December 7, Reading Notes

Hosea 6-9

So, if you understand God's pattern in Hosea, He gives a pronouncement of judgment followed by a declaration of salvation and hope for the millennial future of Israel. Since we're reading a One-Year Bible this pattern is broken. For example, today we will begin with the salvation and hope declaration from yesterday's judgment.

Just for your information, the third cycle of judgment - salvation is: 4:1-5:14 (judgment) -- 5:15-6:3 (salvation). Today we'll begin a fourth cycle of judgment (6:4-11:7) and salvation and hope (11:8-11). Tomorrow we'll finish Hosea and it will end with hope.

You might not get all of the imagery or nuances from Hosea or the other minor prophets, but at least when you get to heaven and you bump into these guys, you can say you read their books. And for here and now, the Spirit will give you what you need, this year and in the years to come.

One thing to think about as you read this is that what we have written here were probably different sermons or messages that Hosea gave to the people. Can you imagine what it would have been like to hear this stuff? At first some people might have made fun of him because his wife was a whore, but once they understood that she stood as an image for the people, I'll bet the snickering ended.

Hosea 6

Vs. 1-3 This is the hope from the previous declaration of judgment we read yesterday.

V. 1 Notice how God had just talked about tearing Ephraim and Judah like a lion, but now God will bind up what He has torn.

V. 2 This is an interesting reference to being raised on the third day.

V. 3 This is a spectacular verse that will be on the lips and in the hearts of that generation in the tribulation that turns to the Lord. You might wonder how this supernatural change will come upon Israel. Compare Isaiah 55:10-11 with this verse.

Vs. 4-11 Judgment for Ephraim (the northern kingdom) and for Judah (the southern kingdom).

V. 6 Notice what God really wanted. This is the same as the first commandment, to love God.

V. 11 This could be pointing to the fact that Judah came out of their exile, or it could be referring to the place of eminence this tribe will have when the kingdom is established.

Hosea 7

This seems to be exclusively written to the northern kingdom. Notice that God mentions their lack of crying out to or seeking the Lord. This is a sign of the depth of their blindness, especially when you consider that the ministries of Elijah and Elisha were exclusively to the northern kingdom.

Vs. 1-7 They were totally corrupted, like bread that was totally leavened.

V. 7 Not one king of the north was a godly man. Notice that none of them called upon God.

Vs. 8-10 Notice that you can see a pattern, in that this block begins with a declaration about Ephraim and ends with their lack of returning or seeking or knowing God. So, what does God focus on here?

Vs. 11-13 What is God's focus here? What do you think God meant that they spoke lies against Him?

Vs. 14-16 This seems to summarize this lack of seeking God. Notice verse 14, they cry out to God but what they are really desiring is a return of wine and grain. They are not crying out for Him. I think that's a lot like us. If someone asked us what could happen that would really make us happy and feel good, it would look like a million dollars, recognition, computers, cars, media stuff, a house. Could any of us be happy in a hut with the presence of God, but no food that we knew of for the next day, no job, no insurance, just the presence of God? Especially in the west, our spirituality is thinner than we think. We would be crying out like these people.

Hosea 8

The emphasis of this part of God's judgment seems to be how the people outwardly claimed to know God, but never followed His Word.

V. 2 This seems to be the focus. The more I read what Jesus said, the more I find Him telling people to not just hear what He said, but do it.

Vs. 4-6 They chose their own kings and gods. How could they say they knew God?

V. 7 The first part of this verse is famous. God would punish them by intensifying what they wanted. If they wanted to go away from God, He would show them the result. Without His care and protection, there would be no food.

Vs. 12-13 What a funny contrast, even though they were sacrificing, they didn't understand God or His Word.

V. 14 This is what the people sought instead of God to make them feel secure. God would remove everything, until eventually, He was all that remained for them.

Hosea 9

At the root of their rebellion was the satisfying of their needs. Again, it is interesting how much teaching Jesus gave to His disciples on not being anxious about life, seeking Him first and being rich toward God.

