Hosea 10 : 1-15 (Daily Bread of 14/9/2017)

PREPARE A NEW FIELD

Key verse 10 :12

Inspite of the unfortunate fate that the people will have to face, God does not forget to show His real heart towards them. However, to His great deceit the people's heart changes when in a situation wherein they are blessed.

1. Religion and loyalty come to an end (1-8)

Headstones , or sacred stones are forbidden (Dt 16 :22). However, they keep on multiplying. God therefore destroys the altars. Everything linked to the idols grows more and more as the country become more and more prosperous. The Israelites become anarchical, as they don't want to crown a King given that they want to be able to do what they want and they swear as if the law has no more value than a leaf. The people are sad as if it were at a funeral as each season changes as the common belief was that Baal died and rose up from the dead with the changing of the seasons. Similar to this, they will also be in mourning when the golden cow is taken to Assyria.

2. The Israelites will reap what they sowed (9-15).

Ever since the Guiboa affair (Juges 19-21 when a Benjaminite punished his wife by cutting her into pieces), Israel has turned away from God. It remains in the same. However, God always comes to correct the Israelites and He uses the other nations to do so. Why has Israel generated so much ? In the beginning it was a genius who used to work very hard. It's neck was hard so God made Juda do some labour while Israel plough the ground. God used a parabole to give them these instructions « Sow righteousness…and prepare a new field »The time of righteousness is given to them. They have to prepare a new field even though this takes a lot of time. God blesses those who work diligently by giving them a lot of fruit. However, the Israelites eyes were blinded and thus unable to see this blessing. They are myopic in this regard and they continue to do what is evil before God. God judges them therefore and sends the devastating enemy. In the beginning they will try to count on their chariots and soldiers. However, they will be severely beaten because they have turned away from God. Now they need to go back to Him (12). As God’s people the real secret to their victory is to return to God with all their heart.