Hosea 4-6; Psalm 58; Matthew 17
Hosea 4-6
The prophet Hosea served during the same time as the prophet Isaiah, addressing the same issues within Israel and Judah. Condemning the people's departure from God, he speaks of the coming judgment: "Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: 'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.'" (Hosea 4:1-2)
The root of the people's sinfulness is their lack of knowledge of God: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children." (Hosea 4:6)
Continuing, Hosea speaks of the people's future repentance: "In their distress, they will earnestly seek me. They will say, 'Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.'" (Hosea 6:1), which will involve a change of heart: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)
Psalm 58
Believers often face injustice in this world. Describing such a situation, David asks God for judgment on the wicked.
Matthew 17
Continuing to nurture the disciples' faith, Jesus takes three of them up a mountain to reveal His glory through the Transfiguration. Here, they once again hear God's direct testimony from heaven: "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!'" (Matthew 17:5)
The story of the healing of the demon-possessed boy is also about growing faith. Jesus tells the disciples that they could not cast out the demon because of their lack of faith (Matthew 17:20).
At the same time, Jesus reveals to the disciples the ultimate purpose of His earthly mission: "When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day, he will be raised to life.' And the disciples were filled with grief." (Matthew 17:22-23) Despite repeated references to His death and resurrection, the disciples could not fully grasp this until it happened.
The prophet Hosea served during the same time as the prophet Isaiah, addressing the same issues within Israel and Judah. Condemning the people's departure from God, he speaks of the coming judgment: "Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: 'There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.'" (Hosea 4:1-2)
The root of the people's sinfulness is their lack of knowledge of God: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children." (Hosea 4:6)
Continuing, Hosea speaks of the people's future repentance: "In their distress, they will earnestly seek me. They will say, 'Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.'" (Hosea 6:1), which will involve a change of heart: "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)
Psalm 58
Believers often face injustice in this world. Describing such a situation, David asks God for judgment on the wicked.
Matthew 17
Continuing to nurture the disciples' faith, Jesus takes three of them up a mountain to reveal His glory through the Transfiguration. Here, they once again hear God's direct testimony from heaven: "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!'" (Matthew 17:5)
The story of the healing of the demon-possessed boy is also about growing faith. Jesus tells the disciples that they could not cast out the demon because of their lack of faith (Matthew 17:20).
At the same time, Jesus reveals to the disciples the ultimate purpose of His earthly mission: "When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day, he will be raised to life.' And the disciples were filled with grief." (Matthew 17:22-23) Despite repeated references to His death and resurrection, the disciples could not fully grasp this until it happened.
Posted in Reading Bible Together