Some Key Words (10/30/00)

Beloved (agapao [25]):

to find one's joy in a thing, to direct one's will toward a thing, to be contented with, to share common interests with, befriend; to be fond of, love dearly, to be well pleased and contented with; to love in a moral sense

Cries out (krazo [2896]):

to croak like a raven, to cry out, cry aloud, cry or pray for vengeance, to speak with a loud voice; to scream, shriek, exclaim, call aloud

Saved (sozo [4982]):

to save, salvation from material or temporal dangers and sufferings, eternal spiritual salvation granted by God to believers, the experience of being delivered from the bonds of sin, the deliverance of Israel, all of God's blessings upon man; to keep safe and sound, rescue from danger, to save or rescue, to deliver from the penalties of Messianic judgement, to save from the evils that prevent reception of Messiah's message of deliverance; to save, deliver, or protect

Execute (sunteleo [4931]):

to finish together, to finish entirely, make an end of, accomplish, perform, complete; to end together or at the same time, to bring to an end, bring to fulfillment, conclude, destroy; to complete entirely, execute

Word (logos [3056]):

intelligence, word expressing intelligence, the Word of God; a word expressing a concept or idea, what has been said by someone, God's moral precepts, prophecy, a saying, doctrine, a matter under discussion, a case at law, an account, an answer in the course of judgement; something said

Quickly (suntemno [4932]):

to cut in pieces, cut short, execute quickly, hasten, a short, quick prophecy or decree; to contract by cutting, to do concisely and speedily

Sabaoth (sabaoth [4519]):

Lord of the armies of Israel; armies, a militaristic name of God, who commands His armies

Posterity (sperma [4690]):

seed for sowing, the seed sown and growing, God's divine work in believers, descendants, children of a particular ancestor; the seed containing the germ of the future plant, the residue, the few survivors that act as the seed of a new race - as seed is retained from the harvest to plant the next crop, children, offspring, family, race, the divine energy of the Holy Spirit operating in the saved to cause regeneration; something sown, offspring, a remnant kept over for planting

 

Paraphrase: (10/30/00)

25 Through Hosea God declared that He would call a people not known as His people, calling an unloved people 'beloved;' 26 that such as these would come to be sons of the living God. 27 In contrast, Isaiah speaks of Israel, declaring that out of their great number, only the remnant will be saved 28 because the Lord's work on the earth will be quick and thorough. 29 Further, Isaiah declares that Israel would be as Sodom and Gomorrah, if it weren't for God's determination to leave a posterity to Israel.

Key Verse: (10/30/00)

9:27 - It was the word to Israel, and it remains the word to spiritual Israel today: though we may be numerous in our own eyes, it is only the smaller number of God's choosing who will be saved.

People Mentioned: (10/30/00)

Hosea

Son of Beeri, a prophet in the days of the divided kingdom during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, and Jereboam in Israel. Commanded by God to marry a harlot, as an example to Israel (Hos 1:1-2)

Isaiah

Son of Amoz (2Ki 19:2), a prophet in the courts of Hezekiah (2Ki 19:5), declaring to him God's promised healing (2Ki 20:1-19). Also present during Uzziah's reign (2Ch 26:22). Prayed in the destruction of Assyria's camp (2Ch 32:20). Appears to have been involved in the writing of Kings (2Ch 32:32). Prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem (Isa 1:1, Isa 2:1). Also present in Ahaz' rule (Isa 7:3). Prophesied against Babylon (Isa 13:1), Egypt, and Cush (Isa 20:2-3). Prophesied much that was fulfilled in Jesus' ministry (Mt 3:3, Mt 4:14, Mt 8:17, Mt 12:17, Mt 13:14, Mt 15:7, Mk 1:2, Mk 7:6, Lk 3:4, Jn 1:23, Jn 12:38-39, Jn 12:41).

 

Some Parallel Verses (10/30/00)

9:25

Hos 2:23 - God will be compassionate to those who have not had compassion shown, calling as His people, a people not known as His, who will declare Him their God. 1Pe 2:10 - We who were once not His, and had not received mercy, now have received His mercy and have become His people.

