Return O Israel!

Hosea 14:1-9
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, Your sins have been your downfall!
Say to him," Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips."
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
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.
After the fierce tones of chapter 13, this last chapter if full of love and pleading. The way is open. There is no need to pass through the fire of judgment.
The only requirement is loyalty to God; this is the way to find love and forgiveness, and to embark on a new, transformed life. This is the truly wise course.
Hosea sets it out so clearly. Yet his contemporaries ignored it all. The Assyrians swept down and destroyed their splendid capital, Samaria. They took the remaining Israelite into exile and re peopled their land with foreigners. When God gives warning of judgment, he is not playing with words.
Why?
Offer the fruit of our lips instead of other sacrifice, God likes give praise to Him. For God is worthy to deserve praise and glory.
Offer the fruit of our lip is the word of God, return to the Lord.
Return to the Lord, his splendor will be like an olive tree.
Today is the day of salvation, because you do not know tomorrow.
Wisdom can ask God.
How?
Choose to walk on the way of God, Wisdom is choose the way of God and walking on it. God is my salvation!

Be a child with wisdom

Hosea 13:9-16
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
So in my anger I gave you a king, and in my wrath I took him away.
I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?
I will have no compassion.
God's power to carry out all that he has warned of.
The scorching wind from the desert which dries and shrivels everything in its path.
Ephraim suffers the pain of childbirth but when the time arrives, he does not come to the opening of the womb. He is a child without wisdom.
Why?
When against the God, there will be pain and does not have the achievement. Everything is gone without blessing and protection. Ephraim wanted to get blessing and goodness from Baal and their own, but they loss more.
Ephraim chose the rule of the world and they did not accept the warning from the Lord, despise the grace of God. So they suffer the destruction and pain from the Lord.
When people pursue the prosper of the world will fail, but the prosper of the spiritual will be real blessing.
God's discipline and ransom comes to us depends on what we did. And God's love always is there.
How?
Learn the real wisdom, which is follow the way of God's word and obey his commandment.

智慧的道路 箴言：3:1-12

箴言3:1-12
高敏智牧師     1/29/2017   台南聖教會
有智慧的人：向前走，看見拆毀以後的更新、建造。相反的人：看見拆毀而已
思想：
1.我兒，不要忘記我的法則（或譯：指教）；你心要謹守我的誡命；不可使慈愛、誠實離開你，要繫在你頸項上，刻在你心版上
2. 他必將長久的日子，生命的年數與平安，加給你。這樣，你必在神和世人眼前蒙恩寵，有聰明。
這裏有兩個禮物，一個是長壽，另外一個是蒙神恩寵
如摩西過紅海，大衛打敗歌利亞、但以理在獅子坑裏，都不是因為能而是他們願意尊主為大，他們倚靠神。
坐標系中四個象限，第一象限是完全人，第三象限是惡人，第二是認識神卻不遵行神的話、第四是行好事卻不要認識神，都有些神的樣子，卻很難真認識神。第三象限是罪人，但是只要悔改，轉180度仍然可以成為完全人。
敬虔必蒙恩寵，不要以為自己很行
大綱：
1.專心仰賴耶和華...在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。
指北針-旅人的智慧
              自省： 自我感覺良好方向感的錯覺
有主人-順服的智慧
              自省：自我良好的錯覺
2.要敬畏耶和華，遠離惡事。這便成為你的醫治。
    口罩的概念，遠離惡事
3.要以財物尊榮耶和華。你的倉房必充滿有餘
獻初熟的土產是一個，是全部的獻上。
挑戰：
1. 我兒，你不可輕看耶和華的管教（或譯：懲治），也不可厭煩他的責備：因為耶和華所愛的，他必責備，正如父親責備所喜愛的兒子

Remember the blessing and grace of the Lord

Hosea 13:1-8
But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt.
You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.
I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.
7 So I will be like a lion to them,  like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
Israel may turn to Baal and other idols,but there is in fact no God but God. People may forget him,but he exists: and he has power to carry out all that he has warned of.
Why?
Israel they had received the blessing and care from the Lord their God,but they forgot and turn to other gods.
Admit whatever is came from the Lord Almighty.
What can I do? Be humble before the Lord!
Shepherd became lion and bear,how great power the Lord he is!
How?
Do not forget the mercy and grace of the Lord!

