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Day 10 Hosea 10 Hosea 10:1 Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? 4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springs up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. 8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. 9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. 10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. 11 And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught, and loves to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. 15 So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. When people are caught disobeying the law, they go before the judge in a court of law. Whether the crime is a minor traffic violation, or murder, the judge will determine the fine or sentence meted out. God is our judge. He sits in judgment of every sin we commit, whether thought, word, or deed. For Israel, it meant being cut off from his mercy as he sent them into captivity to Assyria. Being a Christian does not exempt you from God’s judgment when you sin against him, and we all sin. We all fall short of God’s glory, and we all need his forgiveness. Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. God loves us so much, he doesn’t want to send us to hell, or sentence us to permanent separation from him, which is why he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. Now, when we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. We have the option of praying and asking God’s forgiveness when we sin. When we do, God will look at us and see the blood of Jesus covering us, and declare us not guilty, forgiving us of every sin against him. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (KJV) 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) You have what the children of Israel didn’t have, a Savior they could turn to who would wipe away all their sin and wickedness against God. They had the law, the prophets, and the promise of the Messiah, their Savior. However, they didn’t take heed of the law, but cast it aside, or the prophets, whom they killed, nor did they grasp the promises of God for a Messiah who would stand in their stead. Israel opted to stand outside the law and be a law unto themselves, doing whatever they pleased, until God said, Enough, and sent them into captivity until such time as they would turn back to him and embrace him, acknowledging that he alone is God. Only then would he bring them back from their captivity. What is your sin? Are you ready to face God as Judge, or will you confess your sins, and find an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, and stand before God, forgiven because the blood of Jesus covers you? Let’s pray: Father, I know I am a sinner. I know my thoughts, words, and actions do not always line up with what is right in the eyes of the law or in your eyes. I know I stand before you condemned, guilty and deserving of permanent separation from you. I confess my sin, and ask your forgiveness. Cleanse me with your Word, and let me know your love for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 24 February 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay