TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 4:1-9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. - 1 Peter 2:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In September 2007, Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed a lawsuit—he sued God. In an attempt to demonstrate how people take advantage of the freedom to bring any suit against anyone, the agnostic senator filed a string of ridiculous charges against God Himself.

God is without fault, and the countersuit against humanity is overwhelming. Hosea 4 is the beginning of God's case against Israel for violating His laws. The terms of God's complaint are clear: name a commandment, Israel had broken it. God had made Israel aware of the penalties for violating the Ten Commandments, the laws of His covenant with them (cf. Ex. 34:27-28). Israel would suffer plagues, military defeat, agricultural disaster, political upheaval, and a long list of other consequences (Lev. 26:14 ff.). But Israel loved sin more than they loved God (vv. 7, 8 ).

One particularly interesting aspect of this passage is the language concerning priests. Israel's people and priests were equally guilty of apostasy (vv. 4, 9), so who was left to represent the people to God or God's Word to the people? The sins of the priests had multiplied so greatly that no one could hold anyone else accountable. The spiritual leaders in a nation ordained to be spiritual witnesses to the world had completely given themselves over to sin. The priests and the people were utterly rejected (v. 6).

Verse 6 also contains a dagger of prophetic wisdom: “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” Ignorance is not bliss—it is destruction. Israel was unraveling because they willfully rejected the knowledge of God in favor of the foolishness of the world.

Hosea's point for us is crucial: the way we think is vital to the way we live. Israel's hearts wandered to other gods after their minds ceased to be filled by the wisdom of the Word of God. Likewise, if we fail to center our minds on the Lord, how can we ever hope to love and follow Him as we should?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We need to ask ourselves whether we are representing God as a royal priesthood to a society lost in wickedness, or if we are being pulled along by the tides of popular thought. You are currently engaged in one definite positive step: studying the Word of God! As you read, watch, and listen to other media, use God's truth to guard your mind. And in your conversations, don't be afraid to challenge worldly ideas with the Word you know to be true. Encourage others to think biblically!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 1:25-30
Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. - Philippians 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
During campaigns, political candidates can find themselves embarrassed by the public statements of advisors and supporters. They often cut ties with the loose-lipped person, because they know that the remarks of people on the team reflect on the cause of their political aspirations.

So far in this letter, Paul confirmed his partnership with the Philippians. He proclaimed that the gospel was his core passion. Next, Paul connected the two themes as he began to exhort the Philippian church: their attitudes toward each other reflected on the larger cause of the gospel of Christ.

To begin this section, Paul restated that his life and ministry were for the benefit of the Philippians. Note how Paul linked progress and joy in the faith (v. 25). As we grow in faith, our joy in the gospel grows, too. In fact, Paul longed to see the Philippians so that their joy in Jesus would overflow (v. 26). This was not just happiness at a desired outcome—in both verses, Paul explicitly noted that the root of this joy was in Christ and His message. Verse 27 is the heart of Paul's message to the Philippians, the summary statement that the rest of the letter is spent unpacking and explaining. This command was given to the entire church to be obeyed as a body, not just as separate individuals. Together, they were to conduct themselves as worthy of the gospel of Christ. What would that look like? They were to stand firm in one spirit.

They were also to contend as one for the gospel. Unlike the preachers in Rome who had divided motives, the Philippians needed unity in their proclamation of faith. This unity in the shared purpose of preaching Jesus has a purpose beyond just folks getting along in the church in Philippi. This unity is a sign to the opposition outside the church that the gospel is true. This unity is a testimony to God's salvation (v. 28).

The Philippians were being falsely accused and imprisoned just as Paul and Silas had been (v. 30). But these difficulties should not have diverted their attention from living in a manner worthy of Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If Jesus Christ is not our driving passion, we might find the challenge to live a life worthy of the gospel and to seek unity for the gospel to be simply a hollow call. For a challenging book on the priority of the gospel in our lives, read Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians by D. A. Carson (Baker). This book is available in Christian bookstores and online retailers. Much is at stake when disunity plagues the church and when rivalry and ambition choke out love and selflessness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 5:1-7
Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house . . . all their leaders are rebellious. - Hosea 9:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
In November 1978, members of the Peoples Temple killed U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan who was investigating in Jonestown, Guyana, where hundreds of the cult's members had fled to escape media scrutiny in the United States. Later that day, the cult's founder and leader, Jim Jones, forced his followers to drink a cyanide-laced beverage and brutally murdered those who refused. Over 900 people died at the hands of the wicked leader who then killed himself.

The Jonestown tragedy is an infamous example of how people in power can ensnare their victims. During the time of Hosea, the abysmal leadership of Israel's kings and priests had brought an entire nation to destruction.

The religious and governmental leadership of Israel had forsaken their legitimacy, and the beginning of chapter 5 is directed specifically against them (v. 1). The kings and priests of Israel had openly welcomed pagan worship practices since the kingdom was divided (1 Kings 14; cf. Jer. 2:1-9) and had never completely eliminated foreign religious influence. God held those leaders accountable for entrapping the people and carrying them along in apostasy. As a result, the victims of their rebellion were piled like slaughtered animals (v. 2), and the hearts of the people became permanently misguided (v. 4).

It should be noted here that Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel and was often used as another name for the northern kingdom. By using the names of Jacob's son (Judah) and grandson (Ephraim, Joseph's son), Hosea emphasized the ongoing aspect of Israel's disobedience. After generations of defiance, the nation was about to experience God's withdrawal from a loving relationship with them. Those who attempted to worship God would not find the opportunity (v. 6). With hearts saturated with lust for other gods and sexual promiscuity (v. 3), any sacrifice to God would have been rendered meaningless. Even the festivals ordained to thank God, instead commemorated Israel's destruction (v. 7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Whether you're a high-ranking leader in the church or a soft-spoken role model behind the scenes, your sin affects the people who look up to you. Take a moment to list all the people who may watch and imitate your behavior and attitudes. You might write down individual names or entire groups of people. Your children, family members, coworkers, students, and everyone on this list will be influenced for better or for worse by your actions. Ask God to lead you to shine as a guiding light for His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 5:8-15
There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal. - Deuteronomy 32:39
TODAY IN THE WORD
Judging from the number of advertisements for pharmaceuticals and weight-loss products, it appears that Americans are increasingly focused on getting physically healthy—or at least thinner. Even as obesity rates climb and many poor people find access to health care restricted, the obsession with an ideal standard of health and fitness sells magazines and gets television viewers to tune in.

The people of Israel were more concerned with their physical health than their spiritual well-being, and their search for healing was desperate and futile. On many occasions, God showed His power to heal those who called out to Him for mercy. But God also showed His power by bringing affliction to people who rebelled against Him. God compared Himself to a moth and to rot (v. 12)! His glory had not diminished at all, but His relationship with Israel had switched from healer to destroyer.

Today's passage references Israel's attempt to find help from Assyria, their future captors. But even the greatest human king could not save Israel from the wrath of God, whether it came in the form of disease (v. 13) or violence (v. 14). Israel's decision to turn to a foreign ruler instead of their own sovereign Lord illustrated just how clouded their minds had become.

Verses 8 and 9 raise an alarm of panic in Israel about the judgment coming to them, but God made it clear in verse 15 that He would not be rushing in to save them. He was done playing the role of healer and protector for a reckless nation. The prophecy from Hosea was God's final call to the people of Israel. For some time following Hosea's ministry, God would retreat into silence and wait for a trembling, hurting people to return to Him. In His omnipresence, God could never leave Israel alone, but in His holy justice, God would seem infinitely distant from the culture so steeped in wickedness. If His Word would not turn Israel back to Him, God's actions would bring on a change of heart.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Some believers presumptuously attribute any natural disaster or epidemic to a specific judgment of God. On the other end of the spectrum, many people naively exclude the possibility of any divine judgment in our world today. Consider these two principles: first, before turning your requests to God in prayer, turn your heart to Him in obedience; and second, instead of trying to interpret the incomprehensible sovereignty of God, follow the Word He has clearly revealed. God will never punish obedience to His commands!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 6:1-3
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. - Proverbs 28:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the book The Five Languages of Apology, Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas identify five distinct sentiments in the anatomy of a genuine apology: “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” “Let me make it up to you,” “I won't do it again,” and “Please forgive me.” The book asserts that most people have a primary apology language that determines both how they offer and receive apologies. Some people, for instance, won't accept an apology unless they hear those three rare words: “I was wrong.”

Israel's apology language had deteriorated into a crude dialect that could be summed up in the command, “You will forgive us.” These first three verses in today's reading represent Israel's response to the judgment handed down to them, and at first glance, the plea resembles repentance. But a closer look proves it lacked substance.

We can look first at what isn't there. At no point did Israel acknowledge any wrongdoing. The opening statement oozes with nonchalance as if returning to the Lord were as simple as changing phone companies. They expressed no regret, only their obvious desire to be healed and restored. Their decision to choose God was empty of conviction—they had run out of options. This was a last-ditch effort to get on God's good side.

Israel realized to some extent the power and sovereignty of God, but they remained in complete ignorance of their wickedness. They admitted that God had struck them down and that He had the power to lift them up, but they showed no understanding of why they had been punished in the first place.

Israel's presumption that God would come to their aid could serve as the definition of what it means to take God's grace for granted. Verses 2 and 3 describe God's healing and mercy like a vending machine, requiring no sincere sorrow for sin. But God doesn't offer push-button forgiveness. As we will read more tomorrow, He expects genuine repentance and loyalty. He's jealous for His people's exclusive worship.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There probably isn't a person alive who hasn't sinned without thinking, “I'll be forgiven later.” We sin knowing full well that God's grace awaits us; sometimes we confess our sins while already anticipating the next offense. Remind yourself today that the forgiveness of God is not something to treat casually. Jesus paid for our sins with His blood. We should rejoice in the grace of God, for it is a wonderful gift. But we should never take it for granted. Read Romans 6:1-4 as a reminder of this truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 6:4-11
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice. - Hosea 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
For centuries, people in regions of India believed that tobacco could whiten teeth. A 1992 law prohibited this dangerous ingredient in any dental care products, but a 2004 study by the World Health Organization revealed the practice was still common, especially in toothpaste used by adolescents. Despite the medical evidence about the harmfulness of tobacco, people continued to believe that it was good for their teeth.

Belief without knowledge can be harmful. As we saw yesterday, Israel praised God for being as consistent as the light of dawn. They failed to realize that God's consistent light would strike them like lightning (v. 5), because their heart for God was as fleeting as a cloud of morning fog (v. 4). The Hebrew phrase translated as “lightning” in the niv is rendered in other translations as “light that goes forth” or “light of the dawn,” a direct play on the words of verse 3. Israel expected forgiveness when, in fact, judgment was coming.

Another translation difficulty shows up in verse 11. If you're reading the niv, you may have wondered why the chapter ends in the middle of a sentence. If you're studying the nasb or the kjv, you may have found it confusing that God's promise of judgment seems to apply to Israel while hope is offered to Judah. Bible scholars have puzzled over those same questions, causing some translators (like the editors of the niv) to conclude that the final phrase in verse 11 actually belongs with the opening verse of chapter 7. That conclusion seems to fit better with the context of the passage. Like the northern kingdom, Judah would reap a harvest of judgment in the immediate future. While Judah (and all of Israel) could look forward to future restoration, their stubborn sinfulness prevented them from receiving God's appointed blessing.

Israel's attempt at repentance was futile; they continued to offer sacrifices, but they never abandoned their sin. The sacrificial system was not a magic trick to make Israel's sins disappear. It was supposed to be an expression of loyalty to God and acknowledgment of His supremacy. Without a genuine change of heart, Israel's outward acts of worship were meaningless (v. 6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The ancient copies and fragments that have preserved the inspired message of Hosea contain many small variations from the original document, making Hosea one of the most difficult books for translators to navigate. For a better understanding of the process of the preservation and translation of the Word of God, we encourage you to read a book on this important, complicated topic, such as A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible by Paul D. Wegner, Moody alumnus and former professor at Moody.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 7:1-7
All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me. - Hosea 7:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Five years after Barry Bonds retires, he'll be eligible for the Hall of Fame. After the ongoing controversy surrounding Bonds's alleged use of steroids, many voters have indicated that they're reluctant to elect him. If he's not elected, baseball's all-time leaders in homeruns (Bonds) and hits (Pete Rose) would be left out of the Hall because of personal and professional transgressions.