Turn to the Lord and honor God's name

Hosea 12:7-14
The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”
I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.
But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.
The people deride(嘲笑) the prophets of their own day. They need the reminder that it was through a prophet that God brought the nation into being.
Why?
God let Israel live in tents again, they will not live in the town, but like their forefather live in desert, to be a wandering tribe a again. For they has aroused God's anger.
What effort I have done to the Lord for my righteousness life.
We need to pursue the success of Spiritual, instead of the dishonest scale and defraud. Get much money doesn't mean success, but the success of spiritual life.
How?
Check my life again, and humble before the Lord, repent to the Lord what I have done.

Lessons from history

Hosea 11;12-12:6
The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there - The Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name of renown!
But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
This is not an easy chapter to follow, Israel needs to be reminded of scheming Jacob and how he learnt to lean on God, and to forget their proud independence and reliance on foreign powers.
Why?
God reminded Jacob was proud and after he met God at Betel, he changed and asked the blessing from the Lord. So God remind Israel what he was, the only way is return to God, he is your God.
Wind is custom and it is virtual things, looks good but soon disappear. Trace or pursue the wind is empty end. Spirit is like wind, so we should follow the Holy Spirit.
Jacob grab many benefit but when he knew to grab the Lord Almighty he got the blessing from the Lord.
I need to wait for my God always.
How?
Remember the beginning of the Love with God. maintain love and justice and wait for God always.

How can I give you up

Hosea 11:8-11
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I...
My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
For I am god, and not man - the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
Yet God still shrinks(收縮) from destroying them. He is torn between love and justice, neither of which can be denied. This is the pain he took to himself in the cross of Christ.
Admah and Zebolim: Two cities to the south of the Dead Sea, presumably destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah.
Why?
For He is God, not man so God is full of compassion then man, not only angry and justice, but full of compassion.
God is loving us, and loves me, how can I forget the Lord's mercy and compassion?
How?
Can I understand the love of the Lord? I will do my best to love God, to feedback his mercy.

Loved as God's children

Hosea 11:1-7
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel the further they went from me.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means(決不) exalt them.
This chapter lets us see right into the infinitely loving parent-heart of God. All down the long years of history, from Egypt on, and despite all he has done for them, Israel has rejected God's love.
The nation deserves no mercy.
Why?
How dear the Lord has loved Israel, but Israel did not realized Him, by no means exalt the Most High, so Ephraim deserve no mercy.
God loves me, so I would not forget his mercy and greatness.
God called his son out of Egypt, its also means called his son Jesus Christ, for the first son is failed. But God's love is endless love to his sons.
How?
How do I response to the love of the Lord to me?

Break up your unplowed ground

Hosea 10:9-15
When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.
Ephraim is a trained hifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.
Show for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you,
But your have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors.
Now they are reaping what they have long shown. Yet they could still sow an altogether different crop.
Why?
God gives Israel new way, and they have to reap their wickedness, but they may reap the fruit of unfailing love by their effort. God waiting for their return and if they repent the righteousness will like shower on them.
Break up your unplowed ground, discard the easy life but struggle by their own strength to get the fruit of righteousness.
Mercy and righteousness is characters of the Lord, be humble before the Lord, seek the Lord, then break up my ground, the God's mercy and righteousness will come.
How?
How to let the mercy and righteousness from the Lord to me without cease. Seek the Lord and pray to the Lord.

基督徒的生命

陳國文
1/22/2017。     蘭雅禮拜堂
約6:32-35。     提後3:16-17
同婚的回應理由？回到神的話語，讓神的國度與生命進入我們心中，吸引別人。
什麼是基督徒的生命。
哈拿的故事：啟示我們的觀念。
基督徒很不會和意見不一樣的人相處。
從聖經裡去找。撒母耳記上1:1-8
道德教育遠勝於律法的制定與執行。當男盜女娼成為普遍時，律法已經無法禁止了。
撒上9-20
哈拿只有禱告，禱告中她沒有怪別人。她一直禱告。
通常遭人誤會，甚至遭祭司誤會，都會生氣，反擊。
人有優缺點，我們卻常想到人虧欠我們的部分
道歉若加如果，通常不是真道歉。
先吃虧，後來通常會有好報。法庭上的斥責與審判
上帝的國度
撒上21:-28
沒有做的神的話語，多以為神有恩典
哈拿卻遵行向神說的話
一直許願都沒實行會變成口頭禪
哈拿卻把做好的獻給神。福音不只傳給貧窮的人，也要傳給生活好的人。
要傳福音給社會菁英份子。
關鍵
1沒有要求將小老婆趕走
2.她被誤會沒有怪別人，沒怪丈夫，怪祭司
3.她一直禱告
苦難不是別人造成的，要永遠承擔，向神禱告。
感恩的禱告
撒上2:1-10
若沒有經歷這樣的事，不會有這樣的禱告。我們的生命還無法承受時，神不會給我們，直到我們的生命配得。要持續禱告，查驗我們缺少的

