Fear the LORD
Proverbs 1 – 12
1. THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE (Proverbs 1:7-9).
2. KEEPS THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN AND TRUST THE LORD (3:1-6; 7:1-5).
3. IS AWARE OF THE THINGS WHICH THE LORD HATES (6:12-10).
4. LOVES KNOWLEDGE AND INSTRUCTION (12:1-4).
-Tim A. Blankenship
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
Life of Rejoicing
Philippians 1 – 4
1. SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST (Philippians 1:27-30).
2. HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST JESUS (2:5-11).
3. A LIFE OF AWAKENING (3:1-3).
4. DOING ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST (4:10-14).
Evening Message –
In Love with GOD, His Word
Psalm 119:129-136
1. HIS TESTIMONIES ARE WONDERFUL (vv. 129-130).
A. It is the love of God in Christ which motivates our keeping them.
B. They give light and understanding.
2. THERE IS LONGING FOR HIS COMMANDMENTS (vv. 131-132).
A. It is not the will of the flesh to have the commandments of God; but the Spirit of God within us.
B. Because of His commandments we still seek His mercy.
3. OUR STEPS ARE ORDERED BY HIS WORD (vv. 133-134).
A. By the ordered steps of His Word we refrain from iniquity (v. 9).
B. We will remain undeterred by the oppression of men.
4. WE DESIRE TO LEARN HIS STATUTES (vv. 135-136).
A. Learning His statutes we know that His face shine on us.
B. We also mourn when we see others who will not heed the Law of God.
-T.A.
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
Fellowship With GOD
Ephesians 3 – 6
1. WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD WITHIN (Ephesians 3:20-21).
2. WALKING WORTHY OF OUR VOCATION (4:1-3)
3. UNDERSTANDING THE WILL OF THE LORD (5:11-17).
4. LIVING OBEDIENTLY AND EXPECTANTLY (6:1-4)
EVENING MESSAGE-
Christians Blessing the LORD
Psalms 89 – 108
1. CHRISTIANS KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND (Psalm 89:15-18).
2. CHRISTIANS KNOW THE SOVEREIGN POWER OF THE LORD (Psalm 93:1-5; 97:1-7).
3. CHRISTIANS KNOW THE FUTURE OF OUR GOD (Psalm 102:12-17; 103:1-5).
4. CHRISTIANS KNOW THE POWER, MERCY AND GRACE OF THE ALMIGHTY (Psalm 106:6-12).
5. CHRISTIANS BLESS THE LORD WITH THEIR LIVES OF PRAISE (Psalm 108:1-6).
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
GOD as Our Refuge
1. HE BRINGS HIS PEOPLE THROUGH TROUBLES TO A WEALTHY PLACE (Psalm 66:8-12).
2. HE HEARS THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE (Psalm 71:7-13; 80:1-7).
3. HE ESTABLISHES HIS TESTIMONY AND HIS LAW IN HIS PEOPLE (Psalm 78:1-8).
4. HE IS WORTHY OF THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE (Psalm 81:1-7).
5. HE IS MORE GLORIOUS THAN ZION OR HIS DWELLING PLACES (Psalm 87:1-3).
To Be Called By His Grace…
I. …WE ARE DELIVERED FROM CONDEMNING RELIGION (Galations 1:13-14)
II. …WE ARE CALLED TO A NEW LIFE AND MINISTRY (1:15-17).
III. …WE ARE DEAD WITH CHRIST; YET RISEN WITH HIM (Galations 2:18-21).
EVENING MESSAGE –
When the LORD is Great in Our Lives…
I. …WE WILL GUARD OUR WAYS AND OUR TONGUE (Psalm 39:1-5).
II. …WE WILL BE COMPASSIONATE TO OTHERS (Psalm 41:1-4).
III. …WE WILL REJOICE IN HIS GREATNESS (Psalm 48:1-7; Psalm 54:1-7.
IV. …WE WILL KNOW AND RECOGNIZE THE HEARTS OF WICKEDNESS (Psalm 58:1-5).
V. …WE WILL THIRST FOR GOD DAILY, AND OFTEN (Psalm 63:1-2).
VI. …WE WILL SEEK THE LORD FOR OUR KEEPING (Psalm 64:1-6).
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 (KJV)
As Christians we are daily, constantly being blessed by God. How often, however, do we think of Blessing God? The phrase “Bless the LORD” is used mostly in Psalms, and occurs about 17 times; with one of those times reading “Bless ye the LORD” (Psalm 103:21). The phrase is used at least three more times in the rest of the Old Testament. The Psalmist was a blessing to God, and blessed God.
