Hosea 6 - Israel's punishment - a call to repentance

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BLESSED!!!

   Today I will do the commentary first and then you may read the scriptures.  I hope this helps you understand chapter 6.  It did help me as I studied, first to read the scriptures,  then study, and then re-read the scriptures.  Hosea 6.

  This begins with the people knowing they did wrong, but they did not realize to what extent they had sinned.  They did not turn away from their idols, repent of their sins, or pledge to make changes.  Israel thought God's wrath would be short lived and they were more interested in the material items of this world than the eternal reward or benefit that comes from worshiping God.

  In verses 4/5 God answers the people and HE does not hold back.  He compares their love to the morning mist that vanishes in the sunlight.  Then in verse 6 HE tells them HE is not as interested in their rituals as HE is with wanting the people of Israel to really know HIM.  Why?  If they don't really know God, then the rituals, circumcision, sacrifices, etc. are just idle acts and really a mockery. This brings to mind when we take communion.  Do we really understand what we are doing or just going through the motions?  Think about it for a moment.

  Verse 7 is one we should keep close to our heart and think about when tempted.  NIV ⁷ As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.

   Verses 8/9 Gilead was once a sacred place, but at this time it is corrupt.  Shechem was once a city of refuge designated by Joshua.  Gilead was an area that included Ramoth, a city of refuge as well.  Now, all these areas are plagued with murder, crime, and bands of evil priests lying in wait to murder travelers passing through.

  Verse 10 God speaks of Ephraim and Judah prostituting themselves with false gods and then in verse 11 God tells them plainly: you are going back into captivity as this is your harvest of punishment.

   This chapter speaks volumes to us today as well.  Just look around and see how far we have moved away from the teachings of the Bible morally, ethically, and personally.  Here, again, is Hosea 6. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea 5:13-15 Oh, Wow! GOD is a-n-g-e-r-y!!!!!!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  Well, let us see what is happening now with Ephraim (Israel) and Judah; the Northern and Southern areas of Israel.

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

  Okay, now, while Menahem and Hoshea reigned Israel looked for help.  And where did they go for help?  God?  NO!! They went to Assyria, a great world power at that time. Look at these verses in 2 Kings to clarify and understand.

  ¹⁴ For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

  God is smashing HIS hammer down at this time.  To Ephraim is as a lion, and Judah as a young lion.  The difference?  I feel as if the young lion is probably less experienced at attacking and does attack with a vengeance; whereas the lion goes, kills, but does not tear something to shreds.  My opinion.  God also says, 'hey, I'm leaving'.

  ¹⁵ 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.

  God is saying HE will leave, go back to HIS throne until when?  When they realize what they have done and call out to him.

  God is coming to judge and when the people actually seek GOD once again, truly seek HIM,  HE will come.  Hebrews 2:3 tells us that ones who heard Jesus shared the Good News and we who have not heard, believe and still share that news yet Jesus has not been seen by us.

   These people have witnessed what God can do, and if younger, they have heard what God will do for them.  BUT, until they return their loyalty, faith, and love to GOD, he won't answer.  Why?  God is a true gentleman and will come to our aid when we call upon HIM!  These people are neglecting God's call to repentance, so, can they escape?  Thank you for reading today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea 5:5-12 Don't anger GOD!!

Good morning all. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  Today as we look at the scriptures I would ask that you read each line and meditate momentarily on it.  God is PO-ed big time at the people of Israel.  After all HE has done for them, yet the way they treat him.

  Oh, wow, often we can look in the mirror and say the same thing.  Look how we treat God on a daily, weekly, monthly, even yearly basis.  When all is going well it is us;  BUT, when times get hard then......Oh, LORD, please help me.  Read and think.     

  Here is some history to remember before you read verses 4-9:  Jeroboam I rebelled against Solomon's son Rehoboam and set up a rival kingdom in the north and he set up his own religious system (1 Kings 12:25-33)

  NOW---- Read and think.     