Deceitful heart brings destruction

Hosea 10:1-8
Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars. Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt.
They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; there lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.
Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars.
Outwardly, affluent Israel made a great show of religion, but inwardly the people moved further and further away from God. The calf-image at Bathel had become the nation's only 'king' a king marked for destruction.
Why?
Economic increasing make Israel take false oaths and way from the Lord. Outward there was religious show and freedom, but their heart rejected the Lord. So the consequence comes and they loved one was float away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
Deceitful heart is they wanted the Lord, meanwhile they did not give up the way and fun in the world.
God gives us grace, let us be more humble and fear the Lord, but when toke the grace to ourselves, then it make us fall in the sins.
Don't let profit to be our first priority, but makes the truth as out highest target. This is a choice in our life.
How?
Let my heart focus on the Lord, only God's way, the truth is my way. God's grace is more than this world can give.

Most miserable punishment is God leaves us

Hosea 9:10-17
Israel it was like finding grapes in the desert; like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree; very rare,
Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird - no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.
Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house.
My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations.
Sin has become habitual, ingrained, to the point where God finally withdraws his love.
Having wandered from God they will become wanderers among the nations.
David Hubbard makes the sad point that 'from the time of Hosea's threat until the present the vast majority of Israel's sons and daughter have listed Diaspora(散居)(Dispersion分散) as their address.
Gilgal: A center of Baal worship, but also the place where Saul was acclaimed king. It is probably this that Hoses has in mind. The people's eagerness to have a king had in it the seeds of danger of the later kings would usurp(篡) God's place as the true Leader of his people.
Why?
There identity is not compare with their deeds. So the Lord rejected Ephraim.
The terrible destiny for Israel caused by their wickedness.
Ephraim means made me fruitful in the land. But now their is rare and Dispersion.
God is only way to me, away from the Lord there is no way to go. Give up myself, is the way to revival. Do not fall in God's grace. The point is how is my heart to receive the grace of the Lord?
Most miserable punishment is not the flesh suffering, but God leaves them.
How?
Do I have good fruits for a Christian? Be humble and thanks all of the grace and mercy of the Lord. Do not worry about tomorrow!

Do not be jubilant like the other nations

Hosea 9:1-9
Punishment for Israel: Do not rejoice, O Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God;
They will not remain in the Lord's land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
Even if they escape from destruction, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them.
Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a manic.
God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.
It was probably at the height of the festival to mark the grape-harvest that Hosea spoke out. The people may call him a fool, but he knows he is God's watchman, and he will not hold his tongue.
Israel will become a slave-nation to Assyria, as they once were to Egypt.
Memphis: The pyramid tombs of Egypt's kings had stood there since the 26th century BC
Why?
People like to control everything in their life, so they suspect the way of the Lord. People saw foreigner has better life, and wondering why God did not give them the best, so they leave God and search the others.
God always gives us the best one, but most people does not know. Blessing and curse are the choice to everyone, we make decision and suffer the consequence.
How?
What is my mind and my heart when I am worshiping the Lord, does I really honor the Lord? Yes, God is my Lord, He is living God to me.

Built altars for sin offerings becomes altars for sinning

Hosea 8:8-14
Though Ephraim built may altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.
I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien.
They offer sacrifices given to me and they eat the meat, but the Lord is not pleased with them.
Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire upon their cities.
Neither idols not allies will avail(可用) when the God they have forgotten strikes(打擊)
Why?
They did sacrifices for the Lord but God is not pleased with them for they did the ceremony only forgot obey the law God gave them.
Secular is overwhelmed in this world, if there is not the word of God people will  turn to corruption.
Every holy things be done with evil heart will become to sins and destroy.
Remember the grace and mercy of the Lord did upon me!
How?
What should I obey the word of God? Pray the Lord give me a pure heart!

Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

Hosea 8:1-7
But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.
They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval; with their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.
They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.
Israel will be caught up in the whirlwind of God's judgment. They have made gods, made up laws, set up kings to suit them,
Bull-calf: Israel's first king set up two images at shrines in his own land to rival Jerusalem as religious centers. The calf had a  long association with pagan cults in Egypt and in Canaan.
Why?
Israel did anything without  God's consent, do their own mind and idea. There was no God, so the destruction will their own consequence.
What we sow, then what we reap! Israel mixed the secular into their life or their holy, then it will bring the fall.
Back to the beginning, when it was wrong at the beginning. The basic of Christian is the heart to the Lord. We are his people, his slaves. Follow his way and his word.
How?
Careful obey the word of God and do the mission to the Lord with all my heart, my mind and my strength with humble.

Cake, dove and faulty bow

Hosea 7:8-16
Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this, he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.
I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me.
They does not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds.
I trained them and strengthened them, but they plot evil against me.
For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over. Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless. They do not turn to the Most Height; they are like a faulty bow.
Israel turns to foreign peoples, foreign powers, foreign gods; but never to the Lord.
Hosea's language is vividly pictorial.
Why?
Ephraim pursued foreign's power, gods and people, but they did not turn to the Lord, they forgot what God can do to them.
Does my deed and my faith in the Lord's way?
Flat cake not turned over, dove and a faulty bow are useless.
Cake: Thinking the way of the world only, do not think the way in spiritual. Unbalance is big problem to a Christian.
Dove: When one lost truth and light, then he will lose the vision.
Faulty bow: It is against the Lord, arrogance. Focus on myself.
They had many problem but could not find the right answer.
Arrogance can cover our eyes and heart.
How?
God is my way, my hope, Jesus is the answer. Do I notice these issues.

上頭來的智慧 雅3:10-18

雅各書 3:10-18
高敏智牧師    1/15/2017
17.惟獨從上頭來的智慧，先是清潔，後是和平，溫良柔順，滿有憐憫，多結善果，沒有偏見，沒有假冒。
不要求力量，要求道路
今天要求智慧，從天而來
籃球的三分球，把競爭拉開了，不只是灌籃，運球，而是藝術
遠近的要聯合，互相合作的觀念。常給人帶來盼望特别在結束前，轉敗為勝。
真正的快樂是很多傷痕，最後得勝。
生命中發出甜水，生命中與不同的人合作得勝。欣賞別人。
團隊得勝，我表現不好而不喜樂。我得分最多，團隊輸了，我氣憤隊友，這是紛爭，忌妒
思想：
1. 這樣的智慧不是從上頭來的，乃是屬地的...在何處有嫉妒、紛爭，就在何處有擾亂和各樣的壞事
2. 泉源從一個眼裡能發出甜苦兩樣的水嗎？
Outline
1.Agape
2.Peace
3.Vision
從上頭來的智慧。
 1.先是清潔
清潔：看顧別人，患難中的人。患難中的孤兒
保守：自己不要沾染世俗，驕傲，不要想一直標榜自己
對神有信心，還一直在營造自己的榮耀，一直在抱怨，
在信心上要富足(2:1-5)
2.後是和平，溫良柔順，
你在什麼地方，使那裡成為快樂的地方。關鍵在於舌頭
說話要合宜
溫良柔順：寧願讓步
我們常覺得沒有錯，我們沒看見
3. 沒有偏見，沒有假冒
一切都美好，怕的是道路錯。如要去溪頭，坐Benz的車，車上有美食，但是方向錯了
人歲月不長，範圍愈來愈小。
向著標竿直跑
挑戰：
使人和平的，是用和平所栽種的果。
當生命充滿控告，生命就不成長。

All of them are hot as an oven

Hosea 7:1-7
They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets.
They delight the king with their wickedness,the princes with their lies.
All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
At court it is the same. Kings fall at the hands of hotheads and conspirators(同謀).
They baked their flat loaves on sauce-shaped 'hot-plates' placed upside down over the embers(餘燼). The loaf must be turned over to cook both sides.
Why?
Deceit, thieves and robber society are both fall. Their heart are wickedness like hot oven never quench.
Their heart like oven, for even they came to the Lord, but their heart were not really turn to the Lord, like the oven always is hot. People continue doing wickedness.
When the leader of a kingdom fall, whole country is fall either.
What sin I have confessed, but it is still existing in my mind?
How?
O Lord! forgive me, get rid of my sins, let me clean and may have your mercy to be a holy man before you. May your holy spirit leads my way forward.

