Read: Hosea 10:1-14:9; Jude 1:1-25; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 29:15-17
Israel was God’s vine but at the time she was not bringing forth fruit for God, but for herself. Everything she did was with selfish intent. Without wisdom, they thought that even if they had stayed true to the Lord, it wouldn’t have helped.
God listed the places of their idolatry that he was judging the whole nation for. The first was their idolatrous golden calf (2 Kings 10:29) that had be built during the reign of Jeroboam. It would be carried away to Assyria. Then there was the terrible sin that had happened to the Levite’s concubine in Gibeah (Judges 19) where the tribe of Benjamin was almost obliterated. Also, the calf in Beth-el which was once known as “the house of God”. It was now called Beth-Aven which means “house of idols”. He was going to punish them because of their double sin, where Ephraim was suppose to the place of “double fruit”.
God’s destruction would be compared to the time when
Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria first invaded Israel (2Ki 17:3), and the same fate as Arbel suffered in 2Ki 18:34. They could not stand against him.
God recanted his beginnings with Israel and his great love for them as his child. He told of their turning to Baal instead of him and their hearts that were bent on rebellion instead of obedience. He reminded them of their father Jacob and how he struggled with God at Bethel and refused to let Him go till He blessed Jacob. Now, that very sacred mountain was a place of idolatry.
Israel had trusted in her own strength and her own resources, forgetting where her strength and her resources had come from. God reminded them that he was their God who had brought them out of Egypt and they had promised to have no other god but him. He had led them through the desert and fed them and took care of them. They had become proud and forgotten him. Not only had they forgotten God, but they had become his enemy and asked for a king. Though not wanting to, the Lord gave them Saul but when Saul provoked the Lord, God took him. They had chosen death, but God still wanted to give them life from the dead. Those who had sinned would pay in death, but a remnant would live and turn back to the Lord. He would heal them and bless them. They would be his new vine which wold produce good fruit.
Jude writes to the called out ones who are loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ. He also wrote to warn them of the snares that had secretly slipped into their churches. They were trying to teach that grace was a license to sin which denies the power of the resurrection. They would be judged along with the angels who rebelled in heaven and followed Satan. They are being held in chains in Sheol awaiting their sentence.
These enemies of the Church were there for selfish gain and monetary profit. Their doctrine was like wind that had no substance. They had seared their consciences and found fault with anyone who opposed them. They were there to divide because they followed their own natural instincts and did not have the Spirit in them.
To the Church, he reminded them and us to build ourselves up in faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Abide in God’s love as we await eternal life. Be merciful to those who are doubtful and make it our goal to save them from eternal death. To others who refuse to repent, we are to have mercy on them but hate the sin they are in.
God is able to keep us from falling and present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Amen!
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