     Hosea 5:5-12 New International Version  

5  Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;    the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
    Judah also stumbles with them. (Pride is part of their downfall; even the once faithful Judah will fall)
6  When they go with their flocks and herds    to seek the Lord, they will not find him;
    he has withdrawn himself from them.  (When they offer sacrifices God will not accept them)
7  They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour their fields. (Fell away from God and lived immorally)

8  “Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah.Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven; lead on, Benjamin. (Hosea prophesied that these cities, Gibeah and Ramah, would sound the alarm of the coming judgment)
9  Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning.Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain. (Ephraim [Israel] will be no more due to their disobedience to God)
10  Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water. (move boundary stones refers to changing the plot or size of the land, essentially stealing more land - aka thieves)11  Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment,    intent on pursuing idols.
12  I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah. (This refers to what a moth will do to wool and Judah will be as rotten wood, stinks and deteriorates)  You can tell that GOD is angry at his people.  Today, you and I are HIS people.  Are we angering God?  If so, need we not repent?  We allow our leaders to make decisions based on the clanging gong of a few; yet we, the majority, fail to stand up and be heard.    By being silent we are as guilty as the clanging gong people.  It is time to pray, ask for guidance, seeking GOD with all we have, and stand up for JESUS!!  Thanks for reading. Love you all.In Christ's Love and GraceJohnny

Hosea 5:1-4 Failure of Israel's leaders

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED TODAY AND EACH DAY!!

  Well, we can look at Israels demise and in it we can see the same for America.  Read and watch.  Hose 5:1Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.  

  Mizpah and Tabor were most likely prominent places in the worship of Baal.  The leaders most likely encouraged the people to worship (sin) at these places.  Look at verse 2 - 2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

  Profound to make slaughter, as I understand it is they sacrificed or 'KILLED' but their sacrifice was unacceptable by God.
     The civil and religious leaders appear to be quite corrupt, so the people, who looked to the leaders for guidance, they did not find it and fell to the sins of the secular world.  Today, we can choose our leaders but we need to maintain the diligence of looking for people of God, not of false promises.  They will be held accountable as will we at judgment day.

  3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.  Okay, Ephraim is another name for Israel, the northern kingdom, and Ephraim was the most powerful of the ten tribes in the north.  In the southern kingdom, Judah, was named after its most powerful tribe.  God sees all this and HE knows.  Nothing is hid.  The phrase "thou committest whoredom" is saying the worship of God has been prostituted, it has be shaded, and because of this Israel is corrupt.

  Here is NIV verse 4 - “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God.  A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord.    This makes it very easy to understand.  They are sinning - their deeds- which in turn move away from God.

   Look at the next phrase - "A spirit of prostitution is in their heart" - this, to me, is big!  This is just the way someone acts if caught in a lie, if trying to manipulate their own way, easy words would be politician. We can say what is right through head knowledge, but if it does not come from the heart, then it is just idle (or idol) words.  

  Words from the heart is love. Look at 1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

  What is in your heart - LOVE?  or are you a clanging cymbal?  Take a moment for self evaluation.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea 4:10-19

Good morning. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!

  We begin today in Hosea 4, verse 10 & 11^{: 10} For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord.      ¹¹ Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

  It is possible that the *priests forgave people too easily. The *priests did this if the people gave them money. So the *priests lived from the people’s *sins This is what the word ‘eat’ means. But the food will not be enough.  The old wine and new wine make the people "stupid" or "non-respondent" therefore, they will not follow God.

  ¹² My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

   In the NIV it speaks of a wooden idol and a diviners rod.  God, through Hosea, is saying how smart you are. You create a wooden idol and then worship something you made.  The spirit of whoredoms means they are prostituting their relationship with God - worshiping false idols.

  ¹³ They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

  Wowsers!  This is very strong.  God says they do what is convenient, sacrificing under shade trees, and then....yes----and then---their daughters begin prostituting themselves and the wives commit adultery.   Hosea does not mean that the women were *prostitutes. It is a way of saying that they, too, *worshipped other gods. But there were *temple *prostitutes. The men offered their *sacrifices and then had sex with them. The commentaries I consult leave me slightly unsure of exactly what this meaning is, the NIV states:  Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution  and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

     What I take from this is the priests and the people are perverting and prostituting their relationship with God.  This next verse I will switch from KJV to the NIV for a clearer understanding for me.  ¹⁴ “I will not punish your daughters
    when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!

  These people do not understand what a true relationship with the living GOD is, therefore, what they are doing in life, in the temples, will one day destroy them. This reflects a lot on the generations throughout history and even today.

     ¹⁵ “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal;  do not go up to Beth Aven.  And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’    Hosea’s message is sometimes the same as the message of Amos (Amos 5:5). They both do not want Israel to *worship at Gilgal or Beth Aven. Gilgal was an important place for the people of Israel. They stopped there after they crossed the river Jordan (Joshua 4:19). Beth Aven means ‘House of Trouble’.

