WHIRLWIND
Today’s Reading: Hosea 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A field on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee is ready for harvest. Galilee is over 600 feet below Sea Level with a bowl-like topography. Strong south-west winds are drawn into this 5 mile by 8 mile rift in the earth’s surface and can create strong whirlwinds which destroy the crops, and as we read in the Gospels, turn the peaceful seascape we see here into violent storms.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 7:2 and 8:7a
They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own deeds have surrounded them; they are before my face…They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.
Five times in today’s reading we see the name of the largest tribe in Israel, Ephraim. Ephraim was farthest away geographically from the Temple in Jerusalem, and it seems that they were also furthest away from God during the time of Hosea’s ministry. Ephraim represents all ten northern tribes of Israel. To try to communicate to them their need to repent, Hosea uses word pictures like “band of robbers,” “an oven neglected by a sleeping baker,” “a silly dove caught in a net,” and farmers who “sow to the wind and reap a whirlwind.” In the first verse of our reading, God speaks through Hosea and says, “I would have healed Israel!” God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (read 2 Peter 3:9-11). But just like Hosea preaching in his day that “Israel has forgotten his Maker!” (Hosea 8:14a), God also wants to bring us close to Himself and not reject us, but our sin and our foolish pride create a wall between God and us that stops reconciliation. Jesus broke down that wall for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. Through another prophet, the Lord says of a future time, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I repent of my sin. I pray with the man whose prayer has become so well known, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). By Your forgiveness You erase my sin from Your records. According to Your promise, You don’t even remember my past sin. Thank You!!! I ask for Your grace for this new day so that I will be kept pure in thought, word and deed. I ask this through the only One who had no need to repent, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
We have a 21st century Jeremiah (Johnston) who says,
“In an age of acute Biblical illiteracy, the vision of the Christian Thinkers Society is to lead the vanguard of a new movement that will have a notable impact on the shape of contemporary Christianity by providing the essential training to transform and enrich believers, Christian leaders, and Pastors who will be characterized by a thinking faith, capable to communicate confidently, and committed to escape the tendency to offer trite answers to a sceptical world.”
I’m asking my blog readers to pray for Jeremiah and share Jeremiah’s vision with others. Check out his website HERE. I like Jeremiah’s slogan, “Teaching Pastors and Christians to Become Thinkers, and Thinkers to Become Christians”…and a big “AMEN” to that!!!
Yours for a greater understanding of the heart and mind of our “Maker!”
David
Joined in with your prayer David this morning. “God be merciful to me a sinner”
Thank you Father that by Your Grace you forgive all my sin “Whiter than snow” thank you Jesus for nailing them to The Cross!!!
How true! “We need Christians to become thinkers and thinkers to become Christians” more than ever in this day and age.
Lord keep me on Your paths of righteousness, in all my ways I acknowledge You. Thank you for this Day You have made.
Amen Irene,
I also am agreeing in prayer with you Oastor David.
God keeps on calling people to come to their senses and turn to Him. Please help us all, Lord , to turn to You before it’s too late…
“I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great.
…
Its people don’t realize
that I am watching them.
Their sinful deeds are all around them,
and I see them all.
…
and no one cries to me for help.
…
Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength,
but they don’t even know it.
…
Their arrogance testifies against them,
yet they don’t return to the Lord their God
or even try to find him.
…
I wanted to redeem them,
but they have told lies about me.
They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts.
Instead, they sit on their couches and wail
…
and they turn away from me.
I trained them and made them strong,
yet now they plot evil against me.
They look everywhere except to the Most High.
…
The enemy descends like an eagle on the people of the Lord,
for they have broken my covenant
and revolted against my law.
Now Israel pleads with me,
‘Help us, for you are our God!’
But it is too late.
The people of Israel have rejected what is good,
and now their enemies will chase after them.
The people have appointed kings without my consent,
and princes without my approval.
By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold,
they have brought about their own destruction.
“O Samaria, I reject this calf—
this idol you have made.
My fury burns against you.
How long will you be incapable of innocence?”
(some verses from Hosea 7&8)
That is a postcard perfect picture of the Sea of Galilee, Reynold–thank you. A nice painting, to unfold. I love peaceful seascapes and violent storms–how I long to go there, one day! Oh, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Amen!! Thank you for that awesome prayer, dear David!! Blessings of love, dearest saints in the Lord!
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“God Be Merciful To Me (Psalm 51)” by Jars of Clay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbOW_j02SAk
Just listened to Dr. Charles Stanley on radio–amen, to lifting our spirits! We cannot be lukewarm as saints–we have to go all the way, sharing our hearts about Jesus with those we meet!
Amen!
seeing the water reminds me….I am wondering if any blogger in Ontario can confirm whether an Electriaial Utility is giving consumers of electricity under a certain income a discount of $55.00? I heard about this but would like someone to tell me if this is an accurate piece of information!
Blessings to all…among all the noise in the world…..the sun rose and lit up the skies and they noticed that the tomb was empty! Yes, the Son of God was alive! The portion in the Gospels where the disciples are walking and talking and suddenly Jesus is among them but they do not realize this fact! I always chuckle at that portion of Scrpiture because that would be me! I would be talking a mile a minute about what I had just seen, an empty tomb, I would be a bit scared also, and I would be telling people, it’s empty! I know I would be bewildered! I am pretty sure I would faint when Jesus would bless the meal, that’s when they all realized who He was! I know I would be happy, scared, puzzled, and I’m pretty sure I would give someone a hug! I seem to do that when I am not sure just what to do!
OH HAPPY DAY, WHEN JESUS ROSE, HE TOOK OUR SINS AWAY! FOREVER, ALWAYS, THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU!
Here is the info:
https://ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/FAQ
You have to be a CPP recipient to receive the monthly credit. It is assessed by them; $55 credit a month for family; $30 for single recipient. You also have to live in Ontario.