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ACKNOWLEDGE NO SAVIOR EXCEPT ME

Hosea 13:1-16

“But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.” (4)

First, like the early dew (1-3). Ephraim was once powerful and greatly blessed. But when they turned to idol-worship, they became objects of God’s anger. Their idolatry spread to the extent that they offered their children as human sacrifices and kissed the calf-idols (2). Therefore, they would disappear like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling on the threshing floor and smoke escaping through a window (3). One thing is certain: If we follow other gods or worship idols, we will not be blessed. The blessed life is the life of worshiping the one true God and Jesus Christ his Son.

Second, I am the LORD your God (4-16). God was the only Savior for Israel and Ephraim. He is the one true God and the Savior for His people. He led them through the burning desert and gave them water from the rock. But when they were satisfied, they forgot God and became proud. Therefore, the LORD God would be like a lion to devour them (7). Hosea compares them to a child that does come to the opening of the womb when his time has arrived. Samaria would have to bear their guilt because they had rejected God’s love over and over again.

Still, God loved them and wanted to save them. He promised to ransom them from the power of the grave. The words in verse 14 are echoed by Paul and look forward to Jesus’ victory over the grave. “Where O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” Jesus has conquered sin and death. Death has been swallowed by the power of his resurrection. 

Father God, thank you for delivering me from my sins and from the grave through Jesus my Redeemer.

One Word: God alone saves!

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YOU MUST RETURN TO YOUR GOD

Hosea 11:12-12:14

But you must return to your God;
    maintain love and justice,
    and wait for your God always. (6)

Israel had been deceptive even toward God. They tried to deceive him with religious rituals without heart and while living in injustice. God was not deceived. He reminded them of their ancestor, Jacob. He had been a deceiver, too. He deceived his brother Esau of his birthright but he lived in fear. Finally, he came to God and begged his favor. Jacob was changed from a deceiver into a man who struggles with God and man and overcomes. His name was changed to Israel.

God tells us to return to Him and maintain justice and love. We should wait on God always. This is the way to overcome in life. Rather than deceiving others, we must come to God who will help us in time of need.

Lord, I was struggling with many things. Help me to come to you now and listen quietly to your voice. Help me to be full of love and mercy toward others.

One Word: Wait for God always

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THROW OUT YOUR CALF-IDOL

Hosea 8:1-14

Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!

First, warnings (1-4). The trumpet and the eagle over the house of Israel are symbols of God’s coming judgment. God was angry with his people for living in their own way setting up whomever they liked as leaders to suit their fancy and for worshiping idols. Judgment was coming upon Israel, for they had rejected God and broken faith with God's covenant by worshiping idols.

Even if we acknowledge God with our lips, it is our life that really shows whether we acknowledge him. Israel kept up many religious festivals and they said that they acknowledged God but their life did not show it. We have a word for this: hypocrisy. Originally, a hypocrite was an actor in the Greek theater. Actors may act well and bring out many emotions but they are only pretending. This is what a hypocrite does in his life.

Second, “Throw out the calf-idol!” (4-14). God commands them to throw away their idols, especially the calf–idol they had made in Samaria. This idol hearkens back to the time in the desert when Aaron made a golden calf for the people. God’s word tells us today to throw away our idols. What are idols today? Even if men do not bow down to gods of wood and stone, we make idols in our hearts. Our family and children, our career, position and money can all be potential idols. Sometimes, materialism and living a comfortable life is an idol for me. But God’s word says to throw out the idols in my heart.

Those who worship idols will reap the whirlwind (7). Their lives are ruined. Israel eventually became like a wandering donkey lost in the desert among the nations (8, 9).  Israel could not but waste away without God. Even though they built palaces and fortresses, it would be useless because they had forgotten their Maker (14). This is the fruit of living a self-seeking life and rejecting God.

Lord, thank you for your word that purifies my heart. Help me to throw away my idols. Lead me to live as a man of God in my generation. Bless our family to be a house church and a source of blessing for your flock as well as a refuge from the world. May your name be hallowed in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Throw away my idols!

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I LONG TO REDEEM THEM

Hosea 7:1-16

“…I long to redeem them…” (13c)

First, their sins engulf them (1b, 3, 4a, 6b, 7b, 10, 11, 13a, b, 14b, 15b, 16a). In this chapter God makes a detailed list of all the sins of Israel. They practiced deception, stealing, lying and adultery. They were arrogant and went astray from God. They did not call on God but instead turned to other nations for help. Israel represents every nation. She represents sinful humanity. What is the problem of mankind? The real source of all our problems is sin. Indwelling sin makes us stumble and fall. It is the wickedness of our hearts that makes us sinners. Our hearts are full of pride, rebellion, arrogance and adultery, ruled by sinful lust and passions. In a word, our sins engulf us (2b). 

When I think of my own heart, it is easily engulfed in sinful passions and desires. My mind easily goes astray from God and returns to sinful thoughts. I must continually resist temptation in this body. Paul said, “O wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?” Mankind has not changed even after thousands of years of civilization and technology. We cannot reverse the power of sin. No one can save himself. The only solution is to turn back to God.

