Sun.’s Devo - Israel’s Fate -

Read: Hosea 6:1-9:17; 3 John 1:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 29:12-14 Hosea begins with the good news. When they return to the Lord he will heal them and restore them to walk in his presence and know the Lord. *** God explains that he sent his prophets to destroy them with words and warn them of horrible judgments if they didn’t repent. But, they refused to listen to them or turn. The priests had become extortioners of their money and murderers who practiced every kind of sin. *** All Israel had turned to prostitution and spiritual adultery. They loved to bring burnt offerings to the Lord and eat them at the Temple while they also participated in pagan worship of many other gods. This hypocrisy and mixture had made them weak and aged them. God had made them strong yet they used that strength against him. Now they had become weak and foolish. *** In their distress, they had refused to ask for God’s help but went to Egypt and Assyria for help. So, now they will not have enough provision in their land and be sent to Egypt and Assyria where they will be forced to eat food that will make them unclean. They will not be allowed to observe their feasts. *** Hosea reminds them of what happened in Gibeah in Judges 19-20 - the story of the Levite’s concubine which almost led to the extinction of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was from this town. *** The Lord said that their wickedness began at Gilgal. That was where the Lord began to hate them. Gilgal was where Saul was crowned king and he offered sacrifices himself while he was waiting for Samuel to arrive. It became a high place of unholy worship of pagan gods beginning when Uzziah was king. *** God’s sentence for his people was exile. They would be wanderers among the nations with no home. *** John addresses his letter to Gaius reporting the good things he heard about them from the traveling teachers. He puts in a good word for the teachers and encourages the church to support them. *** Apparently there is an influential man in their group named Diotrephes who loves to lead but is not a good example to follow. He does not support the traveling teachers and told the others to not help them. *** John speaks of another man named Demetrius who is a good example and follows the truth. John sends his love to all the members there. *** Lord, may it be said of us that we walked in the truth and were a good example for others to follow. Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to live. May we continue to walk with you in spirit and in truth.