Israel's image was stained in God's eyes by their rampant transgressions. Their sin stood in the way of God's healing (v. 1). They were engulfed by their wickedness like the flames of a torch shining brightly for God to see (v. 2).

The fire metaphor sears throughout this passage, and it's a fitting description of the nature of sin. Like a pre-heated oven that burns hot as dough is being prepared for baking, Israel's sinful passions burned in anticipation of sinful acts (v. 4). Their sin was as varied as it was extreme, including adultery, violence, deceit, mockery, drunkenness, and theft. The national depravity was not a story of isolated incidents of sin; rather, it was an ongoing inferno of evil pursuits.

Even more shockingly, the sinfulness of Israel pleased its leaders (v. 3). It is bad enough that a nation's rulers would tolerate deplorable behavior, but to actually delight in it is unforgivable! It was also their doom. The land's kings were consumed by the flames of Israel's sin. Facing the certain judgment of Assyrian exile, the sinfulness of the nation practically burned the kingdom to the ground. As the fire of sin burned and the nation of Israel crumbled, not one of the ruling kings had the humility or forethought to call on God for help. God wasn't ignoring their cries—there were none to be heard. Israel should not have been surprised to hear Hosea's report of judgment. Not only did they fail to acknowledge their sin, but their leaders failed to turn to God even as their sin destroyed them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
An immature follower of Christ might turn to God only in times of trouble, but it is far worse to completely ignore God when distress does come. Our impulse might very well be to run from God when temptation comes. Or maybe we fear that God is tired of our pleas for help, as if we could wear out God's mercy. Neither is true—we can and should run to God, when we need both His forgiveness and His rescue.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 7:8-16
In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. - Psalm 10:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Professionally trained homing pigeons are often used for dramatic effect at weddings or other events. After they're released, they fly home, easily finding their way even on trips of one hundred miles or more. But when doves lacking any homing ability are released, the results are far from beautiful. At a New Jersey event commemorating the September 11 tragedy, eighty young untrained doves were released and chaos ensued. Some flew into buildings, others plunged into the Hudson River, and some just walked away. None of them had any clue where “home” was.

Israel in Hosea's day suffered from a similar problem. They had become like distant relatives of Abraham and his sacrificial faith. Their bearings should have been permanently oriented to God, but they had lost any inclination to return to Him. Israel had degenerated into a weak and foolish nation.

The picture of Israel as a silly dove is one of several metaphors in today's reading. God also compared them to a cake that had been ruined in two ways. Israel had mixed into the cultures of foreign lands, spoiling the basic ingredients of their faith. They were then left to burn like a pancake that never was flipped. Their integration with pagan religions and the lack of care from anyone resembling a spiritual leader left Israel in a worthless state.

Israel was also like an old man unaware of the effects of age (v. 9). They were like an archer's bow that sent its arrows astray (v. 16). All these pictures point to the depraved condition of the nation of Israel. They had no direction, no strength, and no idea of how desperate their situation had become.

As lowly as they were, Israel was an arrogant nation, which may have been the root of their other sins. God predicted two tragic results of their condition that would prove how unfounded their pride was. They were to be ridiculed by other nations and defeated by military powers. Insult would be heaped upon injury.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We need humble hearts to acknowledge both our sin and God's supremacy. Spending time in prayer and in God's Word is an excellent way to expose sin and correct your course. Read these passages of confession in Scripture, and let them teach you how to humbly acknowledge your sin to God: Psalm 51; Daniel 9:4-19; and 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers so that your desires are shaped by what God desires.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 8:1-7
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy. - Matthew 6:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Ecclesiastes, the phrase “chasing after the wind” describes the pursuits of life on earth. King Solomon had come to the conclusion that the grand acquisitions and achievements of his life were worthless, part of a never-ending race with the grave as the finish line. He most likely wrote the book long after he had compromised his faith by marrying into practically every religion and every nation on earth.

Solomon's successors on the thrones of Israel and Judah followed in his footsteps of compromised faith, and they did so without Solomon's depth of wisdom. They chased after the winds of pagan worship, and all of their work was an exercise in futility. They sowed in spiritual ground that could never bear fruit, and they would reap a whirlwind of destruction (v. 7).

