O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Hosea 14

O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. Hosea 14:8-9

This morning, I wrap my study of Hosea by looking at Hosea 14, where God pleas with Israel to repent and return to Him and if they do, He promises blessings.  See also OverviewBible.com's survey of this book. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, chronicled in rich detail throughout the book of Hosea, including God's command to Hosea that he marry an unfaithful woman Gomer, we never lose sight of how God is jealous for Israel/us (not of us) and that He loves Israel in spite of her sin.  God is slow to anger, abounding in love, and rich and mercy.  He is faithful, even when we fall down. God offers mercies that never cease and are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and He seeks for us to confess our sin return to Him (vv1-2). God even gives Israel the words to say in prayer to Him (of course He wants us to utter them with a contrite heart) - see vv2-3. In vv4-7 God shares the blessings Israel (us) will experience upon a return (repentance) to Him - what an incredible portrait of what fellowship with God looks like! V8 then shares how idols offer nothing and do not respond when we call, but God is a living God who hears and responds to our cries, looks after us (as only a Father/Shepherd does), and fruit/provision comes from abiding in Him (John 15:1-10). V9: The Lord's ways are right!  Amen!
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Sin causes us to stumble - vv1,9. No idol nor man (regardless of how powerful he is) can save us from eternal damnation - Solus Christus or Christ alone saves.  Knowledge of God and a discerning heart that seeks to understand Truth is key - and they help us remain upright (prevent us from stumbling into sin).   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking idols or things of this world to worship - they do not save! Claim the promise of salvation, freedom from the sting of sin and death, and the blessings and fruit that accompanies fellowship with God.  Follow the example of David and so many others throughout scripture who repented of their sin and returned to the Lord. Confess and believe in Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Word and Your unwavering love and faithfulness, despite how my sin is great and how it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting?

Hosea 11-13

I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Hosea 13:14

I continue my study of Hosea, and my focus this morning is Hosea 11-13, where God shares through Hosea a prophecy of Israel's looming exile at the hands of Assyria - she has been unfaithful and God will discipline her.  See also OverviewBible.com's survey of this book. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In 11:1-4 God shares how He cared for Israel (referring also to Israel as Ephraim - one of the largest tribes).  Yet then He quickly moves to describe Israel's unfaithfulness because "they have refused to return to [God]" (v5).  Vv6-7 share how He will punish/discipline Israel.  God returns to His love for Israel in vv8-11 but once again He then pivots in v12 to how Israel "surrounded [God] with lies...and deceit[.]  In 12:6 we see how God seeks a contrite heart and repentance from Israel, but ultimately He "will repay [Ephraim] for his disgraceful deeds" (v14). Ephraim's sin is further described in 13:1-2, 6, 9, and 12 as "they sin more and more," make idols before God, forgot God, are against God, and are bound up in iniquity. In the midst of God's pronouncement of judgement (and looming punishment via exile to Assyria) - concluding in this chapter via v16 - on Israel, we see God pointing to ultimately how Israel will be offered salvation through Christ (v14).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Believers and non-believers alike continue to live in sin - so no one can claim they are without sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8).  We are not unlike Israel who lived faithfully for a period, then forgot God and wandered from Him.  The message of Hosea is for us just as it was for Israel.  Believers, however, have the hope of Jesus who gives us victory over sin and death.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid the faithlessness of Israel which is often seen as performative worship that does not have a heart for God.  Claim the promise that Jesus offers to repent and return to Him as He offers salvation and freedom in Christ.  Follow the example of Hosea who was obedient to God and faithful to Him even though God asked him to marry an unfaithful woman/prostitute (Gomer).  Repent and have faith in Jesus who is faithful to those who follow Him.      

