Today's Reading: Hosea 7-10
Today's reading contains a classic case of action and reaction. The people have done something, and God is reacting to it.
"Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
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" (8:3-4).
This is the repeated theme. Israel has rejected God. Turning away from Him, they have instead worshipped their own creations, idols with no brain, no heart.
God has seen this, and after centuries of trying to draw them back to Himself, He is reacting now with vengeance.
"Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of My house.
I will love them no more;
all their princes are rebels" (9:15).
How wicked had Israel become? So wicked that God now says that He hates them. When God rejects you, you have nowhere else to turn, and Hosea the prophet recognizes this.
"My God will reject them
because they have not listened to Him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations" (9:17).
But notice there is still one further response from God. He still offers hope to the one who would turn back to Him.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that He may come and rain righteousness upon you" (10:12).
Isn't that beautiful? Seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you. After all that they had done, God was still willing to forgive their sins, to welcome them back. What a comfort when we awaken from sin and realize we need God, to know that He is still there and will take us back.
Today's reading contains a classic case of action and reaction. The people have done something, and God is reacting to it.
"Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
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" (8:3-4).
This is the repeated theme. Israel has rejected God. Turning away from Him, they have instead worshipped their own creations, idols with no brain, no heart.
God has seen this, and after centuries of trying to draw them back to Himself, He is reacting now with vengeance.
"Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of My house.
I will love them no more;
all their princes are rebels" (9:15).
How wicked had Israel become? So wicked that God now says that He hates them. When God rejects you, you have nowhere else to turn, and Hosea the prophet recognizes this.
"My God will reject them
because they have not listened to Him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations" (9:17).
But notice there is still one further response from God. He still offers hope to the one who would turn back to Him.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that He may come and rain righteousness upon you" (10:12).
Isn't that beautiful? Seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you. After all that they had done, God was still willing to forgive their sins, to welcome them back. What a comfort when we awaken from sin and realize we need God, to know that He is still there and will take us back.