THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
HOSEA
CHAPTER
1
1. The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Berri, in the days of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verse 1)
The setting of this book takes place at a time in the life of the chosen people of God when turbulence as a consequence of sin and disobedience to the will of God was the rule of the day. The spiritual welfare of God's people was in a crisis, however You oh God remain faithful towards us even though we turn our backs on You. You love us so much that instead of condemning us and leaving us sinking in the stench of our sin You intervene by sending humble people like the prophets Hosea and Isaiah to share with us your messages of hope and salvation.
2.When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."
(Hosea Chapter 1 verse 2)
The prophet was given his first assignment this was that of marrying a prostitute and have children from this sinful person. God's intention was that of passing a direct message to his people and even to us during 2015 that we are being unfaithful to God in all his love and goodness. We are living an alienated life estranged from God and the reality that one day we will die and will take with us nothing but our good deeds and sins. Therefore repent and base Your life on the word of God for only in God can we be saved.
3. So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verse 3)
On reflecting the name of the woman whom Hosea took as his wife according to the will of God reflected her very nature that was full of sin its apex that found its completion in this woman and others of this period. However in order to complete the unfolding of the plan of God and in order to pass on God's message to the people by means of this union it was necessary for a harlot to be assigned the role of a wife. Therefore it can be said oh God that every one has a role in Your plan for our salvation regardless of ones level of education or social status. Therefore if you think you are leading a worthless life that has no sense or meaning remember Gomer who although a harlot had an important role to play in God's plan for our salvation.
4. And the LORD said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 4 to 5 )
Apparently oh God it was Your plan that Jezreel son of Hosea would be born as a means to destroy the kingdom of Israel. Israel had wanted a king to take Your place and had even built kingdoms in order to replace You. This was a great sin and therefore the people were to experience the negative consequences of such a great sin, so that after a long process You would be able to put them back on the path of Your ways. Oh God when we build our kingdoms on earth, when we over secure our position on earth and start abusing of our power thus playing god, we are in trouble. For there is one God and one Kingdom and no other kingdom shall stand against it.
6. She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, "Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them. 7. But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen."
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7 )
After having done some digging You revealed to me that the name Lo-ruhamah means not having obtained mercy. Indeed oh God that the birth of these two children were more than significant. There names are enough to signify the message that You wanted to pass on to us and the people of the time. Oh God as a parent You are always merciful on us Your children. Were it not so our case would have been desperate. Even though all of Israel had become corrupted You did not give up on us and the plan for our salvation. You chose the tribe of Judah in order to plant the seed from which Your Son Jesus would be generated. Even though the world has become corrupted, for the sake of one person You will still have mercy on us my God. Amen. Thanks for Your loving mercy.
8. When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. 9. Then the LORD said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God."
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 8 to 9 )
Oh God it seems that the state of your people continued to become more critical. This is reflected by the fact that You rejected them as being Your people and even their Father or God. This is such a hard punishment oh God which we merit every time we reject You in our lives. However even though you took such a stand You still remained with them in the background for You were still in control of the plan for their salvation. The difference is that You may have permitted us to experience the negative consequences of our own negative schemes. I pray oh God that I never merit such a penalty for I do not know how I can ever survive without You!
10. Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people,"it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." 11. The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head; and they shall take possession of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 10 to 11 )
In light of verses 10 to 11 of the first chapter of the book of the prophet Hosea I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
(Hosea Chapter 1 verse 2)
The prophet was given his first assignment this was that of marrying a prostitute and have children from this sinful person. God's intention was that of passing a direct message to his people and even to us during 2015 that we are being unfaithful to God in all his love and goodness. We are living an alienated life estranged from God and the reality that one day we will die and will take with us nothing but our good deeds and sins. Therefore repent and base Your life on the word of God for only in God can we be saved.
3. So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verse 3)
On reflecting the name of the woman whom Hosea took as his wife according to the will of God reflected her very nature that was full of sin its apex that found its completion in this woman and others of this period. However in order to complete the unfolding of the plan of God and in order to pass on God's message to the people by means of this union it was necessary for a harlot to be assigned the role of a wife. Therefore it can be said oh God that every one has a role in Your plan for our salvation regardless of ones level of education or social status. Therefore if you think you are leading a worthless life that has no sense or meaning remember Gomer who although a harlot had an important role to play in God's plan for our salvation.
4. And the LORD said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 4 to 5 )
Apparently oh God it was Your plan that Jezreel son of Hosea would be born as a means to destroy the kingdom of Israel. Israel had wanted a king to take Your place and had even built kingdoms in order to replace You. This was a great sin and therefore the people were to experience the negative consequences of such a great sin, so that after a long process You would be able to put them back on the path of Your ways. Oh God when we build our kingdoms on earth, when we over secure our position on earth and start abusing of our power thus playing god, we are in trouble. For there is one God and one Kingdom and no other kingdom shall stand against it.
6. She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, "Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them. 7. But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen."
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7 )
After having done some digging You revealed to me that the name Lo-ruhamah means not having obtained mercy. Indeed oh God that the birth of these two children were more than significant. There names are enough to signify the message that You wanted to pass on to us and the people of the time. Oh God as a parent You are always merciful on us Your children. Were it not so our case would have been desperate. Even though all of Israel had become corrupted You did not give up on us and the plan for our salvation. You chose the tribe of Judah in order to plant the seed from which Your Son Jesus would be generated. Even though the world has become corrupted, for the sake of one person You will still have mercy on us my God. Amen. Thanks for Your loving mercy.
8. When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. 9. Then the LORD said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God."
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 8 to 9 )
Oh God it seems that the state of your people continued to become more critical. This is reflected by the fact that You rejected them as being Your people and even their Father or God. This is such a hard punishment oh God which we merit every time we reject You in our lives. However even though you took such a stand You still remained with them in the background for You were still in control of the plan for their salvation. The difference is that You may have permitted us to experience the negative consequences of our own negative schemes. I pray oh God that I never merit such a penalty for I do not know how I can ever survive without You!
10. Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people,"it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." 11. The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head; and they shall take possession of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
(Hosea Chapter 1 verses 10 to 11 )
In light of verses 10 to 11 of the first chapter of the book of the prophet Hosea I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God you love us so much even if at times I go against your ways You still love me. From all the twelve tribes of Israel You chose the tribe of Judah from which You Son was to have human descent. I pray to You oh God that as You had mercy on this tribe You have mercy on the world for we are all your sons and daughters
No comments:
Post a Comment