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation and for Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

Hosea 7-10

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. Hosea 10:12

After a brief hiatus this past week looking at Galatians, I return to my study of Hosea where I left off this past Monday, and my focus this morning is Hosea 7-10, where God continues to describe Israel's unfaithfulness and His plan for her discipline (including exile to Assyria).  See also OverviewBible.com's survey of this book. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: 7:2 reminds us that God knows all (omniscient) and no sin is hidden from God and He remembers all sin (see also this post on the books to be opened on Judgement Day).  While the new covenant based on Christ's shed blood gives us freedom from the law (see also Galatians 4:8-5:12), we do not have license to continue sinning but instead Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit and as we abide in Him, He abides in us and we bear fruit and He molds us into more of His image (see also John 15:1-10).  God wants us to know, love, serve and glorify Him - this is why we exist. Israel, unfortunately, lost its way on this during Hosea's time - readers of today are no different except that now we have Christ who saves us. Hosea also shares God's plans to discipline Israel, including 7:12, 8:5, 7-8, 14, 9:3, 7, 17, 10:2, 10:10, and 10:13-15.  At the same time, God is slow to anger and abounding in love - offering mercy and forgiveness for those who repent and turn to Him. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Over these four chapters, much is said that describes Israel's sin and unfaithfulness.  Israel forgot God, they worshiped idols, and they claimed to love God with their words and actions but not with a pure heart.  Believers of today can just as easily do the same.  God encourages us to create fertile ground for Him, and for His Word to take root and bear fruit. See Hosea 10:12. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid worshiping God with an empty heart that is performative vs a contrite heart that genuinely seeks Him.  Claim the promise that God will "rain righteousness upon you" if you seek the Lord. Follow the example of Paul, the prodigal son and so many others who repented of their sin.  Confess your sins, accept Jesus as your Savior, and seek Him with all of your heart (and you will find Him - Jeremiah 29:13).     

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your rich mercy, patience, and for saving me despite my unfaithfulness. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 4-6

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 

I continue a pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians as this book will be discussed this morning with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  Due to time constraints I focus on a survey (high level review) of chapters 4-6 - see also OverviewBible.com as a resource. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Broadly speaking, in chapters 4-6, Paul shares two themes - one emphasizing what not to do, and the other emphasizing what to do.  As shared in my previous posts this week on Galatians, with the new covenant based on Christ's shed blood (read also Hebrews for a discussion on how Jesus offers a better covenant - vs the original covenant passed on from Abraham to his descendants), we cannot earn our salvation through obedience to the law.  The law reveals both our sin and God's grace for our sin.  Therefore, we should not add to, subtract from, or twist the Word to suit anything other than God's will.  We should pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in understanding the Word.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Chapters 5-6 move to the affirmative - what we should be doing as believers.  Key verses here include 5:13 where Paul shares how freedom from the law should not be used as a license to sin but instead to love and serve one another. 5:14 shares that "[f]or the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  5:18-23 contrast sins of the flesh vs fruit of the Spirit - and these can be used a litmus test to discern how someone is fruitful in God's eyes (for His glory) and for others watching you (including non-believers). Key verses in chapter 6 include how we are to support and encourage one another as believers by gently pointing out other believers' sin to them and by "bearing one another's burdens" (6:1-2).  Vv9-10 encourage us to "not grow weary of doing good...to everyone....especially to those who are of the household of faith."  These final encouragements in the affirmative for me emphasize how church unity (do not pursue a church agenda that not scripturally aligned or Gospel centered) is very important - and how this unity must be based on God's Word alone and nothing else.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid false teachers and false teaching - particularly teaching that emphasizes how one can earn their salvation - not possible!  Claim the promise how - based on Christ's shed blood - we have salvation through grace alone and how God delivers mercies that never cease and are new every morning - we are a new creation. Follow the example of Paul who went from persecutor of the church (chief sinner) to arguably the chief proselytizer or proponent of the Gospel, and that a core message is salvation through grace alone.  Know God and His Word to be able to discern Truth - pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding of the Word.      

