June 28, 2024 WHOEVER IS WISE
HOSEA 14:1-2,3b,9 “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.’” “For in Thee the orphan finds mercy.” “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.”
God used the prophet Hosea to pronounce judgment on the Israelites for their turning from Him. In the last chapter of this book, we see that God gives them the opportunity to turn back to Him; it pictures the compassion God has for His people. But even though God is a compassionate God, He will allow sin to have its way when His people reject Him and walk according to their own ways. Hosea is a book about the consequences of sin and it is also a book about God calling His people back to Him. The verses above are beautifully simplistic, but ever so powerful and so redeeming. In these verses, we see clearly just how loving and compassionate our God is. First, God simply says through Hosea, for His people to return to Him; to turn from what they were doing, from their iniquity that caused them to stumble. Is that awesome - just return; turn around, change your direction. God even tells them ‘to take words with you’ and He even tells them what to say! Only a few words need to be spoken to God-‘take away our sins and receive us graciously.’ They did not need to explain why or give all the reasons they had turned from Him; they just needed to acknowledge their sins. Once they returned to the Lord and received His forgiveness, they would praise Him with the fruit of their lips. (Another subject-the power of what we speak.) Because the Israelites had forsaken their Father God, they were like orphans. The good news for you and I is that we are no longer orphans-God is our Father! The last verse in this passage is a serious word for us. Are we wise, are we understanding in these things? Do we see the great peril waiting for those who turn from the Lord? Are we discerning? Do we know that God calls us to Himself? I love this part of the verse: “For the ways of the Lord are right.” If there is any confusion, it is only in our minds. We know the ways of God-and they are right-so let us walk in them; lay aside anything that is contrary to His ways. The righteous will walk in His ways, but the transgressors will stumble in them. I pray that everyone reading this will be ones who are walking righteously because He is righteous and because He has made us righteous.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
HOSEA 14:1-2,3b,9 “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.’” “For in Thee the orphan finds mercy.” “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.”
God used the prophet Hosea to pronounce judgment on the Israelites for their turning from Him. In the last chapter of this book, we see that God gives them the opportunity to turn back to Him; it pictures the compassion God has for His people. But even though God is a compassionate God, He will allow sin to have its way when His people reject Him and walk according to their own ways. Hosea is a book about the consequences of sin and it is also a book about God calling His people back to Him. The verses above are beautifully simplistic, but ever so powerful and so redeeming. In these verses, we see clearly just how loving and compassionate our God is. First, God simply says through Hosea, for His people to return to Him; to turn from what they were doing, from their iniquity that caused them to stumble. Is that awesome - just return; turn around, change your direction. God even tells them ‘to take words with you’ and He even tells them what to say! Only a few words need to be spoken to God-‘take away our sins and receive us graciously.’ They did not need to explain why or give all the reasons they had turned from Him; they just needed to acknowledge their sins. Once they returned to the Lord and received His forgiveness, they would praise Him with the fruit of their lips. (Another subject-the power of what we speak.) Because the Israelites had forsaken their Father God, they were like orphans. The good news for you and I is that we are no longer orphans-God is our Father! The last verse in this passage is a serious word for us. Are we wise, are we understanding in these things? Do we see the great peril waiting for those who turn from the Lord? Are we discerning? Do we know that God calls us to Himself? I love this part of the verse: “For the ways of the Lord are right.” If there is any confusion, it is only in our minds. We know the ways of God-and they are right-so let us walk in them; lay aside anything that is contrary to His ways. The righteous will walk in His ways, but the transgressors will stumble in them. I pray that everyone reading this will be ones who are walking righteously because He is righteous and because He has made us righteous.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
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