Hosea 10:11-15

In the end, because of the salvation provided in Jesus, all  those who seek Him will be found! He will rid the Church of the tares and the false prophets.

The time is now to establish justice for ALL of God’s creation and adherence to His commands to love Him above any person, place, or thing and to love others more than we love our earthly comforts. Then mercy shall reign on our land.

There is strength in the unity of the Holy Spirit which He gives to believers and His Body, the Church.

Break up for yourself fallow ground is an agricultural metaphor urging the people to prepare themselves to accept God’s message and repent. Faithlife Bible.

Israel’s rebellious spirit necessitated harsh treatment, compared here to a farmer binding his calf to the yoke and forcing it to do hard labor. Threshing in this context refers to Israel’s service to the Lord; plowing refers to the discipline that Israel had to acquire through judgment and exile.

In Israel’s case, the people had to reestablish social justice—righteousness—and loyalty—mercy—in the land.

Plowing and planting are necessary preliminary steps for growing a crop, which eventually sprouts when the rain falls in season. In the same way, repentance would set the stage for restored blessing, which God would eventually rain down on His people.

History:

The identity of the conqueror Shalman and the location of Beth Arbel are uncertain. At any rate, the battle referred to seems to have been well known to Hosea’s audience because of its extreme violence. Israel’s defeat would be so swift that the nation’s king would be cut off before the battle had scarcely begun. NKJ BIble.

Hosea 10:11–15 (NKJV)

¹¹ Ephraim is a trained heifer

That loves to thresh grain;

But I harnessed her fair neck,

I will make Ephraim pull a plow.

Judah shall plow;

Jacob shall break his clods.”

¹² Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord,

Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

¹³ You have plowed wickedness;

You have reaped iniquity.

You have eaten the fruit of lies,

Because you trusted in your own way,

In the multitude of your mighty men.

¹⁴ Therefore tumult shall arise among your people,

And all your fortresses shall be plundered

As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle—

A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.

¹⁵ Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,

Because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel

Shall be cut off utterly.

Jeremiah 4:3 (NKJV)

³ For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your fallow ground,

And do not sow among thorns.

Acts 22: 9-11

God has a plan, individualized for you, and for all those who are called according to His purpose. In silence we can hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us into His plan. 

The plan He has for you will always be for your good and the good of all of His Church.

Paul’s description echoes Dan 10:7, where people around the prophet could not understand the entire event but knew the vision was terrifying. Faithlife Bible.

The men who had accompanied Paul heard the sound but could not understand the words that were being spoken to Paul. We are not told why they could not understand the sound they heard. NKJ Bible.

Acts 22:9–11 (NKJV)

⁹ “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

Daniel 10:7 (NKJV)

⁷ And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

Hosea 10:11

We are influenced by the Nation where we reside, the Culture we grew up in and the Religious group that we identify with. Breaking free of those parameters takes hard, spiritual work under the direction of the Holy Spirit. In Him is the only way that we are made truly free.

There is no condemnation within Christ Jesus.

Israel’s rebellious spirit necessitated harsh treatment, compared here to a farmer binding his calf to the yoke and forcing it to do hard labor. Threshing in this context refers to Israel’s service to the Lord; plowing refers to the discipline that Israel had to acquire through judgment and exile. 

Hosea calls the people to repentance, reminding them that a decision could not be postponed, and that God’s blessings could still be restored. In Israel’s case, the people had to reestablish social justice—righteousness—and loyalty—mercy—in the land. NKJ Bible.

Hosea 10:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Ephraim is a trained heifer

That loves to thresh grain;

But I harnessed her fair neck,

I will make Ephraim pull a plow.

Judah shall plow;

Jacob shall break his clods.”

Hosea 4:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ “For Israel is stubborn

Like a stubborn calf;

Now the Lord will let them forage

Like a lamb in open country.

Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus conquered sin and death.

Because of the love of God for His creation the timeframe was extended so that all who seek Him would not perish but have everlasting life with Him. 

