Moths and Worms

O. T. #2043    "Moths and Worms"

Oct. 11, 2021

Hosea 5-Part 3

Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. (verse 12)

LET IT GLOW

The other day I found a pretty, little moth dead on my kitchen floor.  I didn't think much about it, for there are  always several flying around our porch light if we leave it on very long at night. So I put it in the trash. I read that moths like to eat on wool, clothes, blankets, and fabrics, just as the worm or termite eats on wood.

Then I recalled Hosea mentioning the moth in verse 12. The judgment of God was coming upon Israel like a moth and rottenness and a worm. Slowly, Israel was wasting and decaying away by their sins. God used the prophets to warn His people of their future captivity, but they do not heed the warning.

 The moth breeds in the clothes, and the worm or rottenness in the wood; thus sinners are consumed by a fire of their own kindling. (Matthew Henry)

Ephraim suffers for following man's will, not God's will. (MacArthur)

It takes a wooden board or a wooden foundation of a house a long time to become rotten. (McGee)

God said in verse 12 in New Living Translation: I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool. I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.

And so He did.

When Judah warred against Israel, taking the land of Benjamin, they sought help from an ally, Assyria. It backfired on Israel, for Assyria attacked Israel and penetrated the Northern Kingdom. In 722 BC,  they conquered Israel and brought Jerusalem under siege in 701 BC. Then Babylon conquered Judah. God will bring His children to repentance, no matter the cost or method.

We must come to Him in repentance of our sins, lest we consumed, too.

LET IT GROW

I have a mamma cat, Boots, who is very protective of her 4 kittens. If another animal or cat comes around them, she is ready to fight. so it is with mamma lions as they protect their cubs.

However, God is going to be as a lion towards the Northern Kingdom., pouncing on them. He intended to destroy them for their idolatry, adultery, and sins. No matter how much they whined and cried, He would not rescue them, for judgment had come.

Even today, God judges us and nations. Look at the effects venereal disease and the deadly Covid virus. Will we turn back to God? Will we stop sitting by and not condemning sin?

The good news is that when we seek God with our whole heart, confess our sins, turn away from them, He forgives us. Such a faithful and merciful God!

LET IT GO

Jesus, You alone are our ray of hope.

Keep us humbly serving, loving, and seeking You.

Let us run to the Heavenly Father, again and again.

A Ray of Hope

O. T. #2042 "A Ray of Hope"

Oct. 8, 2021

Hosea 5-Part 2

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. (verse 15

LET IT GLOW

What a ray of hope found in the midst of judgment for Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Sin-sick Ephraim (Israel), sick nigh unto death, will go to the king of Assyria (Jareb), but he will not heal them, nor cure them of their wounds. They went to a quack doctor. Only through repentance of idolatry would God (Jehovah Raphe) and could  He heal them of their sicknesses.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains:

God's purpose is not punitive; it is therapeutic. He will withdraw from His people with the purpose of causing them to seek Him; and just as certainly as the judgment will fall, so certainly will come their repentance, though the judgment is essential; for they would not seek His face without it.

This ray of hope is coming for the remnant as we read later in chapter 6. We read of the restoration in Nehemiah and Ezra, and in Jeremiah 31:31-34. God will make a new covenant with Israel and it will be in their hearts. Jesus Christ is the One and Only New Covenant, as He saves our soul from the penalties of our sins. His love, grace, and mercy in in our heart when He is our Savior.

Now that is Good News! Have you experienced it, dear one? He is only a breath away. We must seek His face before our breath is taken away. Our God is still on His throne.

 

 

LET IT GROW

Although, in about 20 years, Israel will fall under Assyria's rule, it will take about 130 years for Judah to fall under Babylon's rule. (verse 14)

Israel should have turned to God for healing instead of the king of Assyria. Instead of trusting politics and useless treaties, they needed true repentance and prayer. All the Lord could do was withdraw and wait for them to seek His face in truth and humility.

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. (verse 13)

LET IT GO

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

We need Your ray of hope today.