Mercy and acknowledgment of God

Hosea 6:1-11
Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
The Lord said, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people."
Suffering turns the people to God again. But there is no deep or long-term change.
Their 'love evaporates like dew in the hot sun. It is lasting love and real knowledge of him that God loos for.
Verse 4-6 express God's loving perplexity(困惑) about his people. Jesus picks up the important statement that God wants his people's love, not placatory(懷柔) sacrifices.
Priest have turned butcher At the heart of the nation's religion, at Shecham, there is intrigue(陰謀) and murder.
Why?
Mercy is love to man, acknowledgement is love to the Lord.
Placatory: intended to make someone less angry or hostile; conciliatory.
How?
Acknowledge of God as I can and pray to the Lord, then turn to the people with mercy and love. God wants the lasting love.

Who can save them from God's judgment

Hosea 5:8-15
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will tear them to pieces and go away;
Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face ; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.
The alarm is sounded o Judah's borders, for Judah shares the sin to which Israel has become addicted.
Not even the great king of Assyria can save them from God's judgment.
These verses probably refer to the Israel/Syria war against Judah.
Verse 15 expresses God's longing. Will suffering achieve what prosperity has not, serving, as C.S. Lewis puts it, as God's 'megaphone to rouse a deaf world'?
Why?
Moth to Ephraim and rot to Judah, means they were not way to be rescued, it has ruined must be laid waste.
When people still under the sins and do not turn back to the truth of God, will be judged and face the consequence for his deeds.
God gives us the warning message to the world, listen and confess our sins, turn to the Jesus Chris is the only way to be blessing.
How?
Be aware of the sins in our heart and mind, be aware the warning from the Lord.

Do not acknowledge the Lord

Hosea 5:1-7
Judgment against Israel.
The rebel are deep in slaughter, I will discipline all of them.
I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me, Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
They are unfaithful to the Lord' they give birth to illegitimate children. Now their New Moon festivals will devour them and their fields.
A generation has grown up to whom God is a stranger.
Mizpah, Tabor, Shittim/Acacia City: Places where there were shrines for Baal worship.
Why?
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart so they do not acknowledge the Lord. But the Lord know all about Ephraim.
God is sad to his children, so there were discipline to them.
Do I acknowledge God? Do I know the way of the Lord?
How?
Be humble and be aware of myself, do the best to acknowledge the Lord and follow his words.

People without understanding will come to ruin

Hosea 4:12-19
I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughter-in -law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine(神社) prostitutes - people without understanding will come to ruin.
Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways. A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
Pagan religion with its temple prostitutes brought in its wake sexual degradation(退化) and the breakdown of law and order in society (the basic Ten Commandments are being broken). The priests, who failed to make God's laws known and feathered their own nests into the bargain, and the men of Israel are responsible for what has happened. God holds them accountable.
Why?
Israelites worship the idols in stead of the Lord is prostitution, for they gave up, abandoned their original covenant with the Lord.
Israelite worship idols but they came to Gilgal and Bethel, they though they were doing the worship to the Lord. They treated God and idols are the same.
The problem are people do not knowledge and understanding to what they have done.
How?
Be aware of what I am walking on the way of God or others.

Be destroyed from lack of knowledge

Hosea 4:6-11
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Because they have deserted to Lord to give themselves to prostitution, to old wine and new, which take away the understanding of my people.
The prostitution of Israel's religion led to literal prostitution.
Why?
The more priests, the more sin: for their deeds and their ways are away from the Lord, makes the Lord angry.
Priest told people gives sacrifices, but did not told them away from sins. Priests enjoy the gifts from the people. There were the ritual only in stead of the honor and fear to the Lord.
Lack of knowledge may lead to dead, it is the responsible for every Christian.
How?
Pray to the Lord gives wisdom and knowledge of God. Understanding my people give them the right way.

Faithfulness, love and acknowledge of God

Hosea 4:1-5
The charge against Israel.
The Lord has a charge to bring  against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Because of this the land dries up,  and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away
But let no one bring a charge,  let no one accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
So I will destroy your mother.
From now on there is no further mention of Hosea's family. But the experience is there, and it colors the rest of the book. Real faith in God finds expression in loving obedience, delight in his laws.
Why?
Cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery are common in this society. How worse these world, Pray to the Lord let us have time to wake up those people. Repent and turn to the Lord.
Because the Lord against people who live in the land, so the beasts, the land, the birds and fish are swept away. There is punishment in the land so not harvest and no joy in the land.
Christian should be aware much more than others, for we are the ambassador of the Lord, does we have good behavior and good witness before man and God.
How?
Be aware my role and mission from the Lord, what can I do? Love, obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. Love my neighbors. 