Notice how often the mention of wine, food and offerings is mixed together. They were religious, but if God is only a tool for us to get fed and have comfort and satisfy our desires, our desires are really our god. And God isn't fooled by our religiousness.

V. 1 This is what drove their religion and their actions, a prostitute's wages, food and clothing.

Vs. 7-8 In the day of their need, their lying prophets were no help to them.

Vs. 9-10 The seeds of their corruption were seen back in their history. Gibeah was the town in Benjamin, at the end of Judges, filled with homosexual men who killed the traveler's wife. This launched a civil war.

Baal-Peor came while the people were still being led by Moses in the wilderness, when the presence of God was visible in the cloud and the manna was being given every morning. Sin is a spiritual disease in us that defies every rational thought.

Vs. 11-17 Notice that this is all directed to Ephraim, the northern kingdom, and the result will be exile. As far as we know, these people were lost to Israel forever. There were some of the people, the remnant, who God might have kept track of, but it seems from Chronicles, that the only Israelites who survived from all of the tribes were those who lived in the land of Judah and went into exile with the southern kingdom into Babylon.

When you read what God says about Israel, you realize that they are representing all men. We are all fallen and we are all this sinful. Sin is awful and utterly awesome in us. Sin will dominate us if we desire anything other than God, and the only way we can desire God is through Jesus. In Jesus we are forgiven, and the Holy Spirit gives us a newly created life and resides in us so we can follow Christ. Israel tried to fulfill their desires and passions and sort of give lip service to God. Sin is too powerful for that kind of life and deception. This is the same for us even as Christians. If we desire anything more than Jesus, it takes over. When Jesus told His disciples to take heed and beware of all coveting of anything, He wasn't being religious, but vitally real. He was trying to protect them and us. The reformers said "Sola Scriptura." As disciples our cry has to be, "only Jesus." Our focus on Him and following Him in His Word and in the harvest is the only way we can really live to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all of our strength and with all of our mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzL6VL9Liu8&feature=BFa&list=PL8F3FC504C539471B&lf=plpp_video

3 John

V. 1 It appears that Gaius is a respected man in the church and has some influence in terms of leadership and making disciples.

Vs. 2-4 Probably as a result of Gaius, there are people walking in the truth. This guy is someone John knows and trusts.

Vs. 5-8 As in all the churches, there were traveling preachers and workers who were passing through and going on to other lands. The gospel was new and there was a world to reach. Gaius was one of those people who supported this work, in spite of false teachers.

Vs. 9-10 Here is the reason this is being sent to Gaius and not the entire church. Diotrephes was stopping the church from supporting outsiders. Under Diothephes, the church was becoming an isolated fortress. Because this guy was so restrictive, it appears that he was overly conservative. In the early church, there was a spectrum of error, but most of the deep problems faced by Paul came from the very conservative, exclusive, law-driven side of the church. It seems that this guy was so conservative that he didn't even recognize the authority of the apostle John.

Vs. 11-12 This is the other reason John is writing Gaius personally, so that he will welcome and help Demetrius. In fact, some think it was Demetrius who carried this letter.

Vs. 13-15 Again, this letter was intentionally short because of the need for Demetrius, and because John was hoping to come personally and tend to the situation.

Psalm 126

This song sung by the worshippers coming to Jerusalem could have been written during many periods of Israel's troubled history. Since it is talking about the fortunes of Zion being restored and it being a testimony among the nations, it could be that this song was sung by those who returned from the Babylonian exile.

Vs. 5-6 sound like what Jesus said to His disciples, working today in the harvest following Him, to rejoice someday in the work that He did through us making disciples and bring in the sheaves.

This psalm is sung by the Sons of Korah and begins on the timeline at 12:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRZnOCV04e4

Proverbs 29:12-14

I guess if I had to put all three verses together, I would camp on verse thirteen. Both the poor man and the oppressor owe God faithfulness since He gives them both their life and understanding.

To deny our debt of gratitude would be verse twelve, with the result that light leaves the land and it is ruled by darkness, like in Ephraim, the northern kingdom.

To respond in faithfulness to God is verse fourteen, with the result, as God showed to David, that God will further bless that faithfulness.

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.