Day 497: Hosea 8- Unbreakable Love

Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.2 To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” 3 Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. 5 I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.  My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

6 For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it. 8 Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute.
 
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. 12 Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; jthey shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.
 
Meditation
Sally Lloyd-Jones describes God’s love in The Jesus Storybook Bible as “Never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.” Today’s reading reminds us that our rebellion is never the end of the story.  Jesus’ unbreakable love invites us to return to Him.
 
Israel was self-deceived, crying, “My God, we know you” (3) when in actuality their affections were misdirected to other gods for worship, other countries for security, and their own strength for well-being. God’s holiness and anger cannot be satisfied with our rebellion. (5). The right diagnosis is that “Israel has forgotten his Maker…” (14). God’s love reveals our Maker is also our Redeemer (Isaiah 54:5).
 
God’s love does not stop when our hearts go after other gods. God’s love does not give up when we look to other places for security. God’s love does not break when we break off in independence and look to our own strength for our well being. God so loved you He sent His one and only son… (John 3:16).
 
“Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:39) not even our sin. Grace is the ground from which we turn from our sin and return to the love of Jesus. Jesus wants to be known, standing at the door of our hearts, and knocking to come in (Revelation 3:20).
 
Jesus loves you with a “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love.” His grace invites you to turn from self-deception and misdirection of your affections to trust His love freshly.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you trust the “Never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love” of Jesus?
 
-Do you see where you have been self deceived in knowing His love and misdirected in your affections? If so, can you name specifics?
 
-Take time to pray through the battles for your heart, naming your rebellions and claiming Christ’s redemption. Rest in the work of Jesus, trusting His love with your whole heart.
 
Key Verse
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities…