Tuesday, March 13 2012
Hosea 9
Verse of the Day:V1 "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."
1. Israel Loved Reward (V1-10)
V1 “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.”
God through Prophet Hosea told the people of Israel that He would judge and punish them because they had chosen to love the material rewards instead of His spiritual rewards. Instead of feeding their souls with God’s Word and be blessed of God for all eternity, they chose to feed their flesh with material rewards that shall perish and fail.
V2 “The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.”
2. Israel Loved Reputation (V11-14)
V11 “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.”
The people of Israel or Ephraim loved the praises from the people more than the praises of God. Instead of giving glory and praises to God, they loved themselves and their reputation. Subsequently, God not only judged and punished them, but also judged and punished their children, for their love for reputation and glory more than the love of God.
V12 “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!”
3. Israel Loved Rebellion (V15-17)
V15 “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.”
Instead of loving and obeying God, the people of Israel including their princes and leaders loved rewards, reputation and rebellion. It was a sad day for the people of Israel as the holy God pronounced judgment against them, and sent their enemies to attack and destroy them. Instead of being holy examples to the people of the world, the people of Israel became stumbling blocks to them. Subsequently God judged and punished them, and dispersed and scattered them as wanderers throughout the countries of the world.
V17 “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love and obey You.
