July 2 – Hosea 10-12:14, 13-14:9, Micah 1:1-7

I always stop and go back to read a phrase that is written more than once.  Usually, it has something important attached, and today’s reading is no different.

Twice, Hosea speaks these words God tells him to speak, “But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” These sentences are read in Hosea 12:9 and in 13:4 while also being implied earlier in Hosea 11:1 when he said, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”

Reading through these chapters we get the picture of an obstinate and rebellious youth who has strayed far off the narrow path he was shown to walk.  In Hosea 11:1 we read that he is right where he wants to be, for “… the more I called Israel, the further they went from me.” Yet, the heart of God is seen again in Hosea 12:9 and 10 when God says, “I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts.  I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” Here God seems to be saying, I want to take care of you as I did when you were utterly dependent on me.  He reminds them of his past provision and the feasts that were theirs.  He also communicates his desire to speak to them through God-appointed men.  God wanted the people to hear Him and know Him and used these prophets and parables to communicate that.

Reading further, I am reminded of the lessons Israel learned while living in desert tents and the cause of their departure from the Truth Giver.  Hosea 13:5 says, “I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat.  When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” (bold mine)  Does that wrench your heart as it does mine?  We are not far from acting like Israel.  How easy is it for us to be satisfied with all God has given us and respond by turning away from Him?

I pray that I may never be satisfied with the things of this world (the tents, the robes, the gold, the feasts) but find full satisfaction in God alone.  As Jesus said, in Matthew 5:6,  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” According to the Savior’s words, our satisfaction is directly related to the greatness of our hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Today, how satisfied are we?  If the answer is “not very”, maybe we are hungering and thirsting after the wrong things.

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July 1 – See Chronological Reading Schedule

Before addressing today’s passages, let me say one thing.

CONGRATULATIONS! If you are reading this blog, you have most likely kept up with the One Year Bible plan and you are half way to your end goal.  Many things fought for your attention, but you have remained steadfast, immovable and committed to finishing strong.  My hat goes off to you!  Way to go.  To celebrate this accomplishment, I would love to buy each of you women a cup of coffee and hear what God has taught you throughout this year.  Please email me at Calvary Church, and I will let you know the time and place of our meeting.  I am thinking we will get together sometime during the week of August 23, 2009.   I hope you can join us!

Now, on to today’s passages…

The tone of the reading today reminds me of the writings of a parent who is lamenting a wayward child or a spouse, lamenting a wayward love.  And yet, like a loving parent or spouse who longs to restore the relationship, our God longs to do the same with His people who have rejected Him.  God desires our love, attention, devotion, commitment and understands the choice we make involves seeming sacrifice on our part, but does it really?  In the scope of eternity, is the life we are asked to relinquish truly worth living for in the first place?

Hosea 6:13-15 is the cry of our Lord’s heart.  “I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me.  They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds.  They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from me.  I trained them and strengthened them, but they plot evil against me.”

• As I examine these two verses, I ask myself these questions:
• What lies do I speak against the Lord?
• Why do I not cry out to God from my heart and instead wail upon my bed in anguish?
• When did I last celebrate a meal and forget to stand in recognition of the one who created the seed and the plant from which that meal came?
• How has God trained and strengthened me for His purposes, yet I have misused those resources?

The question that hits closest to my heart today is “Why do I not cry out to God from my heart and instead wail upon my bed in anguish?”  Why don’t I cry out to him?  It seems sometimes I forget to call to Him because I am too consumed with how I am going to fix the situation.  At other times, I find myself thinking that God might be powerless against my battle (How wrong is that?)  And still other times, maybe I want to wallow in my bed because it is easier than having faith, trusting that God will work it all out in His time and for His glory.  Once again, I think I have some serious crying out to do…

I am curious, which part of the reading hit home for you today?  How might you apply the truth of God’s Word to your life?

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