Dennis Mays: Bible in a year [09_03_Hosea_7-8_Rebellion in Israel]

Overview:
Chapter 7:
Half-baked Commitment....7:1-10
Halfhearted Confession......7:11-16
Chapter 8:
Halfhearted Kings..............8:1-7
Wholehearted Conquest....8:8-14

Read Passage Online


Visual aids and interesting metaphors abound in the section
you will read today. Hosea describes the nation as a dying man,
a flaming fire, a half-baked cake, a silly dove, a deceitful bow,
a pleasureless vessel, and a forgetful servant.
With such overwhelming evidence there can be only one verdict:
Guilty! For centuries the nation has sown seeds of wickedness;
now it is time to reap the terrible harvest of judgment.
.
.
Try this personal preference survey:
How do you like your eggs cooked?
How do you like your meat cooked (rare, medium, etc.)?
How do you like our favorite beverage served?
Now suppose someone invited you over for breakfast
and served you overcooked (or undercooked) bacon,
runny (or hardboiled) eggs, and lukewarm coffee, tea, or milk.
How would you respond to their “hospitality”?
Would you want to come back for more?
Back in the early days of the nation of Israel,
the people promised to follow God in wholehearted obedience
(Exodus 19:8).
But now as Hosea surveys the scene, the nation resembles
a half-baked cake (7:8). Impure motives, incomplete obedience,
and spiritual indifference characterize the people.
Little wonder God’s heart is grieved over the condition of
His covenant nation.
Think of your Christian life today as a cake,
and the difficult circumstances you are facing as the heat
God is using to prepare you. Where are you tempted to
“hop out of the over” before the transformation is complete?
Why not bake a special (and hopefully, edible) cake today,
or surprise the family by bringing one home tonight.
As you enjoy it together, share with each other areas
in your life that are still “in the oven,”
becoming what He wants them to be.
.
The Sowing and Reaping Principle:
Hosea 8:7 is one of the best-known verses in the book,
and contains a principle found at least two other places in the Bible:
2 Corinthians 9:6 and Galatians 6:7-8. Can you state what it is?
.
=======> ___The_Soulfood Menu___ (real food for your soul)
Break-fast:
study the day's outlined chapters to get the entire bible in your heart
every 365 days.
Lunch:
study the Proverb chapter of each day's date
(31 proverbs for 31days each month)
(ie...on the 3rd day of the month study Proverbs chapter 3).
Dinner:
meditate on 5 Psalms each evening
(5 psalms a nite x 30 days each month=150 Psalms)
(ie......on the 3rd day of each month meditate on Psalm 3,
+30= Psalm 33,
+30= Psalm 63,
+30= Psalm 93,
+30= Psalm 123

~by Dennis Mays