Hosea 5 (NIV)
They will not find God
And He cannot heal their wound
As their punishment.
–The Gendai Bible (each chapter summarized in a haiku)
by Rev. Frederick K. Boyle
Judgment Against Israel
“Hear this, you priests!
Pay attention, you Israelites!
Listen, royal house!
God says the problem is, in part, the leadership — both spiritual/priests, and political/royal house.
This judgment is against you:
You have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
2 The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter.
I will discipline all of them.
3 I know all about Ephraim;
Israel is not hidden from me.
Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution;
Israel is corrupt.
4 “Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
they do not acknowledge the Lord.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin;
Judah also stumbles with them.
6 When they go with their flocks and herds
to seek the Lord,
they will not find him;
NOT THIS: In many ways today, people think they are seeking God when they really aren’t. It’s just a superficial investigation. For example, a man might say, “I grew up in the Baptist church and couldn’t find God there. So I went to the Methodist church and couldn’t find God there. Then I went to the Pentecostal church, but couldn’t find God there. Now I’m at the Presbyterian church and can’t find God.” You may imagine you have searched hard after God, but that is an illusion. The truth is that you are running away from God. When He started to get close to you at the Baptist church, you left it and became a Methodist. When He started to get close to you at the Methodist church, you became a Pentecostal. You’ve followed the same pattern – a superficial search for God that backs away when you really start getting close to God.
–David Guzik
THIS: Philippians 3:14 (CEV)
I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.
he has withdrawn himself from them.
7 They are unfaithful to the Lord;
they give birth to illegitimate children.
When they celebrate their New Moon feasts,
he will devour their fields.
8 “Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,
the horn in Ramah.
Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven;
lead on, Benjamin.
9 Ephraim will be laid waste
on the day of reckoning.
Among the tribes of Israel
I proclaim what is certain.
10 Judah’s leaders are like those
who move boundary stones.
These are people so corrupt they will do any evil thing if they think it will work out to their advantage.
I will pour out my wrath on them
like a flood of water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed,
trampled in judgment,
intent on pursuing idols.
12 I am like a moth to Ephraim,
Isaiah 51:7-8 (NIV)
“Hear me, you who know what is right,
you people who have taken my instruction to heart:
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
or be terrified by their insults.
For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,
my salvation through all generations.”
like rot to the people of Judah.
13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
and Judah his sores,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria,
and sent to the great king for help.
But he is not able to cure you,
not able to heal your sores.
14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
like a great lion to Judah.
I will tear them to pieces and go away;
I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
15 Then I will return to my lair
until they have borne their guilt
and seek my face—
in their misery
they will earnestly seek me.”
_________________________
Music:
Do we come to the Lord only in desperation and misery? Even then, He welcomes us.
Another golden oldie for you! “Where Could I Go But to the Lord,” with the VOP Trio and Del Delker.
Click HERE to listen.
Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation’s sword
Where could I go to the LordWhere could I go, Oh where could I go
Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to help me in the end
(brother won’t you tell me)
Where could I go to the LordNeighbors are kind, I love them everyone
We get along in sweet accord
But when my soul needs manna from above
Where could I go but to the LordWhere could I go where could I go
Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to help me in the end
(brother won’t you tell me)
Where could I go to the LordLife here is grand with friends I love so dear
Comfort I get from God’s own Word
But when I face the chilling hands of death
Where could I go but to the LordWhere could I go where could I go
Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to help me in the end
(brother won’t you tell me)
Where could I go to but the Lord
Where could I go but to the Lord
_________________________
DWELLING in the Word 