Endless love of God

Hosea 3:1-5
Hosea reconciliation with his wife.
The Lord said to Hosea,"Go, show your love o your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn t other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
Gomer, now seemingly the slave of another man, is bought back and put on probation. Again, Hoes's action and his continuing love provide an object lesson. For a while Israel too will be deprived of the things they counted on - their king and their religious emblems (標誌)- but in time they will turn back to God.
Raisin cakes: Dried grapes were offered to the fertility gods in the hope of a good harvest.
Sacrifice and ephod belonged to the proper worship of God; pillar and teraphim were part of the pagan admixture(混合物).
Why?
For God's love to Israelite are ceaseless, God wants his people turn back to Him. Israelite are God's chosen one.
The penalty is existing when we are sinned. But God won't give up for his endless love to his people.
How?
Come to the Lord, repent sins and confess our transgression before the Lord. God is love is endless.

Acknowledge the Lord

Hosea 2:14-23
God's new covenant are
In that day, declares the Lord, "You will call me 'my husband'; you will not linger call me 'my master'.
I will betroth(engage) you to me forever; l I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.
I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.
In the infinitely tender language of love, God speaks of a better future, a new covenant protecting his people from all danger (both from wild beasts and from military aggression), a people betrothed and faithful to him.
Achor/Trouble Valley: Near Jericho; the place where Achan sinned and was punished.
My Baal: A substitute word must be used because 'baal', which was the everyday word for 'lord/master/husband' was also the name of the Canaanite god.
Jezreel: The word means 'God sows'
Why?
The relationship between my master and my husband is different, husband is more closer than master. There is love among us and the Lord.
God is full of compassion and love to his people.
Acknowledge is for they are married so they acknowledge each other. It is intimate relationship.
How?
How to make me more closer to the Lord! Talk and pray to the Lord everyday! Show my favor to the Lord.

Acknowledge He is the Lord

Hosea 2:8-13
She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain...
I will ruin her vines and her fig trees, which she said were her pay from her lovers.
I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot.
The people are worshiping Baal, the Canaanite fertility god, thinking he is the one who gives good crops and plentiful harvests; when all the time it is God. They will be punished.
Why:
God did not leave Israel, but punished them. God always is their God.
Acknowledge: admit and know what it is. Acknowledge the Lord is my blessing and my salvation.
punish: because be loved so there are punishment.
God allows people do what they want but the consequence will be followed for their sins.
How?
How to use the blessing of the Lord? Let all I have be utilized it to honor the name of the Lord.

Israel punished and restored

Hosea 1:10-2:7
In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’
The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.
“Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them.
Then she will say,‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’
Yet even though they refuse, his loving purpose is not thwarted.
Those punished will be blessed. 'Not my people' will become God's own again. 'Unloved' will once more be loved.
Hosea's voice, pleasing with his unfaithful wife, becomes one with the voice of God addressing Israel. The people are worshiping Baal, the Canaanite fertility god.
Why?
God's judgment and love are come to Israel and Judah. For their adulterous will be erased and then God's love come over them. They are not my people will become to sons of the living God.
God never forsake us, God never leave us for He is my God, but God will teaches us by his way.
I am his son.
How?
Turn from our jobs, business as our God, and turn to the Lord in faithfulness.

You are not my people, Hosea 1:1-9

Hosea 1:1-9
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord."
Hosea's great themes are love - God's covenant-relationship with his people judgment and hope.
What Israel's unfaithfulness meant to God - How he continued to love his covenant people and long for their return to him - the prophet learnt through bitter personal experience, as the wife he loved betrayed and deserted him.
His message comes straight from the heart. That is what makes his book so moving, so universal and so special.
God instructs Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman God knows will prove unfaithful.  This seems to be the meaning of verse 2, which reads, literally,' Marry a woman of harlotry,'
'Harlotry in Hosea has a double meaning, describing both illicit sexual relations and religious acts of unfaithfulness.
Jezreel: I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jereel
Lo_Ruhamah: I will no longer show love to the house of Israel.
Lo-Ammi: ou are not my people, and I am not your God.
How?
If do not turn back to the Lord in spiritual life, God will take back the blessing from us. Be faithful to the Lord Almighty.

時代的立約

創9:12-15。林前11:25,26
1.與神重新和好的約
創9 記號
我使彩虹蓋地
2.分別為聖
割禮 創17
逾越節。出13:9,10
3.同死同活 就恩之約。聖餐之約
羅 6。所以，我們藉著洗禮
若在他死的形狀上與他聯合

林前11:23-29
沒有爭戰就沒有突破