TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Hosea 10:1-14:9
Jude 1:1-25
Psalm 127:1-5
Proverbs 29:15-17
Hosea 10:12 — This chapter has been difficult to read, but this verse is clear. “Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD.” A.W. Tozer preached a message on this verse. Also, from the Steve Pettit Team:
Hosea 10:13 — 15% of people pray that something bad they did will not be discovered.
Hosea 11:1 — Notice that God retells the story of Israel. They were ransomed from Egypt through the Passover, but they immediately began sacrificing to Baal (Hosea 11:2). Clearly, they were bent on backsliding (Hosea 11:7).
Hosea 11:8 — What on earth is Admah and Zeboim? They are allies of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 14:2-3) that were likewise destroyed (Deuteronomy 29:23). Will God destroy Israel like Sodom & Gomorrah? No (Hosea 11:9)! He will make them walk after Him (Hosea 11:10).
Hosea 12:6 — In spite of all the judgment God is bringing, He pleads, “turn thou to thy God.”
Hosea 13:4 — Notice the comparison to the First Commandment (Exodus 20:2-3).
Hosea 13:14 — God is more powerful than death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:55)!
Hosea 13:16 — How could God be so cruel? GotQuestions.org compares this passage to Nahum 3:10:
The immediate context speaks of the defeat of the Egyptian city of Thebes by Assyria, of which Nineveh was the capital. When Thebes was defeated by Assyria in 663 B.C., the detestable acts of Nahum 3:10 took place. The Assyrians sold people into captivity and killed infants (cf. Hosea 13:16). The infants were likely killed by the Assyrians as a gratuitous act of cruelty and because the infants could not be easily exiled.
It’s important to note that God did not condone this horrific action. In fact, Nahum mentions this account as justification for God’s condemnation of Assyria.
https://www.gotquestions.org/infants-dashed-to-pieces.html
Hosea 14:1 — Calling out again to Israel: “Return unto the LORD thy God.” Aren’t you thankful for His patience with us? How do we return? Repent (Hosea 14:2), turn (Hosea 14:3), and be healed (Hosea 14:4).
Jude 1 — According to Insight.org and J. Vernon McGee, Jude is the half-brother of Jesus, yet introduces himself as “the servant of Jesus Christ.” McGee makes an interesting point:
Neither James nor Jude believed in the messianic claims of Jesus until after His resurrection. It was the Resurrection that convicted them and confirmed to them that Jesus was who He claimed to be. Up until that time they thought He had just gone “off” on religion, that He was, as the Scripture puts it, beside Himself. But after His resurrection they became believers. You see, it was possible to grow up in a home with Jesus in the days of His flesh and not recognize Him.
https://www.ttb.org/resources/study-guides/jude-study-guide
Jude 4 — Again, heresy in the early church! What does Jude show? Doctrinal error (Jude 4) and promised destruction (Jude 5 – effective destruction, Jude 6 – everlasting chains, Jude 7 – eternal fire).
Jude 14 — No, Jude isn’t endorsing the extrabiblical alleged Book of Enoch. He is, however, showing that for hundreds of years before Noah, the Preacher of Righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), God did not leave Himself without a remnant prophet.
Jude 17-18 — Two observations: 1) The brother of Jesus is submitting to his brother’s disciples, and 2) Jude 18 is a good description of today.
Jude 22-23 — Great verses today! “Of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 22), and “save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” Let’s remember that hell is real, and as someone once said, “The most sobering reality in the world is that people are dying and going to hell today.”
Psalm 127:1 — A great reminder to those of us who like to build projects! Ask God what He thinks first!
Proverbs 29:16 — Thankfully, the wicked don’t reign forever!
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