King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Always Faithful
Date: Monday September 19, 2011
Chapters: Hosea 1-6, Proverbs 19, Psalm 98
Highlight of Chapters: Israel, God's dishonored wife, the chastisement of adulterous Israel, yet to be restored, God's undying love to Israel. The future kingdom on earth, the voice of the remnant of Israel in the last days,and God’s response.
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Hello My Friend/Guest,

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” - I Timothy 4:4-10.

There are those who are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are diligent to instil into the minds of their hearers the fundamental truths of God’s Word, which will prevent their being seduced by false teachers and drawn away into the apostasy of the last days. As Christian's let us not study the Word of God to come up with new theories, but ever be faithful in proclaiming those saving truths which they have received of the apostles and Jesus Christ. We are going to suffer from time to time, we are even going to mess up from time to time, all of our own thinking and doing, but God with all His love, mercy, grace, and pure goodness is always faithful to forgive, help, and pick up those who put their trust in Him, the only living God.

The book of Hosea is the twenty-eighth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains fourteen chapters. The author of the book is Hosea and it was written to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The time line for these events too k place approximately between 790BC to 725BC. The purpose of the book was to alert Israel to her sinful condition and bring her back to God. What we are to learn from the book is that, it is only from experience that we can learn of God's love, compassion, and grace for all who repent and turn to God. “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” - Hosea 14:4.

The Jews were the people God chose to set as an example for the rest of the world, His intention was to show all nations how blessed they can be by acknowledging and following God. However, from the time of the Exodus to their current state they did not always acknowledge God. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had no godly influence at all, out of the nineteen kings to reign not one of them attempted to lead the people to worship in Jerusalem as God had instructed. Hosea was a prophet who lived and prophesied just before the destruction of Israel in 722 BC. To illustrate and warn the people, He commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute, whom would become unfaithful to him.

“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. And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.” - Hosea 2:2-6.

Hosea is an illustration of God and his unfaithful wife is an illustration of the idolatrous house of Israel. The word Jezreel means, God scatters, which is probably indicative of the fact that God was going to punish and scatter the nation for its sinfulness. This came to pass after the Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom and were scattered all over the world (See II Kings 18-19). Still today, Jews are scattered all over the world because of this. All of God's people, whether Jew or Gentile are scattered and will one day meet and live together in harmony when Christ returns and reigns His Kingdom. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” - Romans 2:9-11.

Although Hosea's wife was faithful for a time she left him for all the pleasures she thought other men could give her. Hosea was heartbroken, he had a legal right to have her stoned and put to death, but he still loved her and chose to redeem her. To show his love he actually purchased the debt his wife owed to set her free and brought her back home.

“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. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” - Hosea 3:1-5.

Does any of this sound familiar? A husband loved his wife so much that he was willing to pay the debt she owed for her freedom? This is an exact mirror of Jesus Christ, because we are sinners we owe a payment for our sin debt, and that payment is hell. However, Jesus made the payment for that debt with His Blood, He who knew no sin became sin for us so we would not have to end up in hell. Now, He died for all, but He will not save all unless they abide in Him. Right now we can not see our king, but one day, sooner than we think, Jesus will return and every person who accepted Him will fear the Lord, and enjoy His physical presence and goodness. “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:” - Acts 3:18-20.

Those that seek a relationship with God, must apply Christ to their lives, and become His willing people. Not only are we to fear the Lord and His greatness, but His goodness, meaning not only His majesty, but His mercy and grace. The experience of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, will lead the heart to reverence so kind and glorious a Friend and Father, and to fear offending him. God said, “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” - Hosea 5:15. God does not want us to suffer, He willingly and patiently waits for His people to return to Him. He even promises to return His blessings, but first we must acknowledge Him. “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” - I John 2:23-25.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, I know that doubt and uncertainty imposes fear while faith and assurance develops a calm, trusting spirit. I do not look to the unstable world for strength or encouragement but I look to Your unchanging Word where You fully assure me that nothing shall separate me from Your love. It is in Your strength and through Your power that I will remain faithful though tested by adverse circumstances. These come so that my faith is purified, proven genuine, and becomes sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. May my life bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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