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, and for giving me Your Word, my church, and all the brothers and sisters in Christ who support and encourage me in my faith journey. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily - including hypocrisy!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Galatians 3

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:23-26 

I continue a pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians through tomorrow as this book will be discussed with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  I move on to Galatians chapter 3 where Paul continues to chide the church at Galatia for falling prey to false teachers and teaching that espouses faith comes from obedience to the law, specifically Mosaic/OT law.  He sets them straight regarding how Christ came to fulfill the law, giving believers in Him freedom from the law and new life. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv2-3,5: God gives believers the Holy Spirit to work in us through the process of sanctification as He molds us into His image.  V19: God gave us the law "because of transgressions" and this suggests that a core role of the law is that it allows believers to understand their own sin and to allow God to work in us through sanctification such that we are not slaves to the law or sin but instead slaves to Christ. This is further explained by the text in vv22-26 where once again Paul reinforces that believers are justified (not guilty) not by acts or works of the law but by grace alone/faith in Jesus Christ. Of course Paul's argument here is much more detailed and elegant but that is the core of the text.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Abraham is highlighted in the text for his faith in the promise/covenant made with God (Genesis 15).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid becoming slaves to the law - seeing it as something to do.  We are to claim the promise that Christ, upon our faith and belief in Him, starts a work in us through the Holy Spirit and will continue until glorification when the process is complete and we meet Christ face to face. Follow the example of faith set by Abraham who believed and had faith in the covenant God made with him.    

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, and for starting a work in me with the Holy Spirit to make me more like You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily - including hypocrisy!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified....I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2

[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified....I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:16,20 

I continue a pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians through Friday as this book will be discussed with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  I move on to Galatians chapter 2 where Paul hammers home the theme that grace alone is this basis of our salvation, as Paul reinforces how we should not be adding to, subtracting from, and twisting the Word to suit our own desires and motives - in this case requiring believers to follow OT/Mosaic ceremonial law.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Paul emphasizes key doctrinal themes, particularly how Christ justifies believers not on the basis of works, but "through faith in [Him]" (v16).  We do not earn our salvation - grace alone saves!  In vv20-21, Paul then shares how Christ gives us freedom from the law (see also v4), and new birth/life with the Holy Spirit living in us, facilitating a life for Him.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We see Paul's humility (even though he has much to be proud about given His appointment by God), false brothers who espouse false teaching (v4), hypocrisy (vv12-14) from Cephas (Peter), and conflict between Paul and Cephas (v11).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): See also post yesterday. Avoid knowingly preaching or falling prey to false gospel.  Claim the promise that God alone saves and gives new life.  We should also avoid hypocrisy - saying one thing and doing another.  Follow the example of Paul of recognizing false gospel and correcting those who knowingly spouses such false gospel and who also demonstrate hypocrisy. Confess, repent, and believe in He who saves - then live by faith!

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, as I know that You alone - in Your grace - saved me.  Thank You also for Your gospel - the Word - and how You use the Word to reveal Yourself to me, to reveal my sin to me, and to strengthen and encourage me in my journey with You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily - including hypocrisy!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ...For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ...For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6-7,11-12 

I pause my study of Hosea to focus on Galatians today through Friday as this book will be discussed with my Friday AM men's Bible study.  I start with Galatians chapter 1 where Paul gets right to it and exhorts the church at Galatia to avoid following false teachers - primarily Judaizers or those who taught that salvation was the result of both God's grace and obedience to certain Mosaic or Old Testament ceremonial laws. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God's grace alone saves - and there is not a thing anyone can do to earn their salvation.  See also Ephesians 2:8-9.  Similarly, there is only one Gospel and we should be careful not to add to, subtract from, or twist God's Word to suit our own desires or motives.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: There are many in this world who have and will continue to put themselves above God by promoting a false gospel.  If you knowingly preach a false gospel (having been corrected by a brother or sister in Christ yet continue preaching such false gospel), you are per the text (vv8-9) accursed.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid knowingly preaching or falling prey to false gospel.  Claim the promise that God alone saves.  Follow the example of Paul of recognizing false gospel and correcting those who knowingly espouse such false gospel.  Know God and know His Word - do not add to, subtract from, or twist God's Word to suit your own desires or motives. Love God and follow Him - we exist to glorify God. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for saving me, as I know that You alone - in Your grace - saved me.  Thank You also for Your gospel - the Word - and how You use the Word to reveal Yourself to me, to reveal my sin to me, and to strengthen and encourage me in my journey with You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.