Hosea’s Reconciliation With His Wife
Hosea 3:1-5, 4:1-12, NIV
God uses this example to demonstrate His love for the Israelites in spite of their unfaithfulness-Ch 3:1.
God’s charge against the Israelites
There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this, the land mourns. and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying-Ch 4:1-3.
Obs: serious consequences of sins not due to global warming or climate change from burning fossil fuels.
Hosea 4:1-7, GNB extract
[1]The Lord has an accusation to bring against the people who live in this land. Listen, Israel, to what he says: “There is no faithfulness or love in the land, and the people do not acknowledge me as God.
[2]They make promises and break them; they lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery. Crimes increase, and there is one murder after another.
[3]And so the land will dry up, and everything that lives on it will die. All the animals and birds, and even the fish, will die.”
[4]The Lord says, “Let no one accuse the people or reprimand them — my complaint is against you priests.
[5]Night and day you blunder on, and the prophets do no better than you. I am going to destroy Israel, your mother.
[6]My people are doomed because they do not acknowledge me. You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests.
[7]“The more of you priests there are, the more you sin against me, and so I will turn your honour into disgrace.
Application (Applic): Do not sin against God; lives a righteous life, enjoy His blessings to the fullest.
Luke 1:38-45, NIV
Mary visited Elizabeth…a town in the hill country…When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb (Th: able to feel it steongky), and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!….the baby in my womb leaped for joy-vs 39-44.