  ¹⁶ For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

  Backsliding heifer here refers to the fact that you can put a lamb in an area to graze and they will graze that area.  Whereas a heifer, or cattle do not just remain contently where they are, but search other places to go.  Ever see cows reach through the fence to eat grass on the other side, when there is grass, good grass on the side where they are standing?

  NIV - ¹⁷ Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!  ¹⁸ Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
¹⁹ A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

   The mighty wind or whirlwind that would sweep Israel away refers to the Assyrian invasion that would destroy the nation about 20 years later.  Hosea is experiencing through Gomer what God is experiencing through Israels idolatry.  A hard cookie to swallow.  Any other insights would be appreciated.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Thought for today:  What is the difference between a little "white lie" and a regular or "black" lie?  Thoughts?

Hosea 4 - The LORD's case against Israel

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!

  Hosea 4 is where the message to the people, delivered by Hosea from God is strong, very strong.  Possibly the same word that our preachers and politicians need to hear as well. (Talking about the 'good feeling' preachers teaching not salvation, but that only good things for God's people). 

    God brings a charge of disobedience against Israel.  The religious leaders had failed to turn the people to God, and ritual prostitution had replaced right worship.  The nation was failing both spiritually and morally, breaking the laws that God had given them.

   The people were quick to condemn Hosea's wife, Gomer; but, they failed to see that they had been just as unfaithful to God.  As you read note that God explains the reasons for Israel's suffering.  It speaks of violence everywhere - murder.  Blaming others for your circumstances instead of maning up and taking the responsibility.  This is speaking of the priests who would point out others sins, yet had a blind eye to their sins.

   Verse 4 Hosea points his finger directly at the priests, holding them directly accountable.This goes on through verse 9.  How did this come about?

  Jeroboam 1 rebelled against Solomon's son Rehoboam and set up a rival kingdom in the north, AND, he set up his own religious system (1 Kings 12:25-33).  In violation of God's law he made two gold calves and told the people to worship them.

   Then, he appointed his own priests who were not descendants of Aaron.  The people of the northern kingdom continued to worship God, doing it in the wrong way and, soon-very soon- then they also began to worship Canaanite gods.  It did not take long until they had switched Baal for God and no longer worshiped God at all.

  In verses 6-9 God accuses the religious leaders of keeping the people from knowing him.  In lieu of spiritual leaders for God, they were the gang leaders of wrong doing.  As the people observed the priests and what they did, they probably thought if it is okay for the priest it is okay for us.  Hmmm! Think about this:  YOU MAY BE THE ONLY BIBLE OTHERS SEE!!  So, how is your image?

  Here are the verses 1-9 of Hosea  4 Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. ² By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
³ Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
⁴ Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
⁵ Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
⁷ As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
⁸ They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
⁹ And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
   Thank you for reading today.  Tomorrow we will continue with verse 10 and travel through verse 14 - foolishness of false gods.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea 3 - short but good chapter

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Enjoy your BLESSINGS today!

  This is a very short chapter and shows Israel's exile and return.  Israel is in a foreign land, but God would still love the people and is willing to take them back. As in verse 1, God tells Hosea to do the same with Gomer.

  Hosea had every right to divorce Gomer for her adulteress life.  But God is telling Hosea to go and get his wife back and continue to love her.  This verse shows Gods continual and continuous love of Israel.

  Gomer must have been on her own, lived with a man, or possibly sold herself into slavery, but whatever the case Hosea had to pay to get her back. verse ² So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

  Fifteen pieces of silver was worth about $300 dollars in those days, which was a large sum of money. A homer (omer) of barley is 43 oz. so an homer and a half would be around 63-64 oz of barley.  Hosea is still willing to pay the price to get Gomer, whom he loved, back.

  Just as the God of Israel is willing to buy Israel back.  Which he did as we know from the new testament.  God sacrificed HIS SON to purchase us back.  God is willing to buy us back - to redeem us - and to lift us up again as he did Israel.

   ³ And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

 Hosea was strong in his dealing with Gomer. Telling her she would reside with him for "many days", I assume the rest of her life.  She would not have sexual relations with any one else during this time, not even Hosea.  Very strong words, but fulfilled through the strength of the living GOD.

