. This compares with the “Double-minded man” of James 1:8 – unstable and unfit for service to God.
The people of Israel had two institutions which were highly esteemed by them; their kings (politics, military, and democracy for us), and their religion. Their kings were unjust and greedy, and their religion was empty and separated them from God, because they were more concerned with ritual sacrifice and offerings rather than a personal relationship with God.
Kings make promises, but do not fulfill them (v. 4). The graven images which they have worshipped will lose their glory – no one will be able to protect them. Who needs a god that needs protection anyway? God is having their idols carried away shows the futility of trusting in them (Isaiah 46:1-5).
“Aven”, mentioned in 10:8 means deception. It has been a place of deception because the people were deceived by their own desires and they strayed from God’s paths. God says, that, He will destroy their sin. The power of sin has been ultimately destroyed by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, and overcoming sins power by His resurrection from the dead. All who refuse God’s way suffers eternal judgment.
Instead of crying out to God for mercy they cry out for the rocks and mountains, “Fall on us” (v. 8; Revelation 6:16).
Because of their stubborn and rebellious hearts they would be as a heifer yoked to hard labor whereas, before their labor had been light and blessed.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.” Hosea 10:12-15 (KJV)
The “Fallow ground” of verse twelve is land that had previously been plowed, but now left unused. God’s Word and His Spirit is the plow that is needed to break up the soil of a hard heart (See Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23). Hard hearts cannot yield crops of righteousness and mercy.
It is a prominent theme in Hosea that the children of Israel will reap exactly what they have sown. It is a law of God’s created order to reap what we have sown – and that, no matter the timeline, culture or society which we may live.
Hosea gives us three steps to heal the land:
- Break up your fallow ground (v. 12);
- Put God’s Word in your heart – “sow with a view of righteousness” (NAS v. 12);
- “Reap in accordance with kindness (NAS) referring to the breaking of their hard hearts through repentance and sowing the seed of God’s Word in their lives.
God gives Israel every opportunity to repent. It is God’s desire then to cleanse them, and make them a vessel of His grace. Judgment would come.
“Hosea 9 – 10 reinforces the basic lesson that persistent sin eventually leads to destruction.” Traylor. This is also true for people of the 21st century as well. God’s people (Christians) need to open their eyes and know that the Lord, though He has provided a way into His presence, still calls for His people to repent.
We need to keep this thought in mind; “God loves us the way we are; but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.” He will do whatever it takes to make us holy.
There is only hope for all through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross of calvary – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; Son of the Living God.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of God – Hosea 8:1-14
Reaping the Whirlwind
Hosea 8:1-14
When the people of God will not heed; and when His Word is not obeyed, and His promises not believed; judgment is imminent and unavoidable.
There can be much learned from watching the work of a farmer. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments place farming as a picture of warning and hope. Farming is the world’s oldest profession. From this profession we learn the eternal law of sowing and reaping.
When a seed is planted in the ground you reap likewise. A seed of corn brings a harvest of corn; of wheat, wheat; of barley, barley and so on. One kind of seed does not produce another kind of harvest.
What kind of seeds had Israel sown? Seeds of sin and destruction. The seed sown does not immediately bear fruit, but harvest eventually comes. As the harvest comes with corn and wheat, so too does the harvest come with sin. See Galations 6:7.
It has been said, “Some go and sow their wild oats (Debaucherous and wild living), then pray for crop failure.”
“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. Israel shall cry unto Me, ‘My God, we know thee.’ Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.” Hosea 8:1-3 (KJV)
Some of the people of Israel never looked at he possibility of fruits of sin, or sin’s harvest. People in the 21st century do not realize that there is a harvest for rejecting God and His Word.
The prophet is told to warn the people. “The trumpet” is the rams horn, also called “Shophar”, and was used for calling assemblies or to warn of an approaching enemy, as in this case.
