PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Hosea 9-10
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; or it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)
Hosea is going on and on about how God’s people have rebelled, betrayed and left God.
God’s judgment is coming – it is hard to miss that message – because of their corruption.
And yet in 10:12 we have a brief call to seek the Lord, and to be restored and blessed.
God’s heart is not punishment and judgment; God is angry because he loves so much.
God’s anger is at the cruel, depraved, and unloving behaviour that is hurting so many.
The victims of their corruption are piling up, suffering and misery are rampant.
All the while the majority of the people live without care or regard – for God or others.
God wants to shower righteousness (goodness, fairness, equality, dignity) on everyone.
God wants everyone to experience love and goodness, and to end all hate and badness.
As negative as the surrounding words are, 10:12 is pleading: ‘I love you, love me back!
God in Jesus showers righteousness on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:43-48).
Jesus is God coming to us in person, pleading with us to seek and sow goodness.
In these words Jesus is loving and calling me to seek and love him with my life.
PRAYER
Lord, I don’t sense I’m where the people in this prophecy are, but I don’t want to be either. I want to seek you first, and to sow love and goodness with you. Help me see how I can do this more and better!
Becoming like Cain: “My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations.” The prophet says: “for it is time to seek the Lord” – God is ready to bless those who seek Him and worship Him is spirit and in truth (humility). I too will be a wanderer if I distance myself from my creator – from Jesus my Saviour and from the HS who seeks to guide my thoughts and ways. Draw me nearer to you O Lord – that I might follow you more nearly every day!
Once again the people have gone their own way, forsaking the Lord, doing whatever their hearts desire, lost in their own desires of their heart. The Lord will discipline His people so that they will rely upon Him and not upon their own powers. At all times I need to seek the Lord and His will for my life. I need to grow in His service, doing His will and then His Kingdom will come. Happiness is depending upon the Lord each and every day.
Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling body works can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or what I do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers nor cries nor tears can bear this heavy load.
Thy work alone, O precious Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love alone, O Father God, is what my spirit needs
Now rid me of this dark unrest, and set this captive free
Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Lord, does all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No other strength but Your great power can bear me safely through.