9:26

Hos 1:10 - Israel's number will be beyond measure, and will come to include those who were not known as God's people, these latter becoming known as sons of God. Mt 16:16 - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

9:27

Is 10:22 - In spite of Israel's great number, a righteous destruction will leave only a remnant. Ge 22:17 - Israel's proliferation is according to God's promise to Abraham, Hos 1:10 - and will include those from outside Israel. Ro 11:5 - The remnant has been determined by God's gracious choice.

9:28

Is 10:23 - God has decreed a complete destruction upon the whole land, and He will execute it.

9:29

Is 1:9 - Only by God's choice to leave survivors, Israel would be as gone as Sodom and Gomorrah. Jas 5:4 - God hears the cries of His workers, who have not seen the wages of their harvesting. Dt 29:23 - Israel is warned that if they reject God's covenant, their lands will be as wasted as Sodom and Gomorrah. Is 13:19 - Babylon became as beaten as Sodom and Gomorrah. Jer 49:18 - The same result for Edom [the descendants of Esau.] Jer 50:40 - and Babylon, again. Am 4:11 - God treated Israel as He had treated Sodom and Gomorrah, yet they would not return to Him from their wickedness.

 

New Thoughts (10/31/00)

We have long accepted the prophecy of Hosea. We are pleased, and rightly so, to know that God has called us beloved, and has made us part of His Israel. But, now that we are part of His Israel, we need to hear what He says to us. All the blessings and promises to Israel are ours. But all the warnings and convictions are ours, as well. This part we don't like to look at. But we are in danger of making the same mistakes and bringing upon ourselves the same judgements. If we reject God's covenant with us, our lands will be as wasted as Sodom and Gomorrah. God is a jealous God. He's not much interested in partial ownership of His people. We've seen in the last few studies that the God who is love is capable of great wrath. We may not like that, we may not understand how it can be, but if we accept the truth of Scripture, we cannot deny that it is so. Even here, in the pronouncements against Edom, we see His wrath displayed against a son of His own chosen line. Edom consists of the descendants of Esau, who was the son of Isaac. But, he was not a son that was in accord with God's will. And this lack of accord, as we have seen, began before Esau had done a thing. It was not a punishment for what Esau did. However, much of what Esau did do in life was worthy of punishment. His bitterness over not being the son of blessing caused him to choose harmful actions. Rather than submit to the will of his God, he chose to rebel against God and family. Thus, the people he fathered became a people of rebellion. This is what the warnings are about. This is what we need to hear today. We are a covenant people, no less than Israel before us. By God's choice, we have been allowed to enter into His family. By His choice, we have been offered the opportunity to enter into that covenant relationship with our God and Father. And so we have chosen, and so we have agreed. God paid a great price to seal this contract with us, and He rightly expects to have His due. We who were once not His have become His. We have been numbered with Israel in His eyes. But, hear the word to Israel with whom we are numbered: although our number be beyond counting, although our churches become mega-churches, and our memberships swell beyond our buildings' capacities, it is only the remnant - only the portion God chooses to keep over for planting - that will be saved. Not all who prayed the sinner's prayer have attained to salvation. Not all who serve, serve from the heart. There is a certainty of salvation to be had, yes. But that certainty can be had only for ourselves. I don't think it's within us to know with certainty whether or not another truly walks with God. Only God truly knows the heart, only God sees the inner man. And I'm thankful that He only reveals to us as much of our own inner state as we can handle without falling into despair. I thank You, Lord, that You are faithful to reveal to me the things You find displeasing in my life. I thank You, that You have chosen not to show me my complete miserable state in one sitting, but have shown me bit by bit the parts You want to work on. Lord, I want to be found faithful to the covenant we have. I want to be found fruitful. I know it's beyond me to be worth the price You paid for me, but I will be satisfied if You are pleased with what You have obtained in me. Father, I know all too well how often I fall short of Your desires, how often I display attitudes that fail utterly to display Your grace and love. I know that there remain in me stubborn roots of sin that I have yet to root out. I pray Your forgiveness, and I pray Your aid in overcoming these things. And I know You are faithful to work with me, so long as I am willing to Your work. Would that my willingness weren't required, Lord, as it can be such a weak thing! But, with as much as is in me, I will to be in Your will. I stand on the promise of Your constant guidance, I stand on the assurance of Your Holy Spirit within me, I stand in awe of Your willingness to take such as I am, and make of me a cause for Your praise. Thank You, oh God! Thank You! Be glorified in me. Somehow, be glorified in me.