  But exactly what does this mean?  verse ⁴ For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

  Israel would not go many days with no king, no prince, no sacrifice, or image.  The question here is could these things have all been ways in worshiping the false gods?  A teraphim creates a controversy among scholars.  There seems to be no clear definition, and if any of you have a definition I would appreciate you sharing it.  A teraphim appears to be a household furniture or item (idol) that was accepted by Israel, whether it be just a piece of furniture or an idol, it matters not as it is forbidden by God.

  What is an ephod?  Exodus 28:6-12 describes this well.  This was a special cloth worn only by the high priest  at first then later by regular priests, Samuel  (1 samuel 22:18), and David (2 Samuel 6:14) .  There is more to this if you choose to research it.

   So God is separating Israelites from their treasured idolatrous practices; sacrifices, pillars, and priests were used for idol worship.  It appears the priests, wearing ephods, had served idols, and (teraphim) idols were household gods.  This is strictly forbidden by God.

  Look at verse 5: ⁵ 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 latter days.

  Okay, read this carefully. after all this what will happen?  Israel returns seeking God, and will fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.   David their king - could this mean of his lineage which leads us to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our saviour? Could the latter days mean our time now?  How much greater is it for us who have accepted Jesus as our saviour than those who have chosen not to!  Those who don't accept Jesus Christ will face judgment and their "death sentence" when HE, the LORD of LORDS returns.

    Our job, even though it does not seem comfortable is to share the good news with all the nations.  Start at home and share with your neighbors, then move outward to communities beyond, to countries beyond.

   The whole message here is to rid yourself of the idols in your life.  Whatever they be, get shed of the them.  Get an accountability partner and pray together, helping and encouraging one another.  Stay faithful to GOD.

Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Jesus ascends to heaven

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!  Well, Spring Break is here for most of the schools in Texas.  Teachers and students are going YEA!!! Parents are going Oh, No!  LOL

  I do hope you have enjoyed the venture of 30 days with Jesus as much as I have.  There has been a lot of information, but still if one goes back to study you will find there is even more that could not be condensed into the study.

  If you are looking for buried treasure read your Bible.  I did not understand this saying for years, UNTIL, I started doing my own study, then as I became closer to God, the more was revealed to me.  Words I had read before suddenly leaped off the page at me.  Wow, what a revelation!  Love studying the Bible, it is good for the soul.

  Okay, let us look at Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:36-53 about Jesus ascending to heaven.  Matthew is concise in his words as you will see here: ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Here you find the great commission, to teach all nations, baptizing them how? Yes, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Teaching them what Jesus commanded them and then a promise.

  The promise is Jesus is with us unto the end of the world.  Wowsers!!!

   Now when we come to Luke, the physician, who is quite detail oriented we find a more indepth account.  Here the disciples are gathered together and in the midst of them Jesus appears.  The disciples did not know if this was a ghost or their imagination and they were afraid.  Jesus asked why there were afraid and said look at my hands and my feet.  It is really me, touch me, give me something to eat.  Jesus goes on to say if he were a ghost they could not touch him nor could he eat.

  Now as you read this text it looks as if Jesus ate in verse 43 and then verse 44 follows up right away.  However, there were many days between these verses as they, Jesus and his followers, traveled to Galilee and back before he returned to heaven. 

  In Acts, Luke makes it clear that Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples between his resurrection and ascension. (Notice the number 40 In verse 44 Jesus says: These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  They still were in a little fog as to what was going on when it says in verse 45 HE opened their eyes to understand the scriptures.  This is what the Holy Spirit does to us in our life today - opens our minds to understand the scripture!!!

  Get ready, for Jesus is about to ascend into heaven and leave the Holy Spirit here to comfort and guide us. Here is what HE says: Matthew 28: 46.......Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:    ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.    ⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.   ⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

  But now get ready for another amazing event.  Jesus leads them (disciples) to Bethany and lifted HIS hand to heaven and blessed them.  While HE was blessing them HE left them and was taken up to heaven. 

  Now, the disciples, understanding were filled with exceeding joy and returned to Jerusalem.  Luke emphasizes that Jesus was not a phantom, but a real human being who healed people and fed them because he was concerned with their physical health as well as the state of their souls.

  As believers, we also should obey our LORD in every detail as we move through this short life, sharing the good news gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you want to live a perfect life - give complete devotion to Jesus Christ.  The closer you come in your relationship with Jesus the closer you come to being perfect.  We will all be perfect one day - that day is beyond this world. Thank you for reading this 30 days with Jesus. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea 3:1 Food for thought on this Sabbath day!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  THE SABBATH, BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD!!!

