Skip to main content

May 7 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 127

You're going to see the love of God in Hosea. It's a great book that portrays the mercy and goodness of God in the face of Israel's unfaithfulness.  For a better understanding of the book as a whole, check out today's Bible Project video.


DAILY READINGS

Hosea 1-5 & Psalm 122

DAILY NOTES

Hosea 1
  • The prophet is introduced.  He has ministered under several kings.
  • His first act of prophecy is to marry a woman of whoredom/prostitution.  The marriage will be an illustration of the people's infidelity to God.
  • Remember that Isaiah's children had names that were meant to be a message to the people.  Likewise, Hosea & Gomer's children will serve that function.
    • Jezreel means "God sows"
    • Lo-ru-hamah means "Not pitied"
    • Lo-ammi means "Not my people"
Hosea 2
  • God demonstrates what he will do to the people of God for their unfaithfulness.  
  • These are not actions Hosea takes against Gomer.  
  • Just like Chapter 1, there's a bit of a hopeful promise to end the chapter.  This will be God's doing.  He will "allure" the people.  
  • They will be reunited and God will share a deep intimacy with them.
    • It seems the people would refer to God as Baal.
Hosea 4
  • God's stance against Israel.  "There is no faithfulness or loyalty" among the people.  
  • God has issues with the priests, the prophets and the people.  Together, they "consult a piece of wood" and use a "diving rod" as their worship.
  • God has already compared the people to a prostitute.  In Verse 16 God says they are like a stubborn heifer.
Hosea 5
  • Notice "spirit of whoredom."  
  • Consequently, the people will suffer through the hand of God.  God will be like maggots, rottenness and a lion to the people.
Psalm 122
  • Jerusalem is a place where the people worship in peace.  The psalm is a prayer for that place.
  • The psalm may have been one that was used on a pilgrimage to the holy city.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Depending on the Bible version you're reading, Hosea 4:7 reads a little differently.  Most of us probably read that "they changed their glory into shame."  That makes sense.  We can see how that is true.  The people were God's beloved. Yet they turned away from God's goodness to serve their own interests.

But there's another way of reading Verse 7.  The Jewish Bible and King James, for example, read this way: I will change their glory into shame.  See the difference?  God says the exchange of glory to shame will be something that he does as part of the punishment of the people.  That makes sense, too.  The people are finally going to realize what they've done and recognize the shame they have brought upon themselves (and to God?).

Which one speaks to you more?

Stay blessed...john


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88 Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 4-5 The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom. Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders. The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.   David continues to rise in stature and respect. 2 Samuel 6 After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital. I

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57 Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 13 Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death.  That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God. The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member.   Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them.   The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence.  If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them. Deuteronomy 14 The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people.  They were not to follow the customs or practices o

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to