Tag: Hosea

[:en]Hosea was calling Israel to return to Him and He will forgive their sins and receive them graciously.  He will heal their waywardness and love them freely.  He will be like the dew to Israel, like a cedar of Lebanon.  He will blossom like a lily and his splendor will be like an olive tree. … Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 14[:]

[:en]Ephraim would now become like the clouds, the dew, the chaff and the smoke.  They would redound to nothing. v. 3)   But God would be to the people like a  lion, a leopard and a bear (v. 7-8) Because Ephraim trusted their wealth, their kings and their foreign policy, the “twice fruitful”  would be… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 13[:]

[:en]Lies and deceit surrounded Ephraim. The merchants used dishonest scales to become rich.  They boast of their wealth by cheating the poor.   They had provoked God’s anger and God will repay them for their contempt.[:]

[:en]Israel was ingrate because she took for granted her covenant relationship with God.  When Israel was a child, God loved her and called her out of Egypt.  But Israel abandon Him for idols.  Despite of God’s call for them to repent,  they had hardened hearts. But because God loves Israel, he had compassion on them. … Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 11[:]

[:en]The Israelites were serving two masters.   They made promises and took false oaths to the Lord.  They worshiped idols and their hearts needed to be plowed. “Sow 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… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 10[:]

[:en]”Ephraim” means “twice fruitful” but in this message, there would be no fruitfulness in the harvest because the land would no longer produce.  There would no fruitfulness in the home because children will be murdered by the Assyrian invaders.  The fruitful womb would become a curse and a miscarrying womb would be a blessing.[:]

[:en]The blowing of trumpet was a warning of impending battle.  Assyria was coming while Israel disobeyed God by setting kings and rulers without seeking God’s will.  They made idols for themselves to their own destruction.  The famous calf of Samaria would be destroyed and Israel will be swallowed up by other nations under the oppression… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 8[:]

[:en]The sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed.  They practice deceits, did evil deeds and delight with their wickedness.  They are adulterers, drunkards, and mockers.  Their hearts are like an oven burning like a flaming fire and the people did not realized that that national death was coming.  The officials called… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 7[:]

[:en]If we come and return to the Lord, He will heal us and bind up our wounds.  He will revive us and restore us.   So let us acknowledge the Lord for He will surely appear and   come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.  (vs. 1-3) But… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 6[:]

[:en]When the people of Israel deserted God, the Lord withdrew Himself and His blessings and let them reap what they had sown.  The wrath of God poured out on Judah’s leader like a flood of water (v. 10).  Ephraim pursued idols, so she is oppressed and trampled in judgment.  (v. 11)  Ephraim turned to Assyria… Continue reading [:en]Thoughts from Hosea 5[:]