  Please read this and think about what it is saying.  I will do more on Hosea 3 tomorrow.  Just see how this one verse relates to your life today.  Are you an adultress?  Hmmmm!

  3 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

  How oft do we, you and I, turn to other gods. We give our love to another.  Whether it be material possession or physical pleasures, we let these items come before God.  Therefore, we are adulters whether we want to believe it or not.

  Food for thought.  What, today, will divert your attention away from God, and to your own personal pleasures?  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea - the unfaithful wife (Israel) - Hosea 2:1-13

Good  morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!

  What I have just written above, often we take for granted - God is good- and then we go on with the worries of the day and forget we are - BLESSED!

  Well, let us look at the contrast between Gomer and Israel and what God is saying.  To read the first 13 verses click here on Hosea 2:1-13. To listen to Hosea 2:1-13 click here.

  I am not going to list each verse here, but do a running commentary for the first 13 verses.  These verses deal with Israel's unfaithfulness.  Think of this as a trial where the prostitute (Israel or Gomer) is presented and found guilty.

   (verses 5-7). The Israelites were thanking false gods (Baal) whom they believed was responsible for their weather and favorable farming conditions.  They thanked Baal for their food shelter and clothing in lieu of thanking the true and living God in heaven who truly had blessed them.

  To help bring them to their senses God would "fence" Israel in with thornbushes to block her path.  How so?  By making the rewards of idol worship disappointing to the point the people would have to turn back to God.  Even though Israel was unfaithful to God, God still was faithful, merciful and loving.  His arms would be open wide to HIS wayward people.

    This is as Gomer, who would return to her husband IF she thought she would be BETTER OFF WITH HIM.  How oft do we find this in our lives.  When things are going well, WE TAKE THE CREDIT, but, yes but---when things turn south we call out to God for help, or possibly blame God.  We should be calling out to God daily, continuously for guidance and praising HIM in good times and in bad times.

   Verse 8 - ⁸ For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.  So often in our society, in the world's societies, we measure success with material possessions.  God doesn’t condemn His people having earthly possessions; but He does condemn when earthly possessions have us.  Colossians 3:2 says: ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

    At this point Gomer does not realize that Homer had given her everything, all she owned, just as God gave Israel all it had.  Gomer and Israel used their possessions irresponsibly.  Wow! Wowsers!  Does this ring a bell with us in America?  How we use our possessions irresponsibly, give the children everything not making them work for it?  Having to have the finest and best of everything for our own prestige? And whom do we give credit to?  Yes, ourselves.  How often have you heard "no one gave me anything, I worked for all I have, and I am a self made man (or woman)!!  Oops!

  Gomer ran after lovers; Israel ran after Baal and other false gods; what do you run after?

    Verse 13 - ¹³ And I will visit (punish) upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord.

  Baal was the most important god to the Canaanites and his name came to be the generic name for all the false gods the people worshiped throughout the land of Israel.  The Israelites did not get rid of the idols and pagan worship centers which is what God had commanded of them.

   Does this ring a bell with us today?  We tolerate and sometimes join in with the "Baal" worship.  Whether it be material possessions, failing to speak up for God, or just not standing firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ.  A good example is the liberals are strong in pushing their agendas, and we, as Christians, gather together to complain, yet take no action.

   We all should (1) Love God with agape love; (2) love our neighbor as ourself; and (3) [in my opinion] forget liberals, conservatives, republicans, democrats, and be a united front for what God has placed before us in the Bible. ONE NATION UNDER GOD once again.  Thank you for reading. LORD, let us not be as Israel and prostitute our belief in you.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hosea & Gomer - children Hosea 1:4-11

Good morning dear friends.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!

  Well,  hopefully you found out from yesterday that God wanted Hosea to marry Gomer, one who would prostitute herself, so Gomer would be experiencing the pain God feels when Israel prostitutes itself with false gods. (and us as well)

  Well, the marriage is consummated and they have a son, God says to name the son Jezreel (verse 4) ⁴ And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

  In verse 5 comes a defeat - ⁵ And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.

  Notice what is spoken in 4 & 5 - avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu.  Elijah had predicted that the family of Israel's King Ahab would be destroyed because of their wickedness (1 Kings 21:20-22). But, Jehu was too zealous in carrying out God's command and his dynasty would also be punished where?  In the Jezreel Valley, the place where he massacred Ahab's family (2 Kings 10:1-11). .

