November 25 | Hosea 6:1

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DAILY READING

Hosea 6:1

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REFLECTION

God's Hand in Judgment and Grace

By Dave Mann

Here are some helpful introductory insights drawn from the notes in the Harper Study Bible.

Hosea lived in the eighth century B.C. and was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom during the reign of Jeroboam.  His ministry overlapped that of Amos, Isaiah, and Micah during an age marked by religious apostasy.  Instead of putting their trust in God, the leaders of the Northern Kingdom courted the favor of Assyria and Egypt.  In their religious practices, they kept the name of God, but mixed their religion with the practices of Baal worship.  It was a time of gross immorality.

Sound familiar? 

• Seeking the approval of others who are not dedicated to the Lord. 

• Blending practices of biblical religion with trust in others.

• Abandoning biblical truth (apostasy) for something “more modern.”

• Sexual immorality is the norm.

Clearly, there are a lot of similarities between the 8th century B.C. and the 21st century A.D.

Through the same words of Hosea 6:1, the Lord called the Israelites nearly three millennia ago and us today. When we sin, we justly deserve the Lord’s correction. The Lord may punish us for our sins, which could hurt. However, when the Lord wounds, and we repent, he also heals. When we return to the Lord, he will receive us. Isaiah, who ministered to Judah (the Southern Kingdom) during the same time as Hosea ministered to Israel (the Northern Kingdom), proclaimed these words: “The Lord binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow” (Isaiah 30:26).

Jeremiah (50:4), prophesying after the passing of Isaiah and Hosea, gave a similar message, foreseeing a time when the two estranged countries would repent together: “In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come; and they shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten.’”

When we trust in the Lord, we willingly receive his chastisement as well as his blessing. What the Lord gives us is always merciful, whether that be his punishment or his grace. We do not receive the punishment we deserve because his hand which wounds is tempered with grace.

PRAYER

Holy Lord, we recognize that what we receive from your hand in the form of chastisement is not nearly what we deserve when we ignore you and walk away in our arrogance. Father, we pray that we can fall into your hands, even if your hand brings punishment for a season, for we know that in the end, your mercy will triumph, and we will be healed by your grace, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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November 24 Jeremiah 32:37-41

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DAILY READING

Jeremiah 32:37-41

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REFLECTION

Worthless Land or Worthy Obedience?

By Elaine Pierce

The heading for Jeremiah 32 in my Bible says, "Jeremiah Buys a Field." (Just a reminder that these chapter headings, while helpful, are extra-Biblical.) Why would God tell Jeremiah to buy a field in a country that he is going to give over to the Babylonians? This land won't be worth much to a Jew when they take over, will it? Why would God make this request?

Perhaps rather than puzzling over God's reasons, I need to focus on Jeremiah's response: obedience. He was confused, to be sure (take a look at verses 24 and 25). It didn't make sense to buy this land when God was going to hand the city over to Israel's enemies. Perhaps God was reminding Jeremiah - and us - that he has plans ultimately to restore this land to his people. Even when we are confused and in doubt, God tells us that he is in charge, and that his kingdom will come.

At times I want to read passages like these and say, OK, God, so how does this apply to my life? Instead, I need to remember that this is a book written for a specific people for a specific time. No, it's not always about me, is it? God's Word is revealed truth, and it always points to Jesus. Look at our verses for today:

I [the Lord] will gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. ..I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. ...I will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

So Jeremiah's land purchase might be worthless in the short run, but in the long run, God will redeem that land. His covenant with us is everlasting - Jesus paid the price on the cross - and one day, we will spend eternity in his presence. Thanks be to God! 

PRAYER

Lord, I often don't understand your plan, and while I know you love me and you are good, I struggle with doubt. Help me, like Jeremiah, to lay my confusion and fear at your feet. Help me to remember your everlasting covenant with your people. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!

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November 23 | Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

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DAILY READING

Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

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REFLECTION

Turning Our Hearts toward God

by Dave Thompson 

When studying this passage it became very obvious early in my study that once again the Old Covenant demanded more than the New Covenant. I mean "Rend your Heart" (vs. 13). What exactly does that mean? I understand "Rend your garments" as tearing your clothes in pieces were frequent Old and New Testament actions.

Well let's look at the context of that above phrase. In verse 12, it states, "'Even now,' declares

the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.'" The Lord wants His people to take these verses seriously. When was the last time any of us returned to the Lord with all our heart and did it with fasting and weeping and mourning. I have felt sorry for my sins and the New Covenant expects that we will come to the Lord and ask forgiveness, but not to the level outlined in Joel 2:12.

Have you ever been so sorry for what you are confessing to Jesus that you started to cry, perhaps you didn't eat anything for a day to show your repentance or your emotions were so revved up that you went through a period of mourning? I can't say that I have. Perhaps the New Covenant doesn't specifically tell us to do like Job, who had so many negatives happen that he sat in a pile of ashes (and poured them over his head), he tore his clothes and cried out to God for relief. Or David in the Psalms when speaking about his wrongdoings, he was inconsolable.

Perhaps we should take our sins so seriously that some of those same actions are our actions. If we did take on the above actions mentioned in verse 13, where it states that God promised to allow us to, "...Return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity." Then the author puts in a promise in verses 28-29, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and the young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." These words could very well be in the New Testament and be meant for us, too (see Acts 2:16-21).

When we feel spiritually empty, turn to this passage and the Acts passage and see that there is more to our relationship with Christ. It is not sin, then ask forgiveness and then sin again. No, are we taking it seriously when God says to repent (turning 180 degrees from how we were going)? Do we take God at His Word and virtually rend our hearts and not our clothes, pray about our transgressions, search the Word of God and be honest about our sins. In doing this, along with requesting help from the Holy Spirit, we can find true victory and a new Christian excitement.

PRAYER

Dear God, help us see the lesson you have for us. It was so well put in the words of Joel chapter 2. Help us to really search for answers when sin seems to be getting the upper hand. You are amazing that you gave us the New Covenant, but don't let us be complacent to sin. Give us the help of your Holy Spirit to guide us and to help us renew our burdened hearts.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.

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