The theme of Israel's doom runs throughout today's passage, beginning with an image that could prove misleading to those familiar with the American icon of the eagle. But the bird described here is no symbol of freedom; it is a bird of prey or a scavenging vulture circling overhead as if Israel were a carcass. Israel was perishing because they were in blatant violation of God's covenant. To show that their infidelity was not a recent development or a one-time occurrence, God made reference to one of Israel's earliest and most blatant blunders.

Israel had been unfaithful to the law of the covenant even as it was first being etched into stone. They struggled to produce any semblance of faithfulness toward God, always testing the limits of His mercy. God wasn't punishing Israel for a brief lapse in righteousness. The national epidemic of sin was a chronic condition. Their worship of gods made from human hands had peaked, and they had provoked the anger of God for far too long. The gods they depended on for agricultural success were no gods at all, and the fruit of their labor and misguided worship would be devoured (v. 7). The true provider of blessing for generations was repaying their evil with destruction and loss.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not engage in anything as drastic as bowing down to a golden idol, but there are many common activities and ambitions that are equally futile from an eternal perspective. We must learn to consider a full and prosperous life as one that makes an eternal investment in God's kingdom. Evaluate your activities throughout the next week. Is your life lived in worship of God or in pursuit of personal gratification? Ask God to use your life for His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 8:8-14
I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as . . . alien. - Hosea 8:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
As a child, John Webber played with a toy worth a million dollars. As an adult, he visited a London antique shop with an old cup that had been his childhood toy and learned it was an ancient Persian relic (probably crafted not long after the days of Hosea). The golden cup, appraised at nearly $1 million, may have once been used by royalty, but little John Webber had used it as a target for his air rifle.

Like a priceless treasure that had become nothing more than a child's plaything, God's chosen people had been cast aside like a worthless piece of pottery (v. 8 ). Today's reading illustrates the many ways that this prized nation had depreciated beyond belief.

Israel was like a donkey without a master, a lover who had prostituted herself. They had gone from being a prosperous, mighty nation to becoming a weak people who groveled at the feet of other kingdoms. They no longer demonstrated the glorious supremacy of God. They were a cautionary tale of the depths of human weakness. Israel's worship had lost all value as well. Their altars were desecrated, and their sacrifices were devoid of meaning. They had collapsed as a nation in every way. Their agriculture, economy, government, military, and spiritual health had all been—or would soon be—devastated. How could this be the nation that represented God to the world?

The reason behind their collapse was simple: they had rejected the Word of God (v. 12). Israel looked at God's law as if it were completely alien to them when it should have defined their way of life! The nation of God had put their trust in city walls and strong fortresses and abandoned any connection to the Lord who gave them everything they had. They had lost their value as a nation because they had devalued the Word—God's law was essentially their national constitution, and they didn't even recognize it. Because of their ignorance, everything they had come to depend on for security was taken and destroyed. When the Word of God loses its importance in the eyes of His people, His people become ineffective.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It should come as no surprise when the world looks at the Bible with disdain. But what's even more grievous is when God's people treat His Word with ambivalence. Today's passage and the entire book of Hosea show ample evidence of the critical connection between the Word of God and a relationship with God. It is impossible to follow God without following His Word. Resist the temptation to make choices based on what is popular. Make the Word of God the deciding factor in your decisions, and you will never regret it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 9:1-9
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. - Luke 6:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
On September 23, 1908, fans of the New York Giants joyously ran onto the field at the Polo Grounds as Moose McCormick stepped on home plate. They thought they were celebrating the winning run that would defeat Chicago and break a tie with the hated Cubs in the National League standings. But base runner Fred Merkle was called out at second base as he was swept away by the crowds of ecstatic players and fans reveling in the glory of . . . a tie that eventually led to a Cubs World Series pennant.