  Well, Gomer is pregnant again and this time with a girl.  The LORD told Hosea to name her Lo-ruhamah - which means Not-Loved. The LORD told Hosea HE would not longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them. BUT, he would show love to the people of Judah. Verse ⁷ But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

  Now let's move on to verses 8-9.  A second son is born, we do not know if this is Hosea's or not, but check out the text and what God says.  ⁸ Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
⁹ Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
  Okay we have Lo-ruhamah which means not loved.  Now, we have Loammi which means not my people.  Could this also indicate the second boy child is not Hoseas?  God is showing HIS reaction to unfaithfulness.  Could God be referring to the covenant in Jeremiah 7:23? ²³ But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
  Maybe the warnings in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 were coming true. Israel was abandoning God and in turn, HE was leaving them alone and without HIS blessings. (click on the link and you can listen to the scripture in Deut 28:15-68).
  However, God's commitment remains unchanged as you read in verse 10.  This is a promise of a future reuniting the covenant made with Moses in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.
  Hosea 1:11 is a prediction of the day when all the people of God will be united under Christ.  ¹¹ Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
  God is showing Hosea through his life how Israel has treated God.  We, too, should be alert and take lessons from this.  How often do we prostitute ourselves with false gods?  A car, house, money, social position, and on and on.  We need to take heed of this lesson in Hosea.  Tomorrow we will begin chapter 2. Let me know your feelings thus far about Hosea.  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
p.s. had a request to do Revelations. I am gathering books
to do so,, but feel quite inapt at this time.  Later we will.

Hosea - (days in the life of Hosea) -an illustration love and unfaithfulness

Good morning dear friends of Jesus Christ.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BLESSED!!

  These next few days will be in Hosea.  An illustration of an unfaithful wife as related to Israel, and then we can relate this to our own "unfaithful lives" with Christ/God.

  Hosea brings to light the parallels between his relationship with Gomer (wife) and God's relationship with the nation of Israel. Even after the people made a covenant with the one true God, they followed and worshiped false gods.

  In the same way, Hosea married Gomer, knowing ahead of time that she would leave him.  Hosea tenderly dealt with his wife in spite of her sin.  Just as God was merciful toward the people of Israel despite their sins.  God has not changed; he is still merciful and forgiving.

   As you read you should be able to see a correlation between your life with God and America's life with God.  Do we learn from our past?  Obviously not. Here we go!  Who is Hosea?

  Hosea 1: The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri,  (when did this happen) in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

  Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel from 753 to 715 B.C.  Under the reign of Jeroboam II, the northern kingdom had prospered materially, but had decayed spiritually.  The people were greedy and had adopted the moral behavior and idolatrous religion of the surrounding Canaanites.

  So what was Hosea to do?  He was to show how the people of the northern kingdom had been unfaithful to God, their 'husband' and provider, and they "married" themselves to Baal and the gods of Canaan.

  He warned that unless they repented of their sin and turned back to God, they were headed for destruction.  He told of God's characteristics - his powerful love and justice - and how their practical experience of these should affect their lives and make them return to God.  Well, that didn't happen as the people had broken their covenant with God, and they would receive the punishments God had promised.  (See Deuteronomy 27-28)

  As we traverse the dialogue between God and Hosea we will see the pain of the husband married to an unfaithful wife.  Just as Israel is to God; as the United States of America is to God. Even, possibly, our lives to God.  Lots of correlation as we break this down.

  What does God tell Hosea. Verse 2: ² The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

   God is telling Hosea who to go and take as a wife what? A wife of whoredoms!  Why would God, who detests such a thing as whores or prostitutes tell Hosea to do such?  God will be showing how Israel has prostituted their 'marriage' to God by worshiping false gods.  Notice the words in blue - the land (Israel) committed great whoredom (prostituted themselves) - HOW?  By departing from the LORD and following Baal - a false god.

   By God's law a priest could not marry a prostitute, however, Hosea was not a priest, and possibly Gomer was not a prostitue when Hosea married her, BUT, she may have had a roving eye.  Hmmm!

  Well, Hosea marries Gomer. Let us read verse 3 so you will know who she is. ³ So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

 Okay, moving to the future, she's pregnant, has a son. What about the son? Well, the son was named........oh, let's move on from here tomorrow.  Thank you for reading today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

30 days with Jesus (day 30) - Jesus ascends to heaven - Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:36-53

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!  Well, Spring Break is here for most of the schools in Texas.  Teachers and students are going YEA!!! Parents are going Oh, No!  LOL

  I do hope you have enjoyed the venture of 30 days with Jesus as much as I have.  There has been a lot of information, but still if one goes back to study you will find there is even more that could not be condensed into the study.

