Hosea 14:1-9
Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 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.
“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
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;
Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.”
Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. 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 is 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 Israelites into exile and repeopled their land with foreigners. When God give warning of judgment, he is not playing with words.
Why?
Love them freely: Love them unconditional. Today it is the day of salvation.
Like the dew to Israel: because you do not know tomorrow.
There is nothing to do with idols, grace and blessing comes from the Lord only!
Wisdom can ask to God!
How?
Royalty to God, devote all my heart , my mind and my strength, don't be a rebellious one. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?
Hosea 13:9-16
You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
10 Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns,of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?
I will deliver this people 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, even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plunderedof all its treasures.
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God.
Why?
The people of Samaria must bear their own guilt, for they against God, against their helper.
When disaster come, where is there king and ruler can save them. From the beginning they asked God gave them king, but in wrath God took kings away.
God is sovereign God over all kings on earth.
God is the helper our savior, without God's permission where is the death, where is the grace?
God has no compassion, who do what He does judgment under his wrath and his plain.
How?
God's love is unfailing love, but do not against the Lord. No one can stand before the Lord Almighty!
You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
10 Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns,of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?
I will deliver this people 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, even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plunderedof all its treasures.
The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God.
Why?
The people of Samaria must bear their own guilt, for they against God, against their helper.
When disaster come, where is there king and ruler can save them. From the beginning they asked God gave them king, but in wrath God took kings away.
God is sovereign God over all kings on earth.
God is the helper our savior, without God's permission where is the death, where is the grace?
God has no compassion, who do what He does judgment under his wrath and his plain.
How?
God's love is unfailing love, but do not against the Lord. No one can stand before the Lord Almighty!
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.
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.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness,in the land of burning heat. 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.
8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them—a wild animal will tear them apart.
Israel may turn to Baal and other idols, but there is in fact no God but God(實際上沒有神，只有神). People may forget him, or discount him, but he exists: and he has power to carry out all that he has warned of.
Why?
Israel received the grace of God, so they became prosper and satisfied, when they were satisfied, they became proud, then they forgot God. Is is easy to live under poor but hard to live under prosper situation.
Proud is the first step of downfall in our life.
God is righteousness and jealous to evil. so fear the Lord and always acknowledge no God but the Lord.
How?
Be aware there is no god but the Lord. Be humble before the Lord!
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.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness,in the land of burning heat. 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.
8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them—a wild animal will tear them apart.
Israel may turn to Baal and other idols, but there is in fact no God but God(實際上沒有神，只有神). People may forget him, or discount him, but he exists: and he has power to carry out all that he has warned of.
Why?
Israel received the grace of God, so they became prosper and satisfied, when they were satisfied, they became proud, then they forgot God. Is is easy to live under poor but hard to live under prosper situation.
Proud is the first step of downfall in our life.
God is righteousness and jealous to evil. so fear the Lord and always acknowledge no God but the Lord.
How?
Be aware there is no god but the Lord. Be humble before the Lord!
Monday, October 9, 2017
Lessons from history
Lessons from history!
Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
The Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name! But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
“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. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
This is not an easy chapter to follow. Israel needs to be reminded of scheming Jacob and how he learn to lean on God, and to forget their proud independence and reliance on foreign powers. The people deride the prophets of their own day. They need the reminder that it was through a prophet that God brought the nation into being.
Why?
Ephraim like the Jacob argued with his brother and with the Lord! Ephraim was proud his wealthy. He pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. So God will punish them.
God spoke to the prophets and gave them many vision and parables though them, but Israelite did not care it. God hope Israel may return to him but they didn't!
How?
Be humble before the Lord and confess my sins in my deep heart, my God's mercy and light shine into me to lead my way forward!
Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
The Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name! But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
“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. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
This is not an easy chapter to follow. Israel needs to be reminded of scheming Jacob and how he learn to lean on God, and to forget their proud independence and reliance on foreign powers. The people deride the prophets of their own day. They need the reminder that it was through a prophet that God brought the nation into being.
Why?
Ephraim like the Jacob argued with his brother and with the Lord! Ephraim was proud his wealthy. He pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. So God will punish them.
God spoke to the prophets and gave them many vision and parables though them, but Israelite did not care it. God hope Israel may return to him but they didn't!
How?
Be humble before the Lord and confess my sins in my deep heart, my God's mercy and light shine into me to lead my way forward!
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love
Hosea 11:1-12
God's love for Israel.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zebolim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.
They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
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. Yet God still shrinks 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?
God treated Israel like father treates his children, give them food and lead the direction to them. Free them from slaves and give them free.
Israel is deserve to be destroyed, but God still love them, after the exiled to the nations, God will call them back.
God had great pain to himself in the cross of Christ. No matter what you have done, turn back to Jesus Chris will be saved.
How?
Meditate the love of God and obey his word, God has unfailing love.
God's love for Israel.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zebolim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.
They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
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. Yet God still shrinks 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?
God treated Israel like father treates his children, give them food and lead the direction to them. Free them from slaves and give them free.
Israel is deserve to be destroyed, but God still love them, after the exiled to the nations, God will call them back.
God had great pain to himself in the cross of Christ. No matter what you have done, turn back to Jesus Chris will be saved.
How?
Meditate the love of God and obey his word, God has unfailing love.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
希西家之夜
希西家之夜
代下18-20
我們有一個秘訣，靠主得勝，倚靠耶和華
希西家在成功時反而犯驕傲的罪，忘記神才是使他富足，病得醫治的神，勝過仇敵的神。
希西家多活15年，生出瑪拿西，成為猶大國最惡的君王。
17:24 亞述王從巴比倫、古他、亞瓦、哈馬，和西法瓦音遷移人來，安置在撒瑪利亞的城邑，代替以色列人
18:11 亞述王將以色列人擄到亞述，把他們安置在哈臘與歌散的哈博河邊，並瑪代人的城邑
撒旦做一件事就是把純的混成不純。
把以色列人遷移到哈臘與歌散的哈博河邊…巴比倫、古他、亞瓦、哈馬，和西法瓦音遷移人來遷入撒馬利亞
勇士隊五人換掉兩人，變成勇土隊
馬友友來演奏，卻和其他幾名一起拉大提琴，結果呢?
魔鬼一直要把雜質放在我們當中，會死的很慘！
希西家母親亞比，是撒迦利雅的女兒。
約坦母親耶路沙是撒都的女兒。
一個人的成長，母親影響大
代下19：1-3 希西家王聽見，就撕裂衣服，披上麻布，進了耶和華的殿；
約珥書2：13 你們要撕裂心腸，不撕裂衣服。歸向耶和華─你們的神；因為他有恩典，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災。
這列車三節高鐵加三節台鐵加和欣，能跑嗎？
坐高鐵時速300，自己不用出力。坐上耶和華的高速列車
生命連線的智慧：
我們生命的亞述國是什麼？ 眼前的敵人： 金錢，研究論文
我們生命的巴比倫是什麼? 表面朋友，卻是未來的敵人； 專業、知識、學位
我們生命的以利雅敬是誰? 行惡的後代： 兒女是否敬虔
我們生命的以賽亞在哪裡? 耶穌基督
我們家庭的重心是誰？ 敬畏耶和華
以敬畏耶和華為我們生命的主軸：不要怕那不敬畏耶和華的人，最怕的是我們心中沒有敬畏耶和華！
讓我們今天起立志不是只成為希西家，要成為以賽亞！不畏強權、國王、說出神警告的話，重要的是心存謙卑，使壓傷的蘆葦不折斷，將殘的燈火不熄滅！
代下18-20
我們有一個秘訣，靠主得勝，倚靠耶和華
希西家在成功時反而犯驕傲的罪，忘記神才是使他富足，病得醫治的神，勝過仇敵的神。
希西家多活15年，生出瑪拿西，成為猶大國最惡的君王。
17:24 亞述王從巴比倫、古他、亞瓦、哈馬，和西法瓦音遷移人來，安置在撒瑪利亞的城邑，代替以色列人
18:11 亞述王將以色列人擄到亞述，把他們安置在哈臘與歌散的哈博河邊，並瑪代人的城邑
撒旦做一件事就是把純的混成不純。
把以色列人遷移到哈臘與歌散的哈博河邊…巴比倫、古他、亞瓦、哈馬，和西法瓦音遷移人來遷入撒馬利亞
勇士隊五人換掉兩人，變成勇土隊
馬友友來演奏，卻和其他幾名一起拉大提琴，結果呢?
魔鬼一直要把雜質放在我們當中，會死的很慘！
希西家母親亞比，是撒迦利雅的女兒。
約坦母親耶路沙是撒都的女兒。
一個人的成長，母親影響大
代下19：1-3 希西家王聽見，就撕裂衣服，披上麻布，進了耶和華的殿；
約珥書2：13 你們要撕裂心腸，不撕裂衣服。歸向耶和華─你們的神；因為他有恩典，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災。
這列車三節高鐵加三節台鐵加和欣，能跑嗎？
坐高鐵時速300，自己不用出力。坐上耶和華的高速列車
生命連線的智慧：
我們生命的亞述國是什麼？ 眼前的敵人： 金錢，研究論文
我們生命的巴比倫是什麼? 表面朋友，卻是未來的敵人； 專業、知識、學位
我們生命的以利雅敬是誰? 行惡的後代： 兒女是否敬虔
我們生命的以賽亞在哪裡? 耶穌基督
我們家庭的重心是誰？ 敬畏耶和華
以敬畏耶和華為我們生命的主軸：不要怕那不敬畏耶和華的人，最怕的是我們心中沒有敬畏耶和華！
讓我們今天起立志不是只成為希西家，要成為以賽亞！不畏強權、國王、說出神警告的話，重要的是心存謙卑，使壓傷的蘆葦不折斷，將殘的燈火不熄滅！
Disgrace and destruction
Hosea 10:1-15
Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, 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 his righteousness on you.
But you 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, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated.
Outwardly, affluent Israel made a great show of religion, but inwardly the people moved further and further away from God. The calf-image at Bethel had become the nation's only king, a king marked for destruction. Now they reaping what they have long shown. Yet they could still sow an altogether different crop.
Why?
Deceitful heart must bear their guilt.
Sow righteousness reap the fruit of unfailing love, planted wickedness, reap evil. Do not depended on my own strength. I have to confess the I have no way, please show me the way, O Lord. I am yours. I will obey your word and follow your instruction.
How?
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love! Dear Lord please show me the way! Without God I have no way to go!
Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, 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 his righteousness on you.
But you 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, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated.
Outwardly, affluent Israel made a great show of religion, but inwardly the people moved further and further away from God. The calf-image at Bethel had become the nation's only king, a king marked for destruction. Now they reaping what they have long shown. Yet they could still sow an altogether different crop.
Why?
Deceitful heart must bear their guilt.
Sow righteousness reap the fruit of unfailing love, planted wickedness, reap evil. Do not depended on my own strength. I have to confess the I have no way, please show me the way, O Lord. I am yours. I will obey your word and follow your instruction.
How?
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love! Dear Lord please show me the way! Without God I have no way to go!
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