How does the Christian bless the LORD? First of all we fear the LORD. In fearing God we love Him, obey His commands because we love Him. In these things we speak words that honor Him. We live a life that honors and glorifies Him.
Secondly, we lift up the name of Jesus in praise; not as a swear word. Shame on the Christian who would ever use the name of Jesus Christ as an expression of anger, passion, or frustration.
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.” Psalm 48:1-7 (KJV)
Bless the LORD.
When We Fear the LORD
I. …WE ARE KEPT FROM EVIL PATHS (Psalm 17:4-7).
II. …WE SUBMIT TO GOD’S WORD AND PRAISE HIM (Psalm 19:7-11).
III. …WE REJOICE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD (Psalm 21:1-6).
IV. …WE ARE WITH THE SECRET OF THE LORD (Psalm 25:8-14).
V. … WE REQUEST GOD’S ATTENTION (Psalm 28:1-5).
VI. WHEN WE FEAR THE LORD, WE WILL BLESS THE LORD (Psalm 34:1-10).
The following is an article from Kairos Journal…
23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. . .
Acts 17:23-26 (ESV)In 1799, the German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher published On Religion. His seemingly noble aim was to promote Christianity to its “cultured despisers,” people who had moved on from religion. Yet, to remove stumbling blocks, he eviscerated the gospel of many key truths. For similar reasons, in 1984, the then Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins, denied the bodily resurrection of Jesus. In an effort to appeal to skeptics, it is all too tempting to downplay “incredible” biblical truths. Today, this temptation is nowhere more apparent than over the doctrine of creation.
Although Paul’s evangelism consistently centered on Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, the precise way he presented the gospel varied from audience to audience. When evangelizing Jews, he emphasized the biblical text (e.g. Acts 13:13-41), but when preaching to pagan polytheists, he emphasized the doctrine of creation (Acts 14:15-17; 17:22-31). For Paul, the fact that God created everything is foundational to the gospel.
Amongst the Athenian altars to Zeus, Athena, and Demeter, Paul spotted one to the “unknown god” (v. 23); Athens kept its options open and tried to cover every base. Yet, in the midst of this plurality of idols, Paul went on the offensive, proclaiming that the God whom the Athenians did not know is the true Creator of all, the only God. Unlike their pathetic idols, He does not require housing or food (vv. 24-25). Rather, He gives life and a dwelling place to humans (vv. 25-26). In other words, He is not man’s debtor—He does not depend upon the religious devotion of humanity to provide His needs. Quite the reverse: all people depend on Him; all are indebted to Him. Only with this foundation in place could the Athenians have any hope of grasping their debt to their Creator; only then would they fear His coming judgment and repent (vv. 30-31).
The doctrine of creation is integral to the gospel. Modern men and women will never understand their need of Christ as a Savior from God’s wrath if they do not first have some comprehension that they owe their generous Creator everything. Nor will they grasp the wickedness of rejecting Him and running life their own way. Divorced from belief in a sovereign, holy, gracious Creator, the gospel makes no sense at all.
In the face of frequent public ridicule, holding on to the truths of creation requires clear-thinking courage. But, if the gospel is to grow and spread in the modern West, Christians dare not follow Schleiermacher and Jenkins by cutting and pasting the Bible to appeal to the modern mind. Embarrassed silence concerning creation will help no one; if God did not create, Christians have no gospel.
When we “Cut and paste the Bible to appeal to modern mind” we are actually making a god after our own image. Let us stick to the God of the Bible as He presents Himself.
-Tim A. Blankenship
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
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:
“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
NOW Is the Time to Seek the LORD</>
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:
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:
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
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 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;
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];
“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
Rebellion and False Repentance
Hosea 5:1 – 6:11
To love God is to hate evil (Psalm 97:10). “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). So declares the inspired Scriptures.
