In this week’s prophet’s portion, we see a great warning of judgment pronounced on the nation of Israel. They have abandoned the ways of God and have chased after the idols of their own hands. The coming judgment described by the prophet Hosea is very severe and should cause those of us living in America to tremble.
“Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.” Hosea 13:15-16 KJV
However, God being merciful, pleas with Israel to return to Him for healing and restoration. To receive this mercy and this healing, the nation must repent of its idolatry and acknowledge that they have brought this judgment upon themselves.
“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” Hosea 13:9 KJV
“O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14:1-2 KJV
Right now I believe America and even the rest of the world are at a breaking point, we at the end of the line. Judgment is upon us, and its severity continues to grow with each week. We are at the point where we either acknowledge our iniquity and repent or be destroyed. I like to hope that many Christians by the millions are praying around the world, begging God for forgiveness, mercy and begging for our backsliding healed. There is no Savior but God, no Savior but Christ, there is no hope found in kings or political figures as God points out through the prophet Hosea.
“Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.” Hosea 13:4 KJV
“I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?” Hosea 13:10 KJV
My fear and dread is that many Christians by the millions continue to look for a political solution, a king or prince to save them from the crumbling of our nations and ways of life. My fear is that Christians continue to put their head in the sand and pretend that the world isn’t burning down around them. Nonetheless, I believe God is merciful, and regardless of what happens, he will show favor and protection to His remnant. Though they are few, they are His children.
“Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” Hosea 14:9 KJV
May we walk ever more closely to the true King, Jesus our Messiah. May our eyes and hopes be upon Him and not sinful and unreliable men. May we repent daily of our sins and seek righteousness and holiness. May we speak the truth and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, for it is nigh, even at the door. May our backsliding be healed and the Church be empowered once more and be the light on a hilltop and a salt to the earth.
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” Hosea 14:4 KJV
The Prophets Portion – Week 7 – Hosea 12:12–14:9
12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
13 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
14 O israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
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