Fri.’s Devo - God’s Judgment

Read: Hosea 10:1-14:9; Jude 1:1-25; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 29:15-17 The first line tells you everything. The more prosperous the people became, the more resources they spent on their foolish idols. They claimed they had no king because they didn’t fear God, but they didn’t want to change their ways. They wouldn’t have been able to trust a king because there was no justice. He would have just spouted out empty promises he would not have been able to keep. *** The people of Samaria worshipped a golden calf at Beth-aven. Beth-aven means “House of Vanity”. They would mourn when this idol gets carted away to Assyria. They will feel hopeless with out it. *** God would call for the armies of nations to attack them because of their multitude of sins. God would cause Israel and Judah to break up the hardness of their hearts and plant seeds of righteousness instead. They had cultivated a lifestyle of wickedness and lies. They believed that great armies could make their nation safe and now they lived in terror of internal war. *** When Israel was young, God loved him and called him out of Egypt. The more God called to him. the farther he moved away from him. Since they refused to let God be their father, he would force them to serve Assyria. Israel will not totally be destroyed because one day Israel will honor the Lord and follow him. They will come from the places they were scattered and bring them home. *** Judah was still faithful to the Lord. But the people of Israel chased after lies and violence followed. They made an alliance with Assyria while courting Egypt. He will be payed back for his deceitfulness. Their craftiness would be exposed. God sent his prophets to warn them but they refused to give up their idols worship. *** There was a time when the people listened to the tribe of Ephraim and Ephraim was an important tribe. But, Ephraim had turned to worshiping Baal sealing their destruction. *** God had made it clear when they came out of Egypt that they must acknowledge no other God’s but him. They had become proud and forgot Him and now they would be judged and destroyed. When this happens all the things they trusted in like their wealth will be taken away. *** God cried out to them through Hosea to return to the Lord and confess their sins. If they asked for forgiveness and truly repented then God would heal them of their unfaithfulness. God would refresh them and cause them to blossom and have deep roots. They would live under the shade of the Most High and prosper once more as their soul prospered. *** In Jude, he addresses what today is called “greasy grace”. It is the teaching that since we live in the time of grace, we can sin and just ask God to forgive us and it will all be okay. This teaching denies Christ. God had rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt but he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. God also punished the angels who came to earth and had sex with the women of the earth in Genesis 6. They are being chained in prisons of darkness awaiting their day of judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were full of immorality and sexual perversion and they were destroyed by fire. All of these stand as a picture of God’s fiery judgment. *** There were those among them that used their spiritual gifts to get power over the people yet they lived immoral lives, defied authority and scoffed at demons. Even Michael dared not accuse the devil but used the Lord’s name to rebuke him. These people scoffed at things they didn’t understand. They followed their instincts which lead to their own destruction. They murder,ed deceived for money and rebelled. They talked a great spiritual talk but their words were empty because their hearts were not pure. *** Enoch had prophesied about these people saying that the Lord woillcome with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgement on the people of the world. He will convict everyone of their sins. *** These people grumble, complain, and live only for their own desires. They brag and flatter others to get what they want. These are the ones the apostles tole them about. They would bring division among God’s people. *** But we are not these people. We must show mercy to them and try to rescue them from sin but we must build one another up in faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. *** Lord, may we do all for your glory. You are able to keep us from falling and bring us with great joy into your glorious presence., We give you all the glory.