The warning is certain. Judgment is certain. The “Eagle” is the Assyrians swooping down upon them carrying them away captive in the clutches of its talons. Why? Because they did not listen to God and “Transgressed against My covenant, and trespassed against My law”.
Although Israel would cry out to God, “We know thee”, the enemy would still come. The words they spoke and the life they lived were a contradiction. Compare this verse with John 8:33-47 especially listen to Jesus as He says, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” That would certainly mean, “No matter how loudly you proclaim otherwise” You find yourself in complete opposition to God. Claiming to know God, or being in the right bloodline (physically) does not mean you know God. The fruit you bear is evidence. Living by the Word of God empowered by God’s Spirit.
The people’s rejection of God is shown in verse three as God says, “Israel hath cast off … good.” Forsaking the good to do evil the enemy shall come.
The enemy is likened to the eagle; which can also be a vulture. This enemy would come silently, devouring the dying and helpless, snatching in its mighty talons anything that could be carried away. This is the harvest of rejecting God.
“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. Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; Mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 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. 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.” verses 4 – 7
There is also the harvest of self-will. That is the harvest we bring on ourselves because we refuse to follow the way God is leading.
If you were to look back in 1 Samuel 8:4-22 you would be reminded of Israel’s [the undivided nation] insistence upon having a king, “That we also may be like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:20). It was a thing that displeased God and Samuel (See verses 6-7 of 1 Samuel 8). God gave them their request. For another time God gave them their selfish request see Psalm 106:15. Requests of self-will, and it brought great harm to the nation. Sometimes God gives us the leaders we desire, and then too late find out that was not a good deal.
Individuals and nations often set up kings of their own like and making. The king in one’s life or nation is a reflection of that nation’s or individual’s heart. Yes, God is sovereign, completely in charge; He does give us what we ask for sometimes to correct us, and draw us to Himself.
Jeroboam as the first king of the divided Israel [Northern kingdom] disobeyed God and set up golden calfs – probably similar to the calf Aaron built at the request of the people while Moses was on the mount with God – and led the people into worship away from God. The tragedy is, that no king of the Northern kingdom ever turned from this worship of self-will in the calfs. Jeroboam went so far as to call people as priests who were not of the Levites; “He [Jeroboam] made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi.” (1 Kings 12:31 NKJV).
These were not God’s ways. It was completely contrary to the LORD’s direction. It was the worship of Self-will.
In the New Testament book of Galations 6:7 the Lord spoke through His servant Paul saying, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” There is no exclusion in this verse for anyone. This is the equivalent to verse seven of our text in Hosea. What ever you sow is returned unto you many times over.
The next verse in the Galations text says, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galations 6:8). These are both with a harvest many times over the seed that has been sown.
To sow to the wind, they would reap the whirlwind [manifold]. The wind can be gentle and deceptive. The whirlwind is nothing of the sort. It destroys everything that gets in its way. They [Israel] sowed the wind of idolatry, now they would reap the manifold harvest of the whirlwind of Assyria.
The worship of Baal and the fertility rites that go with it would prove to be fruitless as far as crops of grain and children. The only harvest would be one of destruction – after all, is that not what they had sown? The destruction is the harvest of the self-will.
“Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 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.” verses 8 – 10
Embracing pagan allies and their practices also brings a harvest. A bear hunter looking for a good fur coat for the Winter compromises with the bear who needs a meal. The hunter gets his winter coat, and the bear gets his meal. That is the destination of people who play with sin, and compromise with it. That was the destination of the people of Israel as they gave up God for pagan allies and deities.
In obstinacy and rebellion they seek the aid of Assyria. Instead of calling on the LORD to be dependent upon Him they go to another nation which is also under the sovereign hand of God. This obstinacy is seen in the use of “A wild ass alone by himself.” Alliance with another nation for defense was another “Lover” added to their lists.
The very nations they had called on for defense would be the nation God would use to correct, rebuke, purge, and bring them back to Him. How foolish it is to embrace others for defense instead of God, and reap a severe harvest of shame.
“Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. I have written to him the great things of My law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 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.” verses 11 – 13
Pet Rattlesnakes, pet Alligators, are a dangerous thing. How many times have I heard of someone having a “Pet snake” in the house only to end up being bitten, or their child being bitten then the adult or the child die as a result. The same is true with “Pet Tigers” or “Pet Bear”, etc. You may think you have them under control. “Pet sins” are the same way. You cannot control sin. Sin enslaves us when we let it stick around. That was the tragedy of Israel.
John Traylor writes in the study book, “‘Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law’ (v. 12 NASV) means that God made known His will in many different ways. In spite of this, the people regarded God and His laws as strange and foreign.” The law, to them was restricting and God was only trying to keep them from being “Happy”. They had fallen victim to Satan’s lie to Adam and Eve. “Yea, hath God said…” and “You shall not surely die…” Believing that God was only hindering them, they want what they want, Now.
Israel continued to offer their burnt offerings, while in fact, they knew not God. They were near the point of harvest for false and licentious worship. Because of the sexual sin they would get diseases unknown to them before.
God would not forget their sin. It would be remembered (v. 13). The word “Remember” is used here in the same sense as that of Jeremiah 31:34 when God says, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In Hosea God says He will remember their sin and judge them for it. They shall return to captivity, because of their licentious [sexual perversion] behavior they reap a manifold harvest.
“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.” verse 14
Forgetting God has a manifold harvest. Rejecting God and His Word, thumbing your nose at it leads to forgetting Him.
Everything they depended on in God’s stead would be destroyed. The idols cast down, their walls, buildings and fortified cities wiped out. What is the reaped harvest of forgetting God? DESTRUCTION.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of God – Hosea 7:1-16
The People Deceived and Deceitful
Hosea 7:1-16
Can you imagine the actions of Gomer when Hosea came to redeem her from the slavery she was in? “I have no need of deliverance” (Proverbs 30:20). Hosea had her best interest at heart. She was relishing her “Freedom”. His interest was Gomer and her healing. Eaten up and ensnared by pagan practices, and worship, which destroyed her relationship with God.
Remember Gomer is representative of the nation Israel, and Hosea is representative of God.
“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.” Hosea 7:1 (KJV)
The message is God’s to Israel. “I would have healed you.” His mercy was waiting to work. Even though redeemed they refuse to turn from their evil ways.
The death of Jesus on the cross was the price paid to redeem and heal all mankind, yet people persist in sin refusing to let God do a work of grace and redemption in their hearts and lives.
Because grace is rejected evil continues to work like leaven [yeast].
“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.” verse 2
Israel was continuing in sin and rebellion against God believing He would not see, He would not punish or chastise. They were dealing falsely with God. If one can be deceitful, and operate falsely with God they can, and will with their fellow man as well.
To think that we can hide our sin and disobedience from God, or to think He does not take notice is completely ludicrous. The psalmist wrote, “Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance” (Psalm 90:8). Only the wicked can believe that God does not, or cannot see our sin, and does not punish it. Ezekiel heard God speak saying, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land’” (Ezekiel 8:12 NKJV Also see Psalm 10:2-11).
God does “Remember” sin. He does not turn away, but it is judged. All sin was for all time judged in God’s Son Jesus Christ. He who rejects God’s Son rejects God’s love, and can expect judgment for his/her own sin – the price is eternal.
“They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 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. 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.” verses 3-7
There was a familial delight in evil deceit, debauchery and anarchy. Instead of a family or house of God delighting in holiness, and seeking Him; there was a family of deceit. Seeking to seduce and lead others away from, rather than toward the Lord God.
It even seems tha the rulers, both the religious and civil were “Glad” with the wickedness. It is quite likely that there was great financial gain through wickedness. Why else would they be “Glad”? Except for their evil indulgence.
