Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the Lord speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. “An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.” Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord,…
“ . . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32 NASB Truth – It’s time to write your autobiography. Well, no, not really. Did you ever think about the illogical assumptions of an autobiography. First, of course, is the fact that the real meaning of a life can’t…
Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. Hosea 4:1 NASB Knowledge of God – “Hosea’s central complaint against the people is that they do not…
When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.” Hosea 1:2 NASB A wife of harlotry – Hollywood loves the prostitute with the golden heart. Perhaps the best known Hollywood version of this romantic fantasy is Pretty Woman. Frankly, it’s…
Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me. Psalm 66:20 NASB Has not turned away – As we discovered yesterday, the biblical standard is holiness. Absolute holiness. There is no “bell curve” of righteousness. There is no appeasement policy. There is no “life” insurance because you once made some…
If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear; Psalm 66:18 NASB Regard – The Bible is a very scary book. Yes, of course, it speaks about God’s care and concern for His creation, including, fortunately, us. But laced throughout the glowing promises of forgiveness and shalom are verses like this one, verses…
Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16 NASB Who fear God – Although you won’t see it in the English translation, this phrase (“who fear God”) does not contain God’s name. It uses the word ʾĕlōhîm, the general classification of “god.” Perhaps that’s not…
I shall pay You my vows, which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in distress. Psalm 66:13b-14 Vows – What is the absolute basis of the covenant? What is the one thing that constitutes the covenant arrangement? The answer: a promise. In Hebrew: nâdar. A vow is a promise to God. It reflects…
You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. Psalm 66:12 NASB Place of abundance – What do you really want out of life? Peace? Prosperity? Security? Companionship? Love? What will you really get? Oh, that one’s easy. Death. All the rest is sort of up…
For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. Psalm 66:10-11 NASB Oppressive burden – Life is difficult. God is in control. Often those two sentences seem to be completely contradictory. If God is good and He is…