Israel had to cancel their celebrations, because they were rejoicing in what was, in fact, their defeat. Pagan prostitution and the harvest they believed it brought had become the trademarks of Israel's culture. Everything they did in the hopes of achieving prosperity would be rendered fruitless by God's judgment. The displays intended for worship would instead mark them as unclean, and the food they offered to God would not be allowed into His presence (v. 4). The sin of Israel would finally trigger their expulsion from the land (v. 3). Israel had become a backward nation because they had a backward understanding of the truth. On the rare occasion that Israel really did hear the truth, they rejected it as folly or insanity (v. 7). How often it happens that a people will become so immersed in false thinking that the truth appears ridiculous. Hosea was the lone voice of reason, and the people thought he was crazy.

One may wonder why God sent Hosea, knowing that Israel would reject him. But regardless of Israel's perceptions, Hosea was a watchman over the nation (v. 8 ). God loved the people enough to sound a warning through His prophet to alert them of coming danger. While the mass response was to ignore and ridicule Hosea, a faithful few undoubtedly heeded his warning and preserved his inspired words. Still, the overwhelming consensus was hostility toward God's truth (v. 8 ). God compared their reaction to the tragic civil war at Gibeah where thousands of Israelites died because of one tribe's refusal to eliminate sin from their midst (v. 9; cf. Judg. 20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We live in a world where people celebrate the belief that all faith is equally valid. But as Hosea clearly teaches, God alone offers salvation, and He does not tolerate the worship of other gods. Don't be afraid to discuss your faith with people who don't share your beliefs. Ask God to provide an opportunity with someone you know. But also remember that your desire to present the truth should come out of love, not arrogance, personal judgment, or the desire to be right.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 9:10-17
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. - Isaiah 62:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to Aaron's report to Moses, the golden calf just mysteriously popped out of the fire. Aaron bent the truth as he described the idol's creation, but the idol did instantly become an object of worship. Aaron proclaimed that this golden calf was the god that delivered them from Egypt, and the people took the sacrificial acts previously reserved for the one true God and applied them to a statue.

The account of the golden calf is recorded in Exodus 32, but the shame of it is remembered in today's passage. Hosea portrays the love of God in several different ways, and verse 10 draws a connection between God's love for Israel and a man's love for a woman, with something resembling a “love at first sight” type of affection. God looked on Israel with favor at the beginning of the relationship He ordained, but Israel repaid that affection by showing their love to a god of their own making.

In previous passages we saw how Israel's expectations backfired, their labor was undone, and their perceptions were obscured. Today we see how God's view of Israel had dramatically changed—not because of a change in His character, but because of the explosion of sin in their lives. He uses the metaphor of offspring to describe the coming halt to Israel's fruitfulness. Ever since Joseph welcomed his brothers and their families to Egypt, Israel had enjoyed radical growth in their numbers. God was pronouncing an end to that blessing. Certainly there were women in Israel who gave birth in the centuries that followed this judgment, but the drop in growth would be harsh.

In light of God's promise to Abraham for countless descendants (Gen. 22:17), this punishment was particularly painful for Israel, but they deserved far worse. They had once worshiped a calf, and throughout their history Israel would stray from God to depend on manmade gods and pagan fertility rituals. Israel was like a bride who cheats on her wedding night. The image of fondness and love was completely soiled by their immediate treachery.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It can be difficult to imagine what God's love is like because He is so infinite and incomprehensible. But God is not impersonal. His love is not emotionless. His love is more pure, expressive, intimate, and true than human love could ever be. Remember that today as you consider the fact that God loves you with a passion. How will you repay that love today? His love shouldn't just make us feel better—it should make us live better as well.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 10:1-10
Even if we had a king, what could he do for us? - Hosea 10:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many children have made the mistake of thinking a dandelion is a flower. Kids love the bright yellow petals. They love it even more when the head becomes white and fluffy. They have great fun blowing petals across the yard as their parents cringe at the thought of hundreds more dandelions springing up!

Israel's faith may have had the form of a blooming flower, but it was a malicious weed spreading rapidly across the land. The altars multiplying across Israel weren't dedicated to the one true God, and the sacred stones weren't really sacred at all. They were monuments to their false gods, and as Israel prospered, the altars increased like dandelions infesting a lush, green lawn.

Notice here how the branches of economic prosperity, religious practices, and civil order intertwine in this passage. The rhetorical question in verse 3 shows the people's dismay at the lack of justice, but it also reveals their lack of understanding. They should not have been surprised that religious depravity would breed political corruption and widespread disputes (v. 4).

It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods rather than pursuing political reform. They mourned the loss of their idols. They ignored the loss of courage like David's or wisdom like Solomon's. Israel didn't place their hope in God or even in kings . . . they put their faith in manmade objects of worship. As a result of their foolishness, their government was rendered irrelevant (v. 7), and their gods were proven disgraceful (v. 6).

The meaning behind the mention of Israel's “double sin” in verse 10 isn't immediately clear—there were definitely more than two sins for God to punish. One possibility is that Israel's first sin was woeful idolatry and that their second sin was the stubborn refusal to turn away from those practices in order to avoid impending punishment. Israel made a bad situation worse by refusing to repent.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there a sin (or sins) that you just can't let go of, one that may look harmless but multiplies like a weed throughout your life? If you have been studying God's Word with us throughout the month, that sin has probably been brought to your attention repeatedly. You must take a stand, either against God's Word or against the sin. Ask God for strength to make the right choice and to stand firm in obedience. Memorize a verse that can help you resist temptation when it strikes.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 10:11-15
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap . . . unfailing love - Hosea 10:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
To a modern believer, the rule against muzzling an ox during the threshing process might seem irrelevant (Deut. 25:4). An ox in ancient Israel, however, would have considered it a basic oxen right. Muzzling an animal while it pushed the stone around a floor full of grain would be like forbidding a Baskin Robbins employee to eat ice cream. But as Paul would later reflect, God didn't give the law for the sake of the ox. He wanted to prevent the Israelites from being stingy with the fruits of their labor (1 Cor. 9:9-10).

Today's reading changes the point of view to the animal, because God compared Israel to a heifer in the threshing room. The problem wasn't stinginess but rather laziness. Israel enjoyed the benefits of belonging to God without truly serving Him as Master. God had the work of righteousness in store for Israel, and the fruit of that labor was a love that would not fail (v. 12). But Israel didn't respond to God's call to sow righteousness—they did quite the opposite (v. 13).

Israel completed the entire cultivation cycle of sin. They planted and harvested evil and then consumed the lie their sin produced. Similar to the prostitution metaphor, this was a picture of how Israel had made a living out of wickedness. As a result, the heavy yoke on Israel's neck would be punishment rather than privilege.

In verse 13, the tone of the passage switches dramatically from the agricultural metaphor to a more literal prediction of military devastation. Israel put their trust in chariots, horses, and their own might as a nation—this proved to be misplaced trust. The description of the consequences is harrowing, including the death of women and children and the dissolution of the throne of Israel (v. 15). The offer of righteousness and love quickly changed to the promise of destruction.

The call to sow righteousness and reap God's love is a compelling promise, because it was made to the sinful. Even knowing how they would refuse, God still extended them the opportunity to do what was right and experience something wonderful!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If the Christian life seems easy, you may not be living it. Write verse 12 in its entirety and carry it with you through the day. This message, delivered to Israel in their apostasy, has a common application for anyone in God's family. If you have been enjoying the benefits of Christianity without giving of yourself in service, there is much unplowed ground for you to cover! No matter what position you are in, seek the Lord and He will give you an opportunity. Take it willingly!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 11:1-4
They will put you out of the synagogue . . . because they have not known the Father or me. - John 16:2-3
TODAY IN THE WORD
After exile in Babylon, Jews were allowed to return to their land during the Persian rule of Cyrus. The ministries of Ezra and Nehemiah brought appropriate worship and respectable structure back to the land of Israel, but the days of Israel's power as a sovereign state were gone. For centuries, they were subject to the authority of other empires like Macedonia and Rome. Finally, when Jesus came as Messiah and King, sent from the Father to redeem His people and establish His kingdom . . . He was rejected. His own people didn't recognize Him, His followers, or His Heavenly Father (cf. John 16:1-4).

Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider. In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but He also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.

Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf. Matt. 2:15). Israel left Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you ever feel like God is distant, remember that He is your spiritual Father who longs to help you and draw you close to Himself. You can find encouragement by remembering how God has shown His love to you. Make a list of the ways in which God has provided, cared for you, and showered you with grace and mercy. Thank Him for each instance and rejoice in the knowledge that He has demonstrated His love in so many ways, including the greatest gift of all: His Son!