Help us remember that You are in charge, all-powerful, fighting for us, Your children.

Raise us up with Your strength, Jesus, so we are not overtaken nor overcome.

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave can lift us up; that raised the mountains up; calms the raging seas, lives in us.

You alone are our hope, Jesus, for You are our Overcomer.

Revolters and Rebukes

O. T. #2041  "Revolters and Rebukes"

Oct. 7, 2021

Hosea 5

LET IT GLOW

So far, we have read about the charges that the Lord had against the nation of Israel (Northern Kingdom), the priests,  and the spectators in the court (Judah watching). Now, we will see the evidence that the Judge applied to the rulers/leaders of Israel (verses 1-7):

• The religious leaders (priests) and governmental leaders were prominent in leading the nation into sin. Their snare and spread net lead into idolatry. (1a)
• They trapped innocent people and exploited them; sin paralyzed them.
• They were revolters, which means departure from right. They could not hide nor escape from the notice of God.
• Therefore, God was their rebuke, chastisement; reproof; warning or instruction; discipline. God saw them for what they truly were-idolators, adulterers. He knew completely and thoroughly them and their condition. (verses 2-3)
• They would not frame (leave, turn to God, yield) their doings to God. Rather than repenting and being ashamed of their sins, they flaunted them. Their sins affected others, for Judah would follow them.
• Their pride and arrogance testified against them. (verse 5)

Strong accusations, huh? Yet, they were guilty since God could see into the hearts of the leaders in Israel. What was the cause of all of this? They did not know the Lord and their arrogance only lead them to stumble and fall into sin. (Prov. 16:18)

May we not fall into this same trap! I am sorry for disobeying Your Word and You, for making things more important than You, God. Please for me and us.

LET IT GROW

What will happen next to Israel?

• When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the LORD, they will not find Him because God has withdrawn from them. (verse 6)
• They betrayed the honor of the LORD, bearing children that are not His. Their illegitimate children and their monthly feasts would soon become funerals.
• Their false religion will devour them along with their wealth.

When they approach God in hypocrisy and insincerity, God's judgment  fell upon Israel. Their possessions and religious trappings were taken into captivity by Assyria.

Folks, the same could happen to our nation. Giving away free money will bankrupt us. Making allies with ungodly nations will only make us prey for them to conquer. Turning from God and not teaching His Word to the next generations will put us deep into the pit of sin as Israel.

LET IT GO

May we walk in Your Truth, Your Ways.

May we identify sins that are rebellion against Holy God.

May we turn back to You.

Keep us humbly serving You.

May we love You Jesus, forever and ever.

May we proclaim Your salvation, holiness, forgiveness, love, and truth.

A Rebellious Heifer

O. T. #2040 "A Rebellious Heifer"

Hosea 4-Part 3

Oct. 6, 2021

LET IT GLOW

Living on a cattle farm, we have had heifers jump a fence in order to eat the grass on the other side of the fence. Sometimes I think they do it just because they can. It profits them nothing, for they are herded back into the field with others where green grass is available, also.. Now, there have been times that a heifer has shown others the way out, to jump also. Well, I call that rebellion, the blind leading the blind. Often times, that rebellious heifer is sold, in order to keep order with the herd. So it could have been with Israel-they could have caused Judah to stray into idolatry, so God gave Hosea these words of warning for them.

So far, the Judge, God, has brought accusations of sin against the nation of Israel, against their priests, and now against the spectators in the court.

The 10 Northern Kingdom nations, called Israel and Ephraim, had sinned by worshiping idols, allowing women to be prostitutes, and sacrificed to and sold out to the pagan god of Baal, instead of Jehovah Lord God.

