Spiritual Adultry 09.19.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are beginning our studies on the book of Hosea, please read Chapters 1-6 in your Bible or Click Here to read online. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%201-6&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the comparison between Israel and an unfaithful wife; the judgement upon the northern kingdom; God's withdrawl from them; and the urgancy for repentance. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that putting other things before God makes us spiritual adulterers. We must not let anything come before God and His Word.

The book of Hosea is the 28th book of the Old Testament and contains 14 chapters. THe book was written by Hosea himself to the northern kingdom of Isreal and the purpose of the book was to alert Israel of her sinful condition and bring her back to God. What we learn from the book is that experience fosters understanding and compassion.

Jeroboam II was king of the northern kingdom of Israel, the moral and spiritual level of the Israelites had become so low that they had no shame in allowing sodomitation (male prostitution) and other detestable practices. (See I Kings 14). Because of their sinful acts God commands Hosea to marry a harlot. "The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son." (Hosea 1:2-3).

After baring three children Gomer left Hosea and went back to her life as a harlot. She was later captured and Hosea bought her and redeemed her. He had a legal right to have her stoned, but he loved her so much that he chose to redeem her. "Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee." (3:1-3).

Hosea was an illustration of the relationship that Israel had with God, they were as an unfaithful wife, but He loved them so much that He rather see them redeemed and not destoyed. God declared through Hosea that His people were destroyed by lack of knowledge. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (4:6).

God has written a great guide to show us how He expects us to live our lives here on earth. That guide is the Bible, it contains all the answers to your questions as well as the gives you hope, peace, and direction for an ungodly world. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17).

It is of utmost importance that we study this guide daily, we can not live the life God wants us to live if we do not know what that is and the only way to learn is by reading His Word. Do not worry about not being able to understand, the Holy Spirt through you will enable you to understand. "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." (I Corinthians 12:3-7).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through Hosea's love for his unfaithful wife. (Hosea 3:1-5). Jesus not only loves us as sinners, He also died for us so that we are redeemed through His blood.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Nothing brings abiding peace more than knowing that we are saved from the penalty of sin and that we are firmly grounded in Your holy precepts. It makes us feel safe in a struggling world that continues to search for knowledge from all the wrong sources. We are sound in our outlook when we align our understanding and convictions with the teachings of Christ, His disciples and the prophets of old. We speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor from the authority of this world that changes from year to year. Our wisdom is based upon our knowledge and understanding of You, our eternal Father, the One who changes not. In You we are saved and we are sound. In Jesus Name.....Amen.

Have a blessed day.
God Bless You,
Christina

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