JUNE 25 READINGS...Isaiah 12:1-6 & 17:1-14 & 2 Chronicles 28:16-21 & 2 Kings 16:10-18 & 2 Chronicles 28:22-25 & 2 Kings 18:1-8 & 2 Chronicles 29:1-2 & 2 Kings 15:30-31 & 2 Kings 17:1-4 & Hosea 1:1-2:13
King Ahaz of Judah continues to do evil in the sight of the Lord. His rejection of God is impacting every decision he makes both politically and militarily. The quality of a person cannot be separated from the way they live their lives…the way they make decisions…or the way they respond to God. Ahaz was evil, and that evil was evident in all that he did. When he was having issues with Edom, he went to the King of Assyria for help…notice he did not go to God. The king of Assyria lied to Ahaz, took his tribute, and still attacked him. Ahaz was even willing to remove the altar of the Lord from the Temple, and replace it with one that would appease the king of Assyria. Imagine a king of Judah more concerned with making an earthly king happy, than the Creator of the universe. My brothers and sisters now is not the time to bow lower before kings, presidents, officials…than we do to our God. God and God alone deserve our allegiance and worship.
Hosea is called to the ministry of God’s prophet. The Lord requires him to do something that seems strange to us, but the Lord had a message to Israel. He is told to marry a prostitute. When a man marries a prostitute, he cannot expect her to act in any other way than a prostitute. The Lord’s message to Israel is that is what they had done to Him…they had become a prostitute with the other nations and false gods. The Lord uses the birth of Hosea’s children as messages to Israel. The first is called “Jezreel”, foreboding God’s judgement on Jehu’s dynasty. The second is called, “Lo-ruhamah”…meaning that the Lord would no longer show His love to Israel. The third is called, “Lo-ammi”…meaning that Israel was no longer the Lord’s people. They had prostituted themselves to foreigners and to foreign gods. The Lord charges them with their spiritual adultery, and He is about to bring His judgment upon them. We are called to be the Lord’s chaste bride…He will not share His affections with anyone else…nor will He allow us to be unfaithful.
Please share your thoughts form today’s readings. Love the Lord with your whole heart.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Hosea 2:14-8:14