Their passions burned within them; keeping them “Banked” until the time was right – until sin reached its height. Then, like the baker, the fires were stirred and the fires burned hot. Their lust is pictured as an hot oven. Lust is pictured as a burning fire; also in the New Testament. Paul writing to the Corinthians said, “But I say to the unmarried adn to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am [unmarried]; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:8-9 NKJV).
When the time for the putrid party begins the baker [initiator] stirrs the fires, and it becomes a “Flaming fire”. Its leaping, dancing, gyrating flames alluring, inviting the masses to join in.
The ruler are bought and paid for by the wicked. They cannot rule justly. They cannot judge rightly or mercifully. The judges, the kings have fallen. Fallen to their own lusts and greed. Fallen from the way of mercy and justice. They all seek their own way. God says, “None… calleth unto Me.”
“In terms of human relationships, adultery is the ultimate act of deceit, betrayal, and treachery.” (John Traylor).
Evil became such a way of life that anarchy began to prevail. Kings died by assassination, and judges perished by same. If God pulls back his hand, his “Hedge” of protection, and lets man have his own way anarchy rules.
“Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 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.” verse 8-10
Israel turned from the Law of God, and accepted heathen practices. It is hard for many of us to see the picture portrayed in verse eight, “A cake not turned”. The picture is like a pancake, similar to like mothers or cooks prepare everyday for children or visitors to restaurants. A pancake left unturned by its cook. It burns on one side, and is left as dough on the other. It is unfit for consumption, and the best thing to do is toss it out.
They have given themselves to evil. They lose their strength of youth without even realizing it. He has lost his power, because of turning from God to serve self, and does not even notice, that, God is no longer upon him. Sin so blinds that the direction headed, and the direction turned from cannot be seen. It is a great tragedy for the child of God to go on in sin and not realize that God’s Spirit, power and strength has departed.
Even though God continues to reach out to Israel, in pride they reject Him. Their pride is a testimony against them (5:5). We can handle it ourselves while we head to destruction. The LORD hates “A proud look” (Proverbs 6:17).
“Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 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.” verses 11-12
Have you ever had a bird in your house, or caught in any building? It flies into the windows, the walls, ceiling, and frantically searches for a way of escape. The door can be open, but it wants its own way out. Most times you have to catch the bird, carry it to the door, and then release it. The “Silly dove” is a picture of Israel seeking her own way. Mankind seeking his own way. You seeking your own way. In order to be delivered God must capture her, and show her the way out in His hands of chastisement.
“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. 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. Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against Me. 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.” verses 13-16
Again God’s heart cry for His people is shown. They flee from God to seek evil, and to their own destruction. They lie about God, and to Him. They “Lie against” God in two ways;
- By denying that Hosea’s message is from God;
- By attributing the blessings of their past to their worship of idols, and a possible third;
- By making God equal with all others.
Even though God has redeemed them they still persist in denial of God’s deliverance and power.
They are returning to ritual. Ritual has no holiness requirements. It has no power to change lives. It makes many other requirements but provides no personal relationship.
Like an archer’s bow that is not true, and curved rightly it will not hit its target, even with the best of archers. The bullseye is missed. The bullseye of God’s glory; “For all have sinned, and come short [missed the mark] of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
There are seven reasons given for the destruction of Israel [Ephraim];
- They were set in their rebellion (v. 13);
- They were set in false witness against the LORD (v. 13);
- Their insincerity in calling upon the LORD (v. 14);
- The committed apostasy in the way they sought for yields or better yields of their crops (v. 14);
- The people “devised evil” against the LORD (v. 15);
- The Israelites did not seek God (v. 16);
- The scornful speaking of the rulers of Israel (v. 16).
“Woe unto them! For they have fled from Me” Beware children of God when you are getting so close to culture, and society you begin to identify more with them than with God. When we begin to call good evil, we are in disagreement with God and in agreement with the world.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 