PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Hosea 3-4
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds.” (Hosea 4:2)
It is hard to imagine the scenario that Hosea is speaking against.
There are no limits to the peoples’ cruelty, no bounds to their destructive ways.
Maybe one parallel is some of the reports of Russian soldiers in conquered Ukraine.
The perversity and cruelty, if true, seems to know no bounds.
Hosea uses marriage to describe how God joins with us for a beautiful relationship.
‘Unfaithfulness’ and ‘prostitution’ show how God experiences this relationship.
God in Jesus unites with us to “to make us holy… to present us to himself as a radiant (bride), without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:26-27)
Not as some physically attractive trophy wife, but as a morally beautiful partner.
God wants us be morally radiant because this is who we were made to be.
Not cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery – this is ugly!
I may not be like the people Hosea describes, but what kind of partner am I?
Am I seeking to be ‘radiant’ in goodness, breaking all bounds towards God-like love?
Jesus is a loving, faithful partner; am I devoted to being a loving, faithful partner?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be a passionate God and people lover who breaks all bounds towards goodness and faithfulness. Help me to become a beautiful, radiant ‘bride’ in morally good and loving way.
“they exchanged their glorious God[d] for something disgraceful’ What is the idol in my life? What do I devote my time to? Is my special time with God given second place to something else. I too would be making an exchange. Even as each day I ‘walk’ with the Lord – conscious of the things that I do and say – that they may recognize who I am – a follower of Jesus – even so my own desires and ego can put Jesus in second place – I admit it. Help me to keep my priorities straight. As I continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus – I find the other things matter less! That is as it should be!
As n the days of Judges so today it seems that the people have gone their own way and doing what is right in their own eyes rather than serving the Lord. We/I always need to seek the Lord in all my ways. Those who live unto themselves will never be satisfied. I was created not for self service but for His service. Happiness is serving the Lord. The joy of the Lord God needs to my strength each day and so this day also needs to be the Lord’s Day.
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Know Him, know Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Know Him, know Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Love Him, love Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Love Him, love Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Serve Him, serve Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Serve Him, serve Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Crown Him, crown Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Crown Him, Crown Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.