KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016
Chapters: Hosea 1-6
Message: Not By Our Righteousness
Hello My Friend,
The book of Hosea contains fourteen chapters, the author of the book is Hosea and it was written to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The timeline for these events were approximately 790BC to 725BC, same as when Jeremiah prophesied in Judah. The purpose of the book was to alert Israel to her sinful condition and bring her back to God. What we are to learn from the book is that, only from falling can we truly learn of God’s love, mercy, and grace for all who seek and or return to Him. “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” – Hosea 14:4.
After you read through the Books of Ezekiel and Daniel you get a sense of how much closer we are to this world being a complete and utter mess, before Christ returns and it is a bit scary and overwhelming. While we will not be here, those who do not know Christ will, and that will include many people we thought would be joining us. When God sent Hosea to Israel it was just before they had been take over by the Assyrians and were scattered all over the earth. God instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute of all women to show Israel why He turned His back on them, they had three children together and God gave them their names.
“Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.” – Hosea 1:8-11.
“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea” This is not referring to Jacob’s or Abraham’s children, but the saved, who become God’s children. Loammi means rejected by God, this proves that it is not by race, heritage, or name that we are saved, but by grace through God. One day, when Christ returns Israel will finally accept Him as their Messiah and King, then all of God’s children will come together as one nation ruled by the King.
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” – Revelation 22:1-3.
God does not want to see His people living in sin and trying to justify their actions through their salvation. While God does not forsake anyone that receives His Son, He will let them fend for themselves until they realize their sin and return to Him. Through Hosea, God explains the reason why those who are living in sin cannot see or find Him.
“And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms. For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.” – Hosea 2:4-7.
“that she shall not find her paths.” Did you ever wonder why it took you so long to come to know Christ as your Saviour? God had to get you to the point that He was all you could turn to. Through Hosea, God explains this further.
“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” – Hosea 4:1-2,5-6.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” People die every single day, church going, follow the rules of their religion people because they lacked the knowledge they needed to know and accept Christ as their Saviour. Ignorance never saves, and it is not because God does not love them, it is because they never took the time to listen to His Word when they had the opportunity.
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:7-8.
God’s purpose in showing Israel all this was to show them that they were living an adulterous life with the idols they created, He was going to remove Himself from their presence and they were going to be judged and scattered all over the world. Still today, Jews and even Christians are scattered all over the world because of this. God’s gift of free will says that we choose the life we want to live, if we are going to live in our own will, we will suffer, and while we do suffer from time to time even in God’s will, it is better to suffer in His will than our own.
“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.” – Hosea 6:1-3,5-7.
“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;” God never asked us to be perfect because He knows we cannot be, no matter how much we try, what He asks is that we love Him, that we care more about our relationship with Him than fulfilling the lusts of our flesh. Jesus makes our soul perfect so we do not end up in hell, everything we do after we are saved counts with God while we are here.
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:3-4,9-10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” – Hosea 3:5.
Today’s Prayer: God, Sometimes it can be so confusing following Your will because it just seems like something that does not come from You. While we may not always understand Your will, there will come a day when we will see the purpose of it. No matter what we go through, whether it’s joyous or grievous, we will be blessed and find meaning in it as we remain faithful to You. Lord, give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance, help us to understand and know if the things we are doing is in Your will or something we just drummed up ourselves. Give us Your strength, mercy, grace, and patience as we grow closer to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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