Second, I long to redeem them (13c). God’s longing is to redeem sinners. He sent us His one and only Son Jesus to be our Redeemer. Redeem means to buy back. Sin makes us slaves to sin. We are sold on the marketplace of the devil because of sin. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. The only hope for a slave is to be set free by his master or be redeemed by someone who can make the payment. Jesus did this on the cross. He bought me back from the slave market of sin and the devil. He paid the high cost of my redemption through his atoning sacrifice for sin. He shed his precious blood for my sins. All I need to do is to trust in Jesus. I trust in Jesus to save me! I have been bought by his blood. I have been set free from my inner torment due to my sins. This is the good news of the gospel. I don’t have to earn salvation. I don’t have to save myself. I don’t have to depend on someone else. I trust in Jesus my Redeemer to save me. I look to the cross of Jesus where his blood is dripping down on me. 

Thank you, Jesus, for being my Redeemer. Thank you for your precious blood that bought me from my slavery to sin. Help me to walk as a free man in Christ. Help me to remember that you saved me moment by moment. I lay all of my sins of arrogance, pride, rebellion, disobedience, lust, and fear at the foot of the cross. I trust in you Lord Jesus to save me. Help me to share in your heart for the lost world of sinners. Help me to share the gospel with someone today. By doing so, help me to praise you and sing of you my Redeemer. Be thou my vision. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

One Word: Jesus is my Redeemer!

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COME, LET US RETURN TO THE LORD

Hosea 6:1-11

“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
    but he will heal us;
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds. (1)

In this chapter, God speaking through Hosea invites the Israelites to repentance and to receive healing in spite of all their backsliding. Though their love was like the morning mist, God wanted to call them back into a right relationship with Him. This invitation is very personal and it is meant for all who love God and who long to be near Him.

First, God’s invitation (1-3). What is repentance? A proper definition might be something like: Repentance is a change of mind and heart. Repentance is to turn about-face and to make a 180 degree turn. Hosea 6:1a gives us a very apt Bible definition. Repentance is simply to “return to the LORD.” Hosea invites the backslidden Israelites in this word: “Come, let us return to the LORD.” But how can sinful human beings return to the Holy God? We first need His invitation and His promise to heal us. That is exactly what the opening verse gives us. God invites us to return to Him and He promises to heal us and to bind up our wounds. Although God had severely judged Israel and let them fall into the hands of their enemies, his purpose was not to destroy them. His ultimate purpose was to restore them. He wanted to heal their wounds and bring them back to the covenant relationship with Him as their God. 

“After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence” (2). This is a great promise. God wanted to restore them in just three days. Doesn’t this remind you of Jesus being raised on the third day? I don’t know if that is what Hosea meant but as I look at this verse with my NT lens in place, I see the living God and the Risen Jesus in this verse. He was raised on the third day, which meant that sinners can be revived and restored to new life and a right relationship with God in Christ. This is the essence of the gospel. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”(3)

We press on to acknowledge the LORD. Twice the prophet repeats the verb “acknowledge.” Repentance is also to acknowledge the LORD. Repentance would not be complete if we do not acknowledge the LORD. Every day I awake, I must acknowledge the LORD my God. He is with me. He was with me this morning to get up early and listen to His word in my QT. Already, the winter snow of God's grace has fallen on the quiet ground to wash away the dark stains of the past. Already, the spring rains are coming to water our hearts through the words of God that shower upon us. How beautiful it is to feel the winter snow and the cool spring rain on my face! 

O Lord, your grace is like winter snow

that comes from above

causing me to grow.

Your word is like spring rain

falling on my face and shoulders

Making me new again.

Second, like a morning mist (4-11).

“What can I do with you, Ephraim?
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears” (4).

We sense the broken shepherd heart of God who is our loving Father as He rebukes Ephraim and Judah, for their love was like a morning mist and like the early dew that disappears. It reminds me of Jesus as he lamented over his generation and over his disciples’ lack of faith. “O sinful and adulterous generation! How long shall I put up with you? How long shall I stay with you?” Here, I see how much my human love is like a morning mist and the early dew that disappears so quickly. The burning sense of God’s presence and the warmth of His word should stay with me all the day long, not just during my quiet time. God calls me to love God with all my heart and soul and strength (Dt 6:5). 

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
    and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (6).

Here is another charge against His people. God was wearied by their religiosity. He wanted much more than keeping religious rituals and making many sacrifices. He wanted mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. He says of the priests, “As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests…” If the priests themselves were doing such evil things, how much more then were the common folks? The situation of Israel is familiar to us today. We see and hear all sorts of crimes happening every day. But the worst crime might be that of the “silent majority” who go to church on Sunday but close their eyes to what is going on during the rest of the week. The worst sin might be the sin of omission, of doing nothing about what is happening. Am I one of them?

Here, God wants much more than my attendance at worship service on Sunday, a few meetings and weekly Bible study. He wants me to take notice of hurting people and show them mercy. He wants me to speak out of injustice. God calls me to be a channel of His grace, love and mercy to the hurting world around me.

Lord, I respond to your gracious invitation. Let my love for you be more than a morning mist. Help me to have your heart for those who are lost and hurting around me. Remember those who are sick and hurting. Restore your children Chris and Charles. Heal M John Mun's shattered arm and make him whole again. Bless M David Kim (Tempe) to live a new life and be healed of cancer. Bless your precious servant M Maria Lee to fully recover and to experience your presence while in the hospital. Bless my sons Paul and John to grow as great servants of God and to marry women of faith and holy mission. Bless Nathan and Rich my Bible students to grow through the spring rain of your words. I pray for your blessings on all the upcoming conferences (Staff, Europe, CIS). Help me to serve as a guide and as a Bible teacher for the USA/Canada annual staff conference. Make me a channel of your grace and mercy today. Bless our broken world through the gospel of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Return to the LORD and acknowledge Him!