The problem with Israel as much as with people today, in general, even professing Christians, is that, we claim to love God, and hang onto evil as well. That cannot be, if we love God. God says so, and it is so often ignored.
God’s desire for His people is that we learn. Learn His ways, walk His paths of beauteous splendor. But, there is such (what seems like) an unwillingness to learn, such desire for ignorance, rather than for a knowledge of God.
Many times in Scriptures the words “hear”, “give heed”, and/or “listen” are verbalized with great vehemence, that God cries out for their attention, but they do not give it. Maybe I ought to say “We do not give it” just to be fair.
The Word of God has been rejected and despised by the priests and rulers of Israel. They have captured the people for their own gain. The priests, the common people, and the king are guilty before God. They all must repent and seek God.
“Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor. And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.” Hosea 5:1-2 (KJV)
Many times God cries out through His messengers, the prophets, for His people to “Hear”. Sometimes they listen and hear and turn form their path of destruction; many times they do not.
The judgment is toward all who are in the land. As a response to hearing the Word some will turn, but will still suffer in judgment along with the nation. Like we are told in Scripture “It rains on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), and that includes blessing and judgment.
The leaders; the priests, the king, tribal leaders had ensnared and exploited the people. The nobles and leaders were not only indulging in the practiced sin of the nation, but were also profiting from the immorality. They did not want to cease from their sin. There was too much profit, and an extravagant amount of pleasure to lose in doing so. As long as there is enjoyment in sin there is no chance for repentance, and no blessing from God.
There was much bloodshed “slaughter”. Slaughter of innocence. The baby to the fire, the elderly “No longer useful to society”, those who cry out against audacious and vile decadence. This will be judged. There are many people today who worship at the fiery idol of “Choice”.
“I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find Him; He hath withdrawn Himself from them. They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.” Hosea 5:3-7
Rebellion and impenitence is the theme of these verses.
When a lost soul turns to God for salvation, that same soul has turned away from sin and the path of Hell. There has been a change of heart and of life, and of lifestyle.
This is what God was wanting for Israel. Israel’s problem is that, they wee caught in a trap. They were enslaved to their won devices of sin, and could find no way out. In fact they did not want out. That is the blindness of sins darkness. Jesus spoke of the bondage of sin and its darkness in John 3:19-20. He said, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (NKJV).
In verses three through seven God cites five reasons He would chastise Israel, and ultimately Judah. There were probably some in Hosea’s audience who would not believe Israel could or would be destroyed, thus, the five reasons.
On the part of Israel was betrayal, rebellion, and an intensity to sin. On God’s part, He remained faithful. The result of Israel’s continued rebellion against God was destruction. Who are we to think that it cannot happen to us when we want to hang on to our sins?
“Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out My wrath upon them like water. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early.” Hosea 5:8-15 (KJV)
Judgment would come from within and without. For those today who say, “Well, God wouldn’t do that” you better get a new thought. God does not allow His children to sin successfully.
This blowing of the “Ram’s horn” is a warning to invaders. There is a need for sounding a warning of invaders when people forsake God, and refuse to return to His way. The warnings, as with Israel, often go unheeded, and the people continue to live a life of indulgent sin. Wanting the blessings, of God, and yet clinging to godless living.
Judgment is inevitable when people hear the Word of warning, and refuse to turn. The judgment comes due to the lack of care. Complacent, and apathetic toward the warnings; the enemy then comes in tearing and ripping and killing fulfilling the rebuke of God to turn His people from their sins. Who can rescue one who is under the judgment? God says, “No one can.”
God leaves His children to face their own sin, and its fruit. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galations 6:7). He will not come to their aid until they confess their evil and repent of it. God’s judgment upon His people is always redemptive. Do not deceive yourselves; there are consequences to your sin. You will reap the harvest of those sins.
“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
By all appearances these verses seem to be a sign of true repentance. At least what the Lord requires of His people for His promise to be fulfilled. Let us keep them in context with the verses which follow.
How long does it take us to learn that we cannot fool God? He knows our heart. He knows our thoughts. He knows when we are truly penitent, and when it is false.