Seek Him while He can still be found!

Following the judgment by the Ancient of Days, a human messianic figure appears. He is presented before the Ancient One and given a dominion that will never pass away.

The Aramaic phrase used here is an idiom that can be translated as “one like a human being.” Jesus adopts this phrase as a title (“Son of Man”). Faithlife Bible.

Son of Man is Semitic for “human being.” Daniel saw One like the “Son of Man,” indicating that He is not a man in the strict sense, but rather the perfect representation of humanity. Jewish and Christian expositors have identified this individual as the Messiah. Jesus Himself used this name to emphasize His humanity as the incarnate Son of God. NKJ Bible.

Daniel 7:13–14 (NKJV)

¹³ “I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him.

¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

Which shall not pass away,

And His kingdom the one

Which shall not be destroyed.

Psalm 2:8 (NKJV)

⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

Ezekiel 1:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

Matthew 25:20-30

God gives each of His creation unique, individual talents. His gift to us is meant for us to build upon and perfect those talents for our good and for the good of His Body. If we pursue those gifts our lives will be fuller and more content.

 Every good and perfect gift comes from above!

Faithfulness results in blessing and reward. The inverse of this statement also is true. Faithllife Bible.

The first two servants received the same reward, even though they had received different amounts of money. The reward was based on faithfulness, not on the size of their responsibilities. The smallest task in God’s work may receive a great reward if we are faithful in performing it.

This proverb illustrates that a person must use what God has given or else lose it. This includes abilities and spiritual gifts, as well as material possessions. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 25:20–30 (NKJV)

²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Jeremiah 39:13-18

Trust God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. He takes the valleys of life and levels them…for His glory and for your good! He does this for the sake of His only begotten Son, Jesus. When we accept Jesus we receive all that the Father gives to Him who gave His life in exchange for ours.

We become the first-fruits, priests and living heirs of the promises of God.

Ebed-melech (also rendered “Ebed-Melek”) will be spared because of his support for Jeremiah and devotion to Yahweh. Faithlife Bible.

Ebed-Melech, who had carefully rescued Jeremiah from the muddy cistern in the prison court, was promised safety and deliverance by the Lord because of his assistance to Jeremiah and because he had put his trust in God.

Jeremiah 39:13–18 (NKJV)

¹³ So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; ¹⁴ then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.

¹⁵ Meanwhile the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, ¹⁶ “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. ¹⁷ But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. ¹⁸ For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”

1 Chronicles 5:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.

Matthew

Stay Prepared…we do not know the exact time when Jesus will come again! The signs are pointing to soon…very soon.

The Book of Matthew

One way to organize the Gospel of Matthew is by the five major blocks of Jesus’ teaching. Each block ends with a phrase noting what happened when Jesus was finished speaking. These five blocks are: the Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29); the missionary discourse (9:35–10:42); Jesus’ parables (13:1–52); Jesus’ teaching on discipleship (ch. 18); and Jesus’ teaching about His return and the day of judgment (23:1–25:46). This five-part division could serve as an echo of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament). Matthew is presenting Jesus as a new Moses. Like Moses, Jesus is leading God’s people in an exodus—this new exodus involves breaking the bonds of sin. And just as Moses delivered God’s law, Jesus fulfills it (5:17–20).

Another way to organize Matthew’s Gospel is to structure it around significant turning points in Jesus’ ministry. These turning points are marked by a transition in the aspect or location of Jesus’ ministry (4:17; 16:21). The first section describes the time before Jesus’ public ministry, including His family history and early childhood, His baptism, and His temptation by the devil (1:1–4:16). The second section, which details Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee, particularly focuses on His miracles, teachings, and conflicts with religious leaders (4:17–16:20). The last section tells of the rejection and suffering of Jesus in Jerusalem and concludes with His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension (16:21–28:20

Matthew 24:36–44 (NKJV)

³⁶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Ezekiel 22:23-31

The world is in chaos. Our leaders seem to have lost their morality and common sense. Thank You Father that you are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus fulfills the gap for man that no one else can!

