Hosea Article #5

Posted on July 8, 2020 by ahabiblemoments.com

Hos 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”

What a volume of content and multiple topics within one simple verse (Hosea 3:1)

“GO AGAIN”: Been there, done it, now do it again! God knows the beginning from the end but he also has given mankind the free will of choices. Hosea had already been instructed to prophecy and cry out against the deliberate sins of the 10 Northern Tribes of Israel. We will address it in greater detail when discussing Hosea 4. Prematurely extrapolating Hosea 4:2 helps explain the WHY Hosea is instructed to AGAIN go to his people and plead.

“There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed” (Hosea 4:2). [In the northern kingdom]

WOW! What accusations Hosea brings against the northern Tribes of Israel. …”they break all bounds,” the King James translation of this verse. The word “all” is not in the original. The YLT (Young’s Literal Translation) states it this way: “Swearing, and lying, and murdering, And stealing, and committing adultery–have increased, And blood against blood hath touched.”

SPREADING DEADLY INFECTIOUS DISEASES

This is similar to being treated for a deadly disease but it continues to get worse. The ultimate consequence will be death or a continuing effect of incapacitation.

This is what happened to the Kingdom of the North around 720 B.C. They died as a kingdom. But the rest of verse one actually gives hope.

“…just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel…” God’s love for Israel continued even in their spiritual adultery and worst of times. It is questionable if Hosea ever states that he loves Gomer. It appears more that he loves God enough to take care of her. That might better be defined as taking total responsibility. No one can love as does God. Hosea loved Gomer as commanded. We are even commanded in the New Testament to LOVE our enemies. (Romans 12:14, 17–21)

There are two different meanings for the word “love” as found in the KJV, Hosea 1:1 using the Strong’s Lexicon; word translations; differing applications.

Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, ¹love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the ²love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and ³love flagons of wine.

“love a woman” ‘âhêb (Strong’s Hebrew). “…to love (in a social or moral sense)”
“love of God” is ‘ahăbâh. The Hebrew means “to hold the love for someone as in a feminine sense… “to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).” This is an intimate love and meaning. It far exceeds a social or moral meaning of love.
“love flagons of wine.” This is ‘âhab (Hebrew); beloved like a friend. A preference over other choices. Similar to one who says…I love that music.

JIV NOTE: This is why reading through the Bible may be a good thing but when one comes upon words as we just examined, may read the same in English but have differing meanings. The reader interprets the word as s/he sees it. That mental and personal picture of a given word will sometimes NOT be its real meaning. Serious Bible students should have a lexicon [Strong’s or Thayer’s].

These words of Hosea convey a great lesson to people today. God has given us his words to be our guide in life. The Bible contains divine instructions to help us live a better life and avoid the errors that can bring pain and distress. Wise people will search the Scriptures because in them they will discover what is necessary for moral and spiritual guidance: “All Scriptures are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval” (2 Timothy 3:16). [Paraphrased]

Bear in mind and heart that Hosea is about Israel. Don’t read “the church” into it. We have our own God given covenants.

Hosea bought then brought her back home for a price. God bought us as, the church, at a price. Not to be trite but that bill is paid in full through Jesus. It is not an automatic and free pass into heaven but the gift of salvation is free as in the choice to accept it. A free pass without commitment is Satan’s message…fake bible doctrine or standard.

Hosea 3:3&4 explain the conditions of Israel’s redemption.

Though shalt abide for/with me for a time ( a type of seclusion by commitment)
You shall no longer whore yourself to other gods (or priorities)
You will belong to no one else but me…you will call me your God and I will be your God. [Hosea 2:16; Jeremiah 30:22; Exodus 6:7; 2 Corinthians 6:16]
As is true to this very day, verse 4 states that Israelis will be without a king, without their Promised Lands, without sacrifices in the Temple, without a Temple, without ephod of the high priest clothing, without a prince.

This is changing today, even as this article is being researched, studied and written. Israel has some of their Promised Land but it is still nowhere near the PROMISED LAND mass. The lands of the Tribe of Gad, Reuben, and areas of Manasseh today are called Jordan. [Numbers 34; Ezekiel 47] It will include the lands of those who brutalized Israel as a kingdom-nation; Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and parts of the northern Middle East lands once or within the Egyptian Empire.

Hosea 3 is a short chapter with volumes of facts yet to be played out in time; a future that will soon be called history including part of which is already history. We don’t have to agree or express different opinions. God didn’t ask us and HE won’t. It is what it will be as stated in scripture. My or your opinions do not rise to the level of God’s statement of facts that were, are, and soon will be.

James W. Stark (Rev., Th.D.)
April 2020

The Bait

Posted on May 6, 2019 by ahabiblemoments.com

riverbank When I was growing up we didn’t do a lot of fishing. Once in a while my dad would take us down to the river bank. I love the thought of catching fish but I hated the thoughts of killing a worm or even touching them. My dad would bait my hook.. I wasn’t a natural fisher-kid. I think I was only about eight or nine, and everywhere I threw my line I got snagged. I lost the sinkers, hook and the bait. One time I almost lost the whole pole

My dad was getting frustrated with me. He told me if I lost another sinker or if I got’ my line caught in weeds again, it was over. Seems my fishing days were on the line, literally. This made me sad. I was just beginning. Even at a young age I was not a quitter.

It was getting dark and my dad said I had to reel my line in. I was petrified. I thought for sure my line was snagged.. My fishing line was going back and forth in the current. Strange I thought. I did not mention this to my dad as I felt like a failure already. Now, the time of facing the music had come because we were going home.

caught one My dad came over to watch me reel in my line. To my great surprise there was a fish on the end of my line! To me that was a miracle! What I thought was a snag on a branch was actually this fish swimming around trying to figure out how to get unhooked. My dad came to my rescue as I never caught a fish before; I also never even took one off the hook. I felt bad for this fish. He was blinking his big eyes at me while hanging by the huge embedded hook tn his jaw. My dad said the fish was not big enough to keep so he got the hook out and released the Sucker (fish) back in the river. I hope it lived a long and happy life. Somehow the type of fish, a Sucker, is how we are to get sucked in by Satan’s hand-crafted and sharp hooks.

Sometimes I do the same stupid “mistakes” over and over again They are not really mistakes. A mistake sounds so much nicer than — sin. Regardless of what the sin is, it seems to pull me down the river and I can’t stop because of the hook in my jaw.

We all have weaknesses and I know full well what mine are. As foolish as it is sometimes I go fishing for them. Satan uses many things to bait us back into sin . He knows our weaknesses and how to lure us with his baited hook Once we take the bait we have “pleasure for a short time.” The really bad news is the bait he uses covers the hidden sharp hook. That hook will embed deeply into our jaw. We could easily die with the hook of Satan embedded in our jaw.

This is wisdom from the Old Testament even though it is not addressing hooks in the jaw….it could be applied to any sin in our past that tempts us.

Genesis 19:17 (NASB)

17 When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”

Thankfully, our fish story doesn’t end there. Our Father will come to rescue us, when we repent and ask for help; He will gently get the hook of Satan out of our mouth. We have a loving Father in Heaven and Jesus our Savior died to save us from the sins that easily beset us. GOD LOVES US ALWAYS!

Galatians 1:3-5…3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil page, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

These days I don’t fish. I still don’t like worms. However, I still get tempted by things in the world. Regretfully at times I take the bait. Then I am hooked again, needing to be rescued. God is graceful and compassionate. I get so tired of falling for the same old line yet the pull of the current seems too strong to resist. I know it is not too strong though as the LORD will make us a way of escape It is a choice to take the bait of Satan.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has over taken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

May we never forget God loves us and gave His ALL for us The question that is in my heart of hearts is will I give Him my all, always. May we ignore the bait meant to take us down and hold on to JESUS who wants only the best for us. Our Prevailing Hope to overcome temptation is asking the LORD for strength. We can prevail over and walk away from whatever the most enticing bait. With God all things are possible. It is our choice to prevail over the besetting sin or take the bait and pay the consequences.

choice-

Brenda McKee

www.prevailinghope.com

Perception of Pain

Posted on July 25, 2015 by ahabiblemoments.com

On my medication bottle it reads “take one every 6 hours as needed for pain.” Problem 1. Pain med seldom work for 6 hours. Problem 2. Even if the pain med worked for 6 hours, they will not prescribe the amount needed to get through a month taking it “as prescribed.” This world is a painful place to live and we all at sometime –seek long term relief -whatever the “PAIN” may be. For this reason temporary solutions do not have the power long term HOPE does. Psalm 38:¹⁵For in thee, O Lord, do I hope

” Our perception is our reality” is a concept I was taught many years ago. Time is an example of how our perception can change. When I was 20 years old, I thought my friend who was 25 at the time was “old.” Now that I am older someone who is 25 is young. What changed? My perception.

Physical, emotional, spiritual – All Pain Hurts

When the pain is severe a second can seem like an hour and a day can seem like an eternity. We seem to put more emphasis on living the “good life” investing in new homes, cars, raising family and building a future on earth. There is nothing wrong with these things. But we need to not neglect what God says about life.

James 4:14 For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

There are many things I do not know. The one thing I do know is to stay focused in the Word of God. His Word is Truth. God’s Word doesn’t change with my perception. His Truth stands unchanged even when everything changes around us. Life is like a vapor – obviously a short time in comparison to Heavens’ forever and ever. I am determined to stay focus to live my “vapor” to the best of my ability to share the Gospel, Good news to the world. John 3:16 Then One Day those of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ will be with Him forever.

Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior will experience pain as I cannot describe and it will never end. God doesn’t send any human to Hell, it the choice man makes. Do not reject such a great salvation available by accepting Jesus Christ. Hell is a real place and even if life now is difficult and things we go through are painful; it is nothing compared to spending forever in Hell.

Hell is for the devil and his angels Matt. 25:41 and for all whose name is not written the book of life. Rev. 20:15

Hell is described as: a “furnace of fire…weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 13:50

Hell is forever, never gets better, pain/anguish will have no remedy -“the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night” Revelation 14:11

GOD LOVES YOU and He is gives you the free will to know Him or do your own thing and ignore this great salvation. Choices have consequences so choose wisely.

Pain is a reality of life on earth. Some people go through more, some people have very little, so it seems. My perception of pain has changed and infused with Hope. I know it won’t last forever. God’s Word says life is “like a vapor.” In the midst of it all by God’s grace live my “vapor” well for God’s honor and glory.