Thoughts on Hosea 9

“Rejoice not, O Israel!”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9:1‬a ESV‬‬

This word is for us.

Us who have seen, and known, and experienced,
the goodness, the glory, and the grace of God.

Us who, by whatever reasons, have left His wondrous presence and have gone away from Him, indulging instead in worldly pursuits. Giving our hearts, our minds, our strengths, our souls, to man-made idols. False gods. The temporal for the eternal.

Us who by habit, or tradition, or simply following the patterns of this world, celebrate with feasts, and festivals, and parties, and other kinds of merry making. (Because why not? What’s wrong with having some fun?)

But this is not the time for rejoicing. Not for us.

Because the jealous love of the all-powerful God is coming to claim what He has so preciously redeemed.

It is foolishness to be hard-headed and hard-hearted against this relentless, fearsome love. That which we hold dear, but is ascribed incorrectly to idols, will fall away and fall apart. The severity of our pain is proportional to our stubbornness. Don’t be like Pharoah, don’t be like Israel.

This is a time for remorse, of repentance, and of returning.

Only then can, and will, we truly rejoice.

Thoughts on Hosea 8

“Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After reading this, I felt a chill up my spine – a feeling of dread. I know this: it’s that moment when you know that you messed up, God’s presence is gone and suddenly you are vulnerable.

“To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭8:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s not enough to know. Israel knew more about God than any other nation. In times of distress they know who is powerful, who is able to save. But knowing is not enough. There must be repentance, there must be a recognition and surrender to the His Lordship.

“They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭8:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Most of the time our problems are of our own doing. It happens when we make decisions without considering and consulting God. Whether it is because of direct defiance, or a simple lapse in judgment.

It just goes downhill from here. In spite of God’s discipline, the transgressions just gets worse and worse. And we try to fix the problems our own way. At one point we will try to ‘negotiate’ with God by doing ‘good things’, when all we really need to do is repent and turn our hearts back to him. Why is it so hard to do something so simple?

Hosea 8 ends with a sad note, I hope it will be better in the succeeding chapters.

Thoughts on Hosea 7

It’s been 25 weeks since my last post. Although I tried to restart a few times, none of them got out of Draft. I hope this sticks.

And God’s Word is timely, as it often is. Politics has been crazy in the Philippines, consuming the everyday lives of Christian and Non-christian alike. I do believe the Church will survive this, because God’s love will prevail, but the dividing issues and differing opinions have caused hurt and will leave many scars.

There is evil. There has been and will be evil people doing evil things. For the life of me I could never understand why. But there it is.

One side cries out for Justice. Another side calls for Healing. Both are valid, why can’t we have both?

“When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria; for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭7:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

True Justice and Healing can only come from God.

What then, do I think we should do? We should trust in God’s Justice and we should love as Jesus loves. God sees all things and, as the rest of the chapter goes, will deal with evil people accordingly. We should remember this.

Should we then just ignore oppression? No. We should call it out. But keeping our eyes on Jesus as we do.

There’s still more to be done for God and for His Kingdom and we may be distracted by things that are way beyond our spheres of control and influence. I think we should focus on people, especially those who God has brought to us to lead and to love.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s start and persevere with this. Justice and Healing – from God – will follow.

Thoughts on Hosea 6

““Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭ESV

Thank you, Father. Your discipline is proof of your love. If you didn’t care, we would just fall deep in our sin. You are more than able to heal us. As we return back to you. That we might live for you.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.””
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our failure is because of lack of knowing, and the lack of persevering in knowing. Our love, “is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away” (v.4b). How easily distracted, how easily swayed and tempted. How lost we would be if not for your faithfulness.

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How do we return back to God? It is through the repentance of our heart and mind that leads to action. Our whole being surrendered, again, then moment by moment.

Thoughts on Hosea 5

What is true repentance?

“With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The previous verses gives clues. “Their deeds do not permit them”, “The spirit of whoredom”, “The pride of Israel”..

There have been times when I try to return to the Lord, but I know in my heart that I was doing so half-heartedly. My actions do not show repentance. My heart is divided, distracted. I assume everything is alright.

Surely enough, I would fail in finding God. And the consequences of my sin – my not being under God’s good and perfect will – takes its toll on me and on the people I love.

“Blow the horn”, “Sound the alarm”, Hosea says. Trouble has come – as it comes to every man – and neither my strength, nor the strength of other people, nor the objects of my distraction, are able to save me.

“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭5:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When my son does something wrong, I find myself acting the same way. The truth is, in my heart I would pardon the wrong almost immediately after it was done. But, for his sake, I would need him to acknowledge the wrong, to humble himself and come to me.

This part almost always takes so much longer than it needs to be. Just as it is for me when I know I have wronged God.

Let go of your pride, humble yourself. And don’t let guilt and embarrassment hinder you from returning to God. He is ready to welcome you with open arms. Go to God agad.