My hope is in You alone!

More than all other religious officials, the priests were responsible to maintain the integrity of the divine law. Even common people are guilty of injustice and violating the principles of the covenant. Yahweh has no choice but to punish Israel. Faithlife Bible.

The priests were not examples of separation from worldly ways. Some at least were motivated by monetary gain. These prophets were involved in “whitewashing” the sins of the nation’s leaders. God could not find a spiritual leader to guide the people in godliness.

 As go the leaders so go the followers. NKJ Bible.

Ezekiel 22:23–31 (NKJV) Israel’s Wicked Leaders

²³ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²⁴ “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ ²⁵ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. ²⁶ Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. ²⁷ Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. ²⁸ Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. ³¹ Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

Zephaniah 3:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people;

Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,

They have done violence to the law.

Micah 3:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Her heads judge for a bribe,

Her priests teach for pay,

And her prophets divine for money.

Yet they lean on the Lord, and say,

“Is not the Lord among us?

No harm can come upon us.”

Zephaniah 3:3 (NKJV)

³ Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;

Her judges are evening wolves

That leave not a bone till morning.

Exodus 23:9 (NKJV)

⁹ “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

1 Corinthians 2-3

The Body of Christ is the heart of the Father given to us in Christ Jesus. It consists of individual members who gather together to rejoice in their salvation and do good works. It matters little where you gather but matters greatly in whose name you gather!

 Jesus came with shouts of grace and peace to everyone who chooses to repent and accept the salvation provided in the birth, death and resurrection of our beloved Savior.

To God be all glory and honor!

The Greek word for Church used here, ekklēsia, refers to a gathering of people, not a building; here, it references the gathering of Christ followers in Corinth.

Corinth was a metropolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea with a population consisting of between 150,000 and 300,000 Roman citizens and approximately 460,000 slaves. Jewish people may have been some of the first settlers. The city contained many freed people who often became criminals because they were unable to work legitimate jobs; these may have represented the poor that Paul mentions. In the first century ad, when Paul wrote his letter, Corinth was known for its banking industry and incredible wealth. Shrines to deities of Greek, Roman, and even Egyptian gods have been discovered, and cult prostitution was common. The biannual Isthmian athletic games were held at Corinth, which made it a travel destination; these games also involved a celebration of the god Poseidon. Faithlife Bible.

A local church of God is a group of people who identify themselves with God and gather together to worship and serve Him.

The work of Jesus Christ makes a believer holy forever in God’s eyes. But in everyday living, sanctification involves small, daily changes. This is why Paul could call the Corinthian believers to become saints, even though the problems in their church testified that they were far from the goal of holiness. NKJ Bible.

1 Corinthians 1:2–3 (NKJV)

² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 (NKJV)

⁷ To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22 (NKJV)

²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NKJV)

⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Acts 12:21-23

Be very careful who you make your god in this world…there is only one God to whom all glory belongs!

God hates pride and arrogance!

God, who will not share His glory with any other, acts without delay to judge Herod for accepting divine honor and praise for himself. The nature of this disease is uncertain, but its effect is to judge Herod (Agrippa I) for his pride and to prove that he was certainly no god.  

In contrast to the speech of Herod that brought on his destruction, the word of the true God—that is, the proclamation of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and new life in the Spirit—continues to grow and spread. Faithlife Bible.

The Jewish historian Josephus also provides an account of this display, informing us that in an attempted appeasement of the king the people confessed that he was “more than a mortal.” Herod, instead of rebuking the address of deity, enjoyed the adulation—until he discovered the consequence of such blasphemy. NKJ Bible.

Acts 12:21–24 (NKJV)

²¹ So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ²² And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Psalm 115:1 (NKJV)

¹ Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,

But to Your name give glory,

Because of Your mercy,

Because of Your truth.