July 3rd, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

People of the Spirit

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Opening Prayer

Lord of the ups and downs of life, God for all seasons, meet and challenge me as I read Your Word.

Read Hosea 14:1-9

[1] Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! [2] Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. [3] Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” [4] “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. [5] I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; [6] his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. [7] Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. [8] O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.” [9] Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“It is change, not time, that turns fools into wise men and sinners into saints” (A. W. Tozer).

Think Further

The prophets spoke a message of judgment and hope. Joel’s message of hope was focused on the promised outpouring of the Spirit. Hosea spoke of, and demonstrated in his life, the unshakable covenant love of God who would not let his people go (11:8). He agonized over Israel’s failure to love God in return, and announced judgment on a faithless people. His prophecy ends with this glorious coda announcing God’s future blessing for a repentant people. Sadly Israel, the northern kingdom to whom Hosea prophesied, never enjoyed that restoration. Judah did, but only in part. Like so much of the prophetic hope, fulfillment waits for the longer term. Only in Christ are the people of God truly restored. Only through him is the anger of God dealt with and turned away (4).

In these verses there are promises of reconciliation and harmony (4), of fruitfulness and prosperity (5-7), and of a close relationship with God (8,9). We find this fulfilled in the reign of Jesus and the life lived in the power of the Spirit. There is also a condition: returning to God (1-3). The Hebrew word carries various meanings but frequently has a similar meaning to repentance in the New Testament. Hosea’s call and Peter’s call (Acts 2:38) carry the same message. Returning means recognizing that our only hope is in God (3); all other things that we might trust are weak and futile, be they idols, the power of Assyria or financial security.

We enter a new situation of acceptance by God, of forgiveness, healing and fruitfulness through the promise of God and our response of repentance and obedience. We cannot presume on the gift of God or the presence of the Spirit. They are conditional on our response. It is all too possible to grieve the Spirit and to lose the presence of God (1 Sam.16:14).

Apply

Make your own response to God now. What is he asking of you today?

Closing prayer

Forgiving God, I agree with You about my sin and take ownership of my wrongdoing. Forgive me and remind me that with You my sins are forgiven, forgotten, forever.

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