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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


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