Sorry they had been discovered, their sin found out, they want to avoid the judgment that was about to fall upon them. Notice, there is no mention of forsaking their evil ways, only seeking to return in order to get blessing again. They want healing, revival, and the rains, but God knows the heart.
“O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me. Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood. And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. Also, O Judah, He hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of My people.” Hosea 6:4-11
God will, and does judge His people to produce godly knowledge, and loyalty to Him.
The two questions of verse four are very penetrating. They imply with force, “Why do you deceive Me?” The repentance of “Ephraim” is only fleeting. Clinging to their sin, loving their sin, they cry for forgiveness. The “Morning cloud” appears until the light and heat of the sun hits it, then, it is gone. The “Early dew” lingers on the leaves, grass, flowers, and the fields until the light of day causes it to evaporate into nothingness, and it is gone. The describes the repentance of Israel. Sadly, it also describes the feeble cries of repentance; if there are any; in the Church of the 21st century. While wanting the blessings of God we also want to cling to our sin that separates us from God. Wreaking havoc upon ourselves, our Church, our nation, and the world, sin continues while God calls us to repent. God’s people are to be a stabilizing force in society, and culture by being unmoved by passions of lust and greed.
The Word of God in written form, and from the mouths of His prophets inflicts wounds to cut out sin. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is the Law which shows the way of freedom. Sin is an evil, and cruel master destroying life, and godly relationships.
The LORD God desires permanence in our loyalties. His frustration is with words that have no commitment, no devotion, no perseverance. When judgment comes it is as a light revealing pitfalls, stumbling blocks, and dead-ends. Judgment shows that departure from God to sin has taken place.
False repentance is eager to sacrifice money, maybe time, and even attendance at worship, programs and feasts, but not personal commitment to change, to show mercy and kindness, to love as God loves – loving “God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and our neighbor as we love ourselves”- to know God, and not just ritual.
The vileness of man’s heart continually transgresses God’s Law. Acts of treason are committed against Him daily. Treachery, the act to deceive, and that which destroys trust, is committed by refusing to obey what has been agreed to by all parties. God has no other choice but to judge. Remember our God is holy.
Bloodshed, robbery, harlotry seem to be permanent encroachments upon the land. God says, that it is “A horrible thing in the house of Israel.” The house of Judah will not be exempt. None who turn from God to serve self are exempt from God’s wrath. Is there hope in that? Those who experience God’s judgment, and confess their sins, and turn from their sins [repentance] to Jesus Christ, God’s holy Son will experience His mercy and grace.
-Tim A. Blankenship
God’s Controversy With His People 3
This will be the final study for chapter 4.
“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.” Hosea 4:11-12 (KJV)
The Amplified Bible says of verse eleven, “Harlotry and wine and new wine take away the heart and the mind and the spiritual understanding.” The Living Bible paraphrases, “Wine, women and song have robbed My people of her brains.”
Does anything ever really change? It does not seem so. The problem of Israel is a problem within the United States of America today. Alcohol and the use of alcohol; maybe I should say abuse of alcohol; drug consumption. The over active, perverse and uncontrolled sex drives of humanity; along with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs robbing the mind of control, influencing the decision making process, having people doing things they would not normally do. With a clear mind – clear of drugs at least – one can be expected to make rational decisions. Under the influence of beverage alcohol no one wants to take responsibility; and no one wants to point out the blame, or take blame for their actions.
This is how verse twelve reads in The Living Bible, “For they are asking a piece of wood to tell them what to do. ‘Divine Truth’ comes to them through tea leaves! Longing after idols has made them foolish. For they have played the harlot, serving other gods, deserting Me.”
Instead of taking their heart ache to God they seek a bottle. Instead of a lasting, fulfilling, and meaningful relationship through marriage (One man, one woman), God’s way they follow their own lust, and go to destruction. It is not only destruction of the person, it destroys the family, the State, the Nation and the World.
“They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.” Hosea 4:13-14
Men need to learn that their wives and children soon follow their example. In this way wives and daughters of Israel became polluted. The fathers had not taken their God-given leadership roles in leading their families to righteousness; instead they led them to perversion, and their immorality would be their judgment.
“Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, ‘The LORD liveth.’ For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, ‘Give ye.’ The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.” Hosea 4:15-19
“Listen up Judah.” Hosea probably sees some of the Judeans in the crowd at the gates, and warns them of the plight of Israel. For clarity “Ephraim” is another name for the Northern kingdom of Israel.
Bethel is now called “Bethaven”. The place had gone from “The house of God”, to the decadence of “The house of deception”. Gilgal and Bethaven were places of calf worship. To go to these places of idolatry, and declare, “The LORD liveth” was an evil act of hypocrisy, and was despised by God.
They loved their shame rather than the glory of God. Their glory is God. They refuse the way of God, thus, they incur the wrath of God upon themselves.
Paul the apostle writes to Timothy; a young pastor, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Let those today who claim “I am a disciple of Christ” or “I am a Christian” depart from this iniquitous society. How can we do that? By not participating in the wicked, mind killing, mind stealing acts of the world and society.
If you have been in this way of life there is hope for all who will trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross – His death, His burial and His resurrection. He has promised also to come again.
-Tim A. Blankenship
God’s Controversy With His People 2
“Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.” Hosea 4:4-10 (KJV)
Verses 4 through 6 as well as the following four verses are directed toward the priests and prophets.
The priests and the prophets were told not to accuse the people, because they, themselves were at fault. This, by no means takes any personal responsibility away from the people, for they too are guilty. The greatest fault lies with the priests and prophets, because they had failed to teach the Law of God. Why? Because they rejected God’s law. Their “Mother” [Nation] would be destroyed. Church leadership which fails to proclaim the Law of God, the Word or God with its rebukes and warnings; as well as its blessings and promises is remiss in doing the work and will of God; thus rejecting God and His Word.
The preacher/prophet may fail to meet the expectations of the people, but if he fails to proclaim God’s Word he wreaks havoc upon himself, and the people. If the priests (Every born again believer) fails to warn the lost of his/her condemnation, and fails to pray for the lost to be reconciled to God, then, we bring shame on ourselves and eternal havoc and ruin on those whom we have failed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In verses 7 through 10 the condemnation continues upon the priests.
It appears that as God blessed the priests (and nation) they began to be comfortable, and sin against God. It is not sin to be comfortable, or to live in comfort. The sin is while in comfort we forget, forsake, and do not praise the LORD.
The priests received offerings from the people. Possibly a sin offering is implied by verse eight. These meat offerings were to be eaten by the priests, and their families – as a means of support – and rather than rebuking the people for their sin, encouraged them to continue in sin. Maybe not with words, but in the absence of words of rebuke. So, just as the priests are condemned because they reject the law of God, the people are condemned because of their willful ignorance of God. They loved their sin too much to find out what the will of God was.
There would be no satisfaction, no fulfillment in their indulgence of sin. They would not be a fruitful people. Even though they thought that enjoying the fulfilling of their lust through hedonistic temple acts would guarantee many children and bountiful harvest; it would not be so. The reason God gives is, “Because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.”
There is much sin within the churches of the United States of America in the 21st century. Yet, we have an awesome and wondrous Saviour. His name is Jesus. He died for us because He loves us. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He will do whatever it takes to make us holy.
-Tim A. Blankenship
God’s Controversy With His People 1
As we begin our study of Hosea 4 we find Hosea speaking in the gates of the city. This is the place where civil and religious meetings were held. There were probably some who were from the Southern kingdom present here as well.
The LORD is presented as having a “Controversy” with the people. The MIRRIAM/WEBSTER Dictionary defines “Controversy” as being “a clash of opposing views: DISPUTE”. It must of necessity be concluded that the one who opposes God is the one who is in error. The New International Version of the Bible uses the word “Charge”. The New American Standard uses the word “Case”. These latter two imply court actions. If then this is a court scene we see GOD as the offended party; and He is also the Judge, the Prosecutor; and since there is no defense mentioned He would also be their Defense. God has a legal case against Israel. It is a case He will win. A case where the guilty will in brokenness confess their guilt, turn from their evil, and seek His face, receiving His forgiveness.
