Post by Mark on Nov 28, 2009 6:52:33 GMT -8
(Hos 13:9) O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thine help.
The children of Israel were divided into two kingdoms- there was the upper kingdom that was made up of ten tribes, and the lower kingdom which was the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The lower kingdom was known as the kingdom of Judah. The upper kingdom was politically known as Israel; but from God’s perspective, the single kingdom of Israel was divided. Rather than call the northern tribe Israel (so as to exclude Judah from that association with covenant) or name each of the tribes individually, the northern kingdom became known according to the dominant and most populous tribe: the children of Ephraim. Whenever, in Scripture, Ephraim is identified as opposed to Judah, the inference includes all the Northern tribes that made up political Israel. Whenever "Israel" is used in the same context where Ephraim is named, it is speaking of the combined kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The little book of Hosea is difficult to launch into from any interior point without considering the text as a whole and within the context of the events taking place during this period.
God said to Hosea, "Lad, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I’ve chosen for you a wife. The bad news is that I got her at the second hand store."
Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute, a woman who was well known for her exploits around town- literally the most popular sleeper on the streets. The commencement of their relationship is heart-wenching and tragic as this young man offers to her all of the love, understanding and comfort humanly possible while she keeps playing the streets.
What sort of man would keep a woman like that? What kind of woman would adandon her children and the safety of her home to be victimized, used and disgarded by any man with a day’s wages in his pocket? Yet, this is the image that the Lord God wanted to potray to His people. They had been treating Him exactly the same way.
In Hosea 12-14, Adonai Elohim appeals to the northern kingdom to stop going seeking hope from the foreign nations and their gods. Remember how the Lord has kept you and protected you throughoutyour generations, yet, continually you are compelled to stray, offering yourself to anyone who has a buck.
It doesn’t take much to see the parallels in our own society. Do we trust in God or dowe place our confidence in Blue Cross/Blue Shield? Are we resting in Him alone or are we supplementing that faith with our 401K? Are we crying out to Him or are we complaining to our neighbors about how out of touch is our congressional representation. We find ourselves with strange bed-fellows after we begin to consider how we spend our emotional energies.
Yet, in the midst of this the most powerful declaration of hope that we can ever find in the Bible. He says to us, "though you have destroyed yourself, I AM YOUR Help." Though He has every right to do so, He isn’t going to leave usor forsake us.
The children of Israel were divided into two kingdoms- there was the upper kingdom that was made up of ten tribes, and the lower kingdom which was the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The lower kingdom was known as the kingdom of Judah. The upper kingdom was politically known as Israel; but from God’s perspective, the single kingdom of Israel was divided. Rather than call the northern tribe Israel (so as to exclude Judah from that association with covenant) or name each of the tribes individually, the northern kingdom became known according to the dominant and most populous tribe: the children of Ephraim. Whenever, in Scripture, Ephraim is identified as opposed to Judah, the inference includes all the Northern tribes that made up political Israel. Whenever "Israel" is used in the same context where Ephraim is named, it is speaking of the combined kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The little book of Hosea is difficult to launch into from any interior point without considering the text as a whole and within the context of the events taking place during this period.
God said to Hosea, "Lad, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I’ve chosen for you a wife. The bad news is that I got her at the second hand store."
Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute, a woman who was well known for her exploits around town- literally the most popular sleeper on the streets. The commencement of their relationship is heart-wenching and tragic as this young man offers to her all of the love, understanding and comfort humanly possible while she keeps playing the streets.
What sort of man would keep a woman like that? What kind of woman would adandon her children and the safety of her home to be victimized, used and disgarded by any man with a day’s wages in his pocket? Yet, this is the image that the Lord God wanted to potray to His people. They had been treating Him exactly the same way.
In Hosea 12-14, Adonai Elohim appeals to the northern kingdom to stop going seeking hope from the foreign nations and their gods. Remember how the Lord has kept you and protected you throughoutyour generations, yet, continually you are compelled to stray, offering yourself to anyone who has a buck.
It doesn’t take much to see the parallels in our own society. Do we trust in God or dowe place our confidence in Blue Cross/Blue Shield? Are we resting in Him alone or are we supplementing that faith with our 401K? Are we crying out to Him or are we complaining to our neighbors about how out of touch is our congressional representation. We find ourselves with strange bed-fellows after we begin to consider how we spend our emotional energies.
Yet, in the midst of this the most powerful declaration of hope that we can ever find in the Bible. He says to us, "though you have destroyed yourself, I AM YOUR Help." Though He has every right to do so, He isn’t going to leave usor forsake us.