  If you are looking for buried treasure read your Bible.  I did not understand this saying for years, UNTIL, I started doing my own study, then as I became closer to God, the more was revealed to me.  Words I had read before suddenly leaped off the page at me.  Wow, what a revelation!  Love studying the Bible, it is good for the soul.

  Okay, let us look at Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:36-53 about Jesus ascending to heaven.  Matthew is concise in his words as you will see here: ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Here you find the great commission, to teach all nations, baptizing them how? Yes, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Teaching them what Jesus commanded them and then a promise.

  The promise is Jesus is with us unto the end of the world.  Wowsers!!!

   Now when we come to Luke, the physician, who is quite detail oriented we find a more indepth account.  Here the disciples are gathered together and in the midst of them Jesus appears.  The disciples did not know if this was a ghost or their imagination and they were afraid.  Jesus asked why there were afraid and said look at my hands and my feet.  It is really me, touch me, give me something to eat.  Jesus goes on to say if he were a ghost they could not touch him nor could he eat.

  Now as you read this text it looks as if Jesus ate in verse 43 and then verse 44 follows up right away.  However, there were many days between these verses as they, Jesus and his followers, traveled to Galilee and back before he returned to heaven. 

  In Acts, Luke makes it clear that Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples between his resurrection and ascension. (Notice the number 40 appears again) In verse 44 Jesus says: These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  They still were in a little fog as to what was going on when it says in verse 45 HE opened their eyes to understand the scriptures.  This is what the Holy Spirit does to us in our life today - opens our minds to understand the scripture!!!

  Get ready, for Jesus is about to ascend into heaven and leave the Holy Spirit here to comfort and guide us. Here is what HE says: Matthew 28: 46.......Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:    ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.    ⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.   ⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

  But now get ready for another amazing event.  Jesus leads them (disciples) to Bethany and lifted HIS hand to heaven and blessed them.  While HE was blessing them HE left them and was taken up to heaven. 

  Now, the disciples, understanding were filled with exceeding joy and returned to Jerusalem. Jesus tells them to begin at Jerusalem, to wait there until they "be endued with power from on high" meaning the Holy Spirit.  Luke emphasizes that Jesus was not a phantom, but a real human being who healed people and fed them because he was concerned with their physical health as well as the state of their souls.

  As believers, we also should obey our LORD in every detail as we move through this short life, sharing the good news gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you want to live a perfect life - give complete devotion to Jesus Christ.  The closer you come in your relationship with Jesus the closer you come to being perfect.  We will all be perfect one day - that day is beyond this world. Thank you for reading this 30 days with Jesus. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

30 days with Jesus (day 29) - Jesus rises from the dead John 20:1-21:25

Good morning friends, servants of the most high God.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!!!

  What a great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!  Looking at the account of Jesus rising from the dead is quite interesting.  If you read John 20:1-21:25 you will find a first hand eye-witness account.  Whereas in Luke 24, Matthew 28, and Mark 16 you will see some details left out and some added.  Why is this the doubter would ask.  Each gave account as given to them; John being the actual eye witness of the tomb. 

  All details are basically the same, but we will be able to find details in each one that has purpose in that context.  We begin with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary coming to see the sepulchre.  In Matthew they are in for a big surprise. Let's look:   ² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  ³ His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: ⁴ And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. ⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. ⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
  At this point they run back to tell the disciples and Simon Peter and the disciple Jesus loved (John) run to the tomb.  Peter goes inside, then John.  From here on we gather the same story but from different view points. You will see the angel spoke to the women but from different places, one from atop the stone, then 2 angels inside; matter it not, this did happen and if the forensic scientists go to search for the bones of Jesus -- they will find none.
   A special note is the 'napkin' laid across Jesus' face. The significance of it is that it was folded and placed indicating the return of Jesus.  In these days if someone was dining and left the table with intent to return they would fold the napkin to show their return.  This can be controversial to many, but I chose to believe in it.
  I need to add here that in Matthew 28:11-15 the guards were afraid as the tomb was open and Jesus was gone.  Once again appear the priests; they bribe the guards to say Jesus' disciples came at night, stole the body, and did away with the body while they slept.  The priests said they will back their story and nothing will happen to them.  Will they never quit?
  Jesus does appear several times to the disciples. The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene. Jesus also appeared to these three women, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and Joanna. This happened after the appearance to Mary Magdalene. After an angel told them Jesus had risen, they were on their way to tell Jesus' disciples when they met the risen Christ.
  The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! (Luke 24:34). Later on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, (Luke 24:13-16) .  This is the last of the five appearances of Jesus on Easter Sunday. It took place in the evening, probably in the upper room in which Jesus had instituted the Lord's Supper. It is recorded in both Luke's and John's gospel, giving us two independent accounts as to what happened. John wrote: John 20:19,20,24).
  When Jesus appeared to the disciples in John 20:
²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
²³ Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  Notice here how the disciples received the Holy Ghost- just by Jesus BREATHING ON THEM!!  How awesome is our LORD and saviour!!!
   After eight days Jesus appears again when Thomas is present in John 20:
²⁶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
²⁷ Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
²⁸ And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus appeared more times covering a span of 40 days (hmm, 40 seems to be an important number-check it out).  The last of Jesus' appearances was with the disciples, then in Luke 24: ⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