In verse one through three God says all are guilty, then the priests and prophets are responsible for rejecting the Word of God, rather than teaching it, living it, and proclaiming it (vv. 4-6). They are all condemned for leaving God to follow the harlotry of Baal (vv. 7-10). The men are then told of their responsibility for the corrupting of their wives and daughters (vv. 13-14). Judah [the Southern kingdom] is then called on to heed the Word of Go, and not to forsake God and His ways following other gods (vv. 15-19).
“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.” Hosea 4:1-3 (KJV)
The land is greatly polluted. Sexual perversion and immorality always pollute the land of any nation.
God still contends with evil. He is contending with evil even now across the United States of America, and in all nations of the world. Sin is just as destructive today as it was in Hosea’s day; maybe more open and with greater influence; but “where sin abounds grace does much more abound”.
“Truth” is faithfulness. Faithful to God, His Word, and His ways. To walk in them is to walk in truth. To walk in truth is to be faithful to His Word. To depart from truth is to cease being kind. “Mercy” is kindness. When God’s people forsake His way sexual immorality increases, murders increase, all crime and criminal activities increase, and education slips into amorality. Evil becomes good, and good becomes evil. Because of this there is no knowledge of God in the land. God is seen only as non-existent, unavailable, or contained in a box to be used at our own discretion and for our own pleasures. Because of evil god is made in our own image. He is viewed as tolerating evil, and never judging it; putting Him on equal basis with the gods of men’s hearts. His Holiness, Righteousness, mercy, and grace are forgotten. What need is there of mercy and/or grace if God tolerates all kinds of evil?
When people depart from God to serve the gods of their hearts “Everyone does that which is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25), the land becomes “Bloody”. The commandments of God become useless, despised, and rejected; tossed aside as fables.
In verse two Hosea declares that at least five of the Ten Commandments had been severely broken.
There are also ecological consequences to sin.
The land cries out to God for mercy (Romans 8:22). The man of God’s creation willfully sinned against God. Sin causes the creation to groan. Unless God keeps His hand of mercy on the land, then the land judges us.
The environmental crises that are known today; the upheaval of weather patterns, in the USA, and around the world; are evidences of a gross spiritual problem. God’s people have forsaken Him to serve the idols of pleasure, entertainment, and the sirens of comfort. Many of the gods of our day are science, technology, money and finance. All idols of man’s own making; leading to our destruction.
The world may laugh at such a simplistic answer, but the Bible is clear on the matter, and it is right. Someone has said, “The heart of the human problem, is the problem of the human heart.” (Matthew 15:16-20). The heart of man can only be righted when man confesses his sin/departure from God, repents, and asks for, and receives God’s forgiveness.
It is not gun-control we need to stop murders, or condoms to stop STD’s and/or AIDS. It is self-control, and especially Holy Spirit initiated self-control. To make it real the world needs the grace, mercy, and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness only His atoning death, burial and resurrection supplies.
-Tim A. Blankenship
No Love Like God’s Love 3
“For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their King; and shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:4-5 (KJV)
The children of Israel are still in this stage of being without a king or a prince. From the time of the return of the exiles from Babylon Israel ahs not been given to idolatry, they have not had a king or a prince; since the destruction of the temple (70 A.D.) their sacrifices have been abolished, and they have not had a Levite or a priest.
Hosea had placed Gomer in the disciplined lifestyle:
This would make it possible for Israel to respond to God’s unconditional love. While there is enjoyment in sin there is no opportunity of turning to God.
God would remove the false as well as the true. “For many days” in verses three and four, imply a long period of time. Probably as long as would be necessary to prepare them to return to God.
There is victory in God’s redemption. Each of these first three chapters speak of Israel returning to God for full and completer redemption and forgiveness. This is God’s purpose and plan for Israel and for His Church.
“Afterwards” – after the days of discipline. After days, years, centuries, even millenniums “Israel shall return.” There are not “Ifs” or “buts” about it. They shall return. They will “Seek the LORD their God”, and turn to “David their King” [fulfilled in Jesus Christ]. See Luke 1:32-33.
This prophecy has yet to take place. It will in the Lord’s appointed time come to pass just as the prophecies forth tell. When? “In the last days.”
Jesus is the King of kings; rules over all the earth. He is Lord of lords and has all things in His hands.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 