Tag Archives: Hosea 6-9:17

December 7, 2014 Bible Study — God Desires Mercy Not Sacrifice

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. Christmas is coming soon. Let us remember what it is truly about, the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us strive to not be caught up in the commercialism which is what this season is about for many in our society today.

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Proverbs 29:12-14

    If a ruler gives credence to lies, it is only a matter of time until he will only have wicked men and wicked women for advisers. In such a situation it is only a matter of time until those who are not willing to lie, cheat, and steal to advance their own interests will either leave by their own choice or be forced out by those more ruthless than themselves.

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Psalm 126:1-6

    This psalm refers to when the people of Israel returned from exile. However, the psalm gives us an insight in how to deal with suffering and tragedy in our lives. I am actually going to look at it backwards. The psalmist tells us that those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. When we face suffering let us always remember that it is temporary. God will bring us joy when His plans reach their fulfillment.
    Earlier in the psalm the psalmist said that the rest of the world will be amazed by what God has done for us. Let us live our lives so that when God works out His plans, others will look at us and say, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” When we experience the good times, let us make sure that everyone knows that it was God who brought them about for us.

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3 John 1:1-14

    John writes here about traveling teachers who will accept nothing from non-believers. They rely on the believers in an area to support themselves as they travel around teaching the Gospel. I wish he gave us a better idea of how they actually practiced their teaching. I suppose it is just as well that he does not because there would be some who would claim that was the only way to do it.
    John praises those who provide support for these traveling teachers. It is interesting that there was a leader of the local church who opposed such traveling teachers and worked to keep them out of the area. John condemns such behavior. It is not clear, but it appears that the leader who John condemns used his position to silence everybody who might provide leadership aside from himself. John tells us not to let such a bad example influence us. Instead we should only imitate those who do what is good. In the NIV translation, it is clear that John is calling this leader an evil man. Those who do good prove that they are God’s children. Those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

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Hosea 6-9:17

    God wants us to show love rather than offer sacrifices. He wants us to know Him more than He wants burnt offerings. It is not enough to give to good causes, even if we give until it hurts. We must show love to those around us. God wants to heal us, and our society, but our sins get in the way. When the prophet says that God wants to heal us he means physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
    In some ways this reflects back to yesterday. God wants to heal our society, but its sins are too great for healing. However, the prophet is not telling us that its “big” sins are too great. Rather, he is telling us that too many of us are sinning. I cannot fix what is wrong in our society by pointing to some other person and say, “See, that is what is wrong with our society.” No, I need to examine MY life and look at the sins I commit. In order to fix society, I must cleanse myself of my sins.
    The answer to our society’s problems is not new laws, or different laws, or stricter enforcing of existing laws. It is not changing the makeup of our government, or our institutions, or our media. No, the answer to our society’s problems is changing people’s hearts. That is something that cannot be done en masse. It must be done one by one and can only be done by showing God’s love to each and every person we meet.

December 7, 2013 Bible Study — The Lord Has Done Amazing Things For Us

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Hosea 6-9:17

     God wants us to show love/mercy more than He wants us to offer sacrifices. He wants us to know Him more than He wants us to follow specific regulations. But we have broken His covenant and betrayed His trust…I have broken His covenant and betrayed His trust. Despite all of this God wants to heal us, to heal our land. Let us each one of us take the responsibility to turn from our sins and cry to God for help. Let us not follow the example of the people of the Kingdom of Israel, who looked everywhere, except to God, for help. Let us turn to God, and cry out for His help, now, before it is too late.

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3 John 1:1-14

     In this letter, John tells us of the importance of helping traveling teachers, those who go from place to place to bring the word of God. We should provide them with support because they will not accept aid from non-believers. John also warns us against church leaders who want to prevent anyone from hearing the teaching of anyone they do not control, leaders who are dictatorial and controlling. Let us follow only what is good. Those who do good prove that they are children of God, while those who do evil show that they do not even know God.

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Psalm 126:1-6

     I will have faith in God, even though I am facing difficult times. He will restore my fortunes and I will bless His name. Things may be difficult now, but I trust God to bring joy into my life.

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Proverbs 29:12-14

     Rulers who listen to liars will quickly end up with advisers who are all wicked. Those who think that it is acceptable for those in positions of authority to lie in order to accomplish “worthy” objectives will discover that those worthy objectives are not what they thought they were. Integrity is vitally important in order to accomplish anything of positive value.

December 7, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Christmas Wreath

Hosea 6-9:17

     The prophet calls for us to turn to God, to repent and follow the will of God. He tells us that while God has punished us, He desires to tend our wounds and heal us. God wants us to demonstrate love to others, not perform traditional rituals. He wants us to know Him, not perform empty ceremonies. The prophet tells us that Israel has weakened itself with its sins and does not recognize its weakness. When trouble came they turned to one earthly power after another for salvation, yet never once called on God. They turned to every possible solution except for God. They sought relief from their troubles by every means they could imagine other than turning to God. Does this not sound like the world around us today? People seek political solutions to the problems, rather than seeking to do God’s will and allowing Him to fix the problems. They seek to propitiate the gods of economics by one empty ritual after another rather than turn to God and do what He commands. Hosea condemned the people of Israel for mocking the prophets, for laughing at those who called them back to righteousness. He condemned them for being hostile to and laying traps for those men among them who stood up and pointed out the path back to God. Does this not sound like our culture today? How often do we fall in with those who make fun of people who attempt to live righteous lives in the public eye?

Dead Tree That Provides Shelter

3 John 1:1-14

     Today I read the last of John’s three pastoral letters. In this letter John commends Gaius for living according to the truth as reported to John by some traveling preachers who had recently returned to John and given him a report. John speaks highly of Gaius for the hospitality he showed to these fellow believers when they passed through. John then condemns a leader of the congregation local to Gaius, Diotrephes, for his refusal to help these itinerant preachers. Diotrephes even went so far as to excommunicate those who went against his instructions and helped them. Diotrephes was abusing his position of authority and John had plans to go to the city where Diotrephes was and expose his duplicity. Overall I see two lessons for us today. The first is that we should not allow Church leaders to stop us from doing what we know is the will of God. The second is that Church leaders must be held accountable for their actions.

Bhakail Yule, Gathering In the “Tavern”

Psalm 126:1-6

     When God does wondrous things for us, let us not forget to praise Him so that unbelievers know where our good fortune comes from. We may be suffering but if we plant a crop of righteousness we will reap a harvest of joy.

Magrat Poses

Proverbs 29:12-14

     If a ruler gives credence to liars, only those who are willing to lie to get what they want will be willing to advise him. Both the oppressed and the oppressor are created by God to serve Him. A ruler who gives justice to even the poor will lead a stable government.