Now, in verses 15-19, we read of the warnings to the spectators in the court:

• The remaining 2 faithful nations, known as Judah, remained faithful to worship God. Here they are encouraged to refrain from spiritual harlotry as Israel.
• 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. (verse 15)
• Judah was warned to not expose themselves to idol worshp in Gilgal and Bethel. Gilgal (circle, wheel) was the location of the school for prophets during Elisha's day. (2Kings 2:1; 4:38) Bethel (House of God) was renamed Beth-aven (house of iniquity).
• Judah was warned to not observe sinful practices, lest they become contaminated, too. Judah was to separate itself completely from all of the God-dishonoring practices of Israel. (2Cor. 6:17-18)
• If Judah proclaimed that the Lord liveth, they would mingle the True God with idolatry, which He forbade in Zeph. 1:5.  They were commanded to not take oaths there. Do not mix light and darkness, good with evil, for there is no fellowship.

LET IT GROW

• Israel was backsliding (apostasy; turning) like a heifer (a young cow that hasn't had a calf). She was stubborn (and rebellious, may I add). (verse 16a)
• So should the LORD feed her like a lamb in a lush pasture? (verse 16b)
• Judah was told to leave Israel alone, because they were married to idolatry, not God. (verse 17)
• Israel's rulers finish their drinking, then go off to find prostitutes. They love shame more than honor. (verse 18)

We find the result of Israel's sins in verse 19, So a mighty wind will sweep them away. Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame.

In just a few years, some 20, Assyria would capture Israel, and they would no longer own the land, a part of their heritage, the Promised Land. Truly, they would be ashamed (bring to shame; cause shame; put to shame; with shame).

Their only hope of restoration is to recognize their guilt and seek (His) face. (5:15) God's favor, blessings, and fellowship are only accessible when we submit to the road of repentance.[Tony Evans]

Folks, the same is going to happen to America if we do not repent of our sins and turn back to God.

LET IT GO

Holy Spirit, bring conviction of our sins before we wander too far away from God.

Bring us to submit to the road of repentance.

Help us bring others to this road.

Faithful God, forgive us of our sins.

May we seek Your fellowship, Your way.

Shame or Honor

O. T. #2039   "Shame or Honor"

Oct. 5, 2021

Hosea 4-Part 2

Yet let no man strive nor reprove another; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. (verse 4)

LET IT GLOW

Israel was guilty of sins before God. He had a quarrel with them and warned them of judgment to come if they did not repent. First came the charges to the nation-no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land.

The good news is that God would not forget His children of Israel. He would call out a remnant, establish a new kingdom where righteousness shall reign. We know this happened after Judah fell to Babylonian rule and Israel to Assyrian rule. (Also, during the Millennial reign of Christ as King this will happen.) (verse 6)

Second, came the accusation to the priests of Israel. What were they guilty of? Verses 4-14 tell us:

• The people were to not strive (rebuke; debate)  with others nor with the priests. They were pointing fingers and passing blame. God's complaint was with the priests. They will stumble and fall, and God will destroy Israel, their mother. (verses 4-5)
• God's people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge because the priests forgot the law of God. They were not teaching the truth of God's Word. Since the priests refused to know God, then God will refuse to recognize those priests. (verse 6)
• Even though Israel increased in numbers, they sinned against God. Fathers were not teaching their children God's Law and righteousness. So the children were worse sinners than their fathers. There glory would be changed into shame (disgrace; dishonor; reproach). They exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols. (verse 7)
• The priests did not help the people face their sins and deal with it. They delighted in the sins of the people and made that the object of their desire, instead of the Law of God.(verse 8)

LET IT GROW

Do we argue with the preacher about the Word of God, try to get rid of him, or just leave the church? Do they tell the truth about our sins? Are we teaching our children what the Bible says about the way to live? Is our life pointing others to Jesus? Do we have shame or glory?

These are things to ponder on, folks. Our society is in bad shape. Sin is made into laws allowing it to be legal to kill babies, homosexuals are given rights and leadership positions, schools no longer discipline children, many parents commit adultery and their children fornication. We need to share the truth of God's Word, that judgment is coming if we do not repent and turn from our wicked ways.

LET IT GO

Father God, You can make all things new. Renew our hearts and lives, convicting us of our sins and changing our lives. May we fall down on our knees begging for mercy for our nation and pulpits.

Folks, pray for and support the preachers that are telling the truth of God's Word. May the Lord bless you and give you strength to stand for His Word.