There is one more appearance of Jesus and that is when, yep, you guessed it. Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:3-5.  However, the main theme of this story is Jesus has risen, there were witnesses, and our saviour is alive and well, living at the right hand of GOD the FATHER.  Love you all.  There is more to study when you have time.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

30 days with Jesus (day 28-part 2)- Jesus is crucified ad buried

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

  We will continue on with John 19:17-42.  When you read about Jesus' robe being seamless, how did you digest this concept and idea?  Casting lots for Jesus' clothing and the most valuable was the seamless robe, resembling somewhat the clothing of the high priest, which was for all practical purposes perfect.

  Now, I did not mention yesterday that when Pilate said what I have written I have written, the King of the Jews, Jesus was nailed to the cross.  If you read about the crucifixions there were many different types on the cross.  Some were tied by ropes, some nailed (as was Jesus) and the reason for these crosses was the men died by suffocation.  Why carry the cross to the point of execution?  The Romans felt this would be a warning to others.  Crucifixion was a slow and painful means of capital punishment.

   The sign Pilate placed was to be ironic and to be made fun of, however, usually the death of a king was the death of his kingdom; ironically, yes, ironically this death is the beginning of Jesus' reign.  Jesus' death and resurrection would be a deathblow to satan's rule of this world.  This sets up and establishes Jesus' eternal authority over ALL THE EARTH.

  In verse 25-27  Jesus notices John standing by Jesus' earthly mother Mary.  Since families are important, special, and precious; Jesus knowing HE is going away looked at Mary and say:    Woman, behold thy son!  ²⁷ Then saith he to the disciple, John and told him Behold thy mother! John then took Mary into his home.  Since family is important, Jesus is the oldest son, and Joseph is most likely dead, Jesus trusted his disciple John to care for HIS mother.

  Then Jesus said I thirst.  ²⁹ Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
³⁰ When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.    ³¹ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
  Verse 31 is in accordance with God's law to not leave the body of a dead person exposed overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23) PLUS, it was also against the law to work after sundown on Friday when the Sabbath began.
  The soldiers broke the legs of the two others so they would die; but, then they came to Jesus they saw that HE was already dead.  Just to be certain a soldier thrust a spear in Jesus' side and out came blood and water. Jesus was dead.
  Next the scripture says that not a bone was broken, just as the passover lamb being prepared, not a bone was to be broken (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12)  The Roman soldiers there were eye-witness accounts of Jesus' crucifixion.     Now at this time I would encourage you to read the account of Jesus' crucifixion in Luke 23, where Luke is more detail oriented than John.  Here you will see the conversation of the thieves, the darkening of the sky, and more.  It is well worth the read if you have not read it lately.
  The next is interesting.  Studying this in Sunday School and church you think this man is quite noble in what he does.  However, he, as were the other disciples, afraid to admit he was a disciple of Jesus.  ³⁸ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. 
  Notice, he was a "SECRET DISCIPLE" of Jesus.  But now he boldly comes forth and requests the body of Jesus. Cat's out of the bag now.  A reason for his fear and Nicodemus' fear was because of their positions in the Jewish community, members of the high council.  Wow!
  Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. ⁴⁰ Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with     the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are examples of hiding our faith.  This is what we have to ask ourselves:  "Am I hiding my faith?  Am I remaining silent when I need to speak up for Christ?  Am I a good and faitful servant?"  Food for thought.  Here is a song by the newsboys - We believe.  Thank you for reading today. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny