Hosea 1-3
Hosea is one of the "minor" prophets, meaning that his recorded message was short. There were actually many prophets whom God used, who we don't know, who never wrote. So then, it is significant that God chose to have the message of Hosea recorded and circulated around Israel and included in the Word.
Hosea is one of the better known minor prophets because of the unusual thing God asked him to do.
Here are some guiding thoughts about this message of Hosea. First, the message God gave him was to emphasize and expose the spiritual adultery of Israel and, thereby, to warn Judah. Second, though we only have 14 chapters, Hosea's ministry spanned a couple of decades. Third, although the message is very hard, there is mercy and hope mixed in; in fact, there is a very clear structure of judgment being declared followed by a message of salvation and hope. This cycle will happen about five times.
Hosea 1
Vs. 1-3 Some of the names of these kings should be familiar to you. It was during this period that the northern kingdom was captured and taken into exile by Assyria and when the Assyrians tried to take Jerusalem.
Vs. 2-3 Lots of people object to God commanding Hosea to do this. We have seen that the life God gave His prophets was not glamorous or easy. Isaiah had to walk around naked for a year. Jeremiah endured persecution and incredible sadness. Ezekiel acted out several disaster scenarios over a couple of years and then lost his wife. Daniel & Co. lost everything.
It is very probable that Hosea already knew Gomer, had a crush on her, and married her knowing she had an unsteady heart, but before she was fully unfaithful. If Hosea's relationship with her mirrored God's relationship to Israel, that would be a fair description. God didn't make a covenant with a whore, but showed His love to an unsteady nation.
The son is clearly Hosea's son.
Vs. 4-5 Jezreel becomes a name for judgment. This was the deciding battle where Assyria took Israel.
Vs. 6-7 This is again, Hosea's child with Gomer, a girl called "No Mercy." The nation of Israel was removed and God showed them no mercy from the Assyrians.
But notice in verse seven that God did show mercy to Judah. Notice how God says He will not save them. Do you remember what God did to the Assyrian army when they threatened Jerusalem?
Vs. 8-9 A third child for Hosea with a very harsh name, "Not My People."
Vs. 10-11 (Actually, 2:1 is a part of this, and is a transition.) Here is the salvation and hope. Do you see the aspect of this promise that will only be complete in the Millennial Kingdom? Note that Paul quotes from this section in Romans 9:26. Notice too, how the name Jezreel, that formerly denoted judgment, now becomes a word for salvation.
Hosea 2
V. 1 This is transitional in that the children of this blessing are to cry out to the mother, the nation.
Vs. 2-13 This is the declaration of God's judgment on Israel, mirrored in some respect by Gomer's actions toward Hosea. You can imagine that people were watching this drama between Hosea and Gomer, getting really mad at the behavior of Gomer in response to the kindness of Hosea. But when they said to Hosea, "Too bad you married a whore," Hosea's answer would singe their ears; because the idolatrous people were the real whores.
V. 3 Notice this image of the wilderness. God will use isolation to punish Israel as in verse seven.
Vs. 14-23 (actually 3:5) This is the declaration of hope and redemption. Notice again that the fulfillment of this promise of redemption is still future.
V. 14 It is in the hardness and isolation of the wilderness that God will woo Israel to renew her faithfulness.
Hosea 3:1-5
This is the command to buy back his wayward wife who has become the slave of another. God did the same thing with His people, and with us, as slaves of sin. That is why Jesus is our redeemer. He bought us back.
V. 5 We have seen this in Ezekiel. David will be the ruler of the reunited and redeemed Israel.
Isn't it interesting that even when God is meting out judgment, He is very careful to affirm His love and to give hope of redemption? Who says there is no love or grace in the Old Testament?
1 John 5
Vs. 1-5 There is a lot packed into these verses. John is repeating what Jesus Himself said so many times in so many different ways: "Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?" Remember, Jesus' commandments have to do with following, not living morally and staying out of trouble. Those "right living" things are assumed of anyone who names the name of Christ. His commands have to do with following and acknowledging Him, testifying to Him, in a lost world. We are to work in the harvest, making disciples who make disciples. We are to have our loins girded and our lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return home from the wedding feast, to open up to Him at once when He comes and knocks. Obeying Jesus has nothing to do with living a mousey, moral, invisible life on earth.
Vs. 6-12 This is a great affirmation to the redeeming power of Christ as our Savior. This also seems to be a rebuke to some of the false teachers. There was a line of thinking and teaching that said that the man Jesus was not God the Son, but was only possessed by God the Son. In their thinking, at the crucifixion, God the Son left that poor guy on the cross because it is impossible for God to suffer or endure such sinful behavior by men. By the way, that was probably also Satan's thought. The incarnation, God becoming fully man and remaining fully God, was a mystery. If Satan had understood that Jesus was fully God and fully man, he might have understood that Jesus could pay for the sins of man. I think this "wisdom of God" is what Paul was referring to when he said, "none of the rulers of this age understood this or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." Jesus was not only anointed Son of God at His baptism, by water, but He was shown to be the Son of God at His death, by blood. The Holy Spirit testified over all of this. The incarnation is the reason why salvation can only be through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Vs. 13-15 The key thoughts here are, "that you may know," "this is the confidence," and "we have the requests." All of these things were shaken by those teachers who had attacked the full adoption as sons that we obtain through Jesus, claiming Jesus was only a man and not the God-Man.
Vs. 16-17 Apparently there were people sinning and being chastened by God with death. We see this in Acts five and in 1 Cor. 11. As we've seen in 1 Corinthians, Christians are capable of a lot of sin and God does, at times, chasten by using sickness and death.
V. 18 Jesus is the one who protects, in His hand, those who abide in Him.
V. 19 So we should live like it, working in the harvest.
V. 20 Our lives are to be lived very simply, in Jesus, seeking Jesus, following Jesus.
V. 21 Any passion other than Jesus can lead us into idolatry.
Psalm 124
I wonder what this sounded like as it was sung by the people as they walked to Jerusalem for the feasts. It is interesting too, that this psalm is of David. That might be why there is the thought of deliverance from enemies.
This is an interesting song, but you have to listen for 30 seconds before the song begins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM9j0DMB-2o
Proverbs 29:5-8
Vs. 5-6 Lots of capturing birds imagery here. I wonder if that imagery is continued in the righteous man singing. I guess the guy doesn't understand that he is spreading a net for his own feet.
V. 7 Here too is an inability for the wicked to understand.
V. 8 Those who start fires (among people) often get burned by them, but a wise man understands how to put them out.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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