Charges Brought Against Israel and Us

O. T. #2038  "Charges Brought Against Israel and Us"

Oct. 4, 2021

Hosea 4

LET IT GLOW

Do we stand in awe of our God and see His goodness in the wildest sense? (3:5)

Just this week two friends have had heart surgery and are doing good. Also, I have a cousin, with health problems, that survived Covid. Truly God is good all the time!

Israel would have experienced the goodness of God had they heeded the prophets warnings and repented of their many sins. Yet they would not.

God has a controversy (quarrel, dispute, strife) against Israel. He is going to bring them to court, spell out the charges against them, and prove those charges. The message of chapter 4 is that Israel is guilty of lawlessness, immorality, ignorance of God's Word, and idolatry. (Wiersbe)

The Judge gives the charges to various groups:

• the nation of Israel as a whole;(verses 1-3)
• the priests; (verses 4-14)
• spectators in the court; (verses 15-19)
• priests, rulers, and people. (5:1-7)

Israel was given the Mosaic Law for them to pattern their laws and ways if they wanted to be blessed. They promised back in Exodus 19:8 to obey all that the Lord had said, but broke their promise. There was no faithfulness (truth) in the land, no loyal love to the Lord God. Their land would be mourning, as well as the animals, birds, and fish, which will disappear as Assyria comes to conquer the Northern Kingdom.

Israel was to be a peculiar treasure above all people, a special people, set apart unto holiness. What God expects of Israel, He expects of us.

LET IT GROW

In verses 1- 2, God clearly spells out the sins of Israel:

• There is no truth,
• no mercy,
• nor any knowledge of God in the land;
• swearing,
• lying,
• killing,
• stealing, committing adultery.

Israel was brainwashed through their idolatry. Their conscience was seered over. Like a river bursts out of its banks and floods, it destroys all that goes before it. Bloodshed was everywhere because they lusted and had not.

Greed, the almighty dollar, and material things are seen there in America, as well as all of the above. It is legal to murder babies as a result of fornication and adultery. Homosexuality is in the open now, but is an abomination to God. He did not create us to be like that. Marriage is between a man and woman.

LET IT GO

Merciful Father, we have allowed sins to prevail and generations do not know right from wrong.

Please forgive us, turn us back to You, Holy Father.

Good in the Wildest Sense

O. T. #2037 "Good in the Wildest Sense"

Oct. 1, 2021

Hosea 3-Part 3

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 later days. (verse 5)

LET IT GLOW

The northern kingdom of Israel had rebelled against David's dynasty and had taken Jeroboam as their king. (1Kings 12-13) They reverted back to worshiping idols of gold. So God had to discipline them by moving Assyria to conquer them. Without repentance of sins, agreeing with God against us, there is judgment ahead. How much better it is to have His love and blessings.

Gomer would spend a period of time with Hosea on probation. She was to prove her faithfulness to him, and he to her during the period. After she truly responded to his gracious love, Hosea would restore her completely as his wife.

What was required of the straying Israelites?

• They must return (turn back; to retreat; fetch home again; retrieve)to the LORD. (22 times it is used in this book)
• They must seek [to search out (in worship or prayer)] the LORD their God and their King Jesus who was of the line of David and God's Son, the Messiah.
• They shall fear (stand in awe) of the LORD and His goodness (good in the wildest sense).

Israel will turn back to worshiping God instead of idols. They will worship and pray to Him alone. Also, they will stand in awe of the things He does for them and who He is. Finally, they will experience God's goodness in the wildest sense, beyond all their dreams. This will happen during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ as King.

Are you ready?

LET IT GROW

When we return in real repentance of sins, then God's blessing are experienced once again. God's miraculous love and grace call all straying believers and lost unbelievers to turn to Him for mercy and salvation.

LET IT GO

Lord God Almighty, we need Your love, grace, and mercy.

Please forgive us of our sins and change our hearts.

May we always stand in awe of You, the One and Only God.

Open our eyes to see Your goodness in the wildest sense.

Thank You Father.