Wednesday, September 23, 2015

God´s unfailing Love



2015.09.22                                Hosea 11
God´s unfailing love is the basis of our Redemption
This book is God´s self-revelation….. We know God because He has revealed himself to us…. First in His Word…. And then ultimately in the person of work of the Lord Jesus Christ…. He is the incarnate God…  As we study the Prophesies of Hosea… We see God´s unfailing love for a wicked and rebellious people…. As Hosea tells of coming judgment and pleads for genuine repentance…. We could outline Hosea by looking at God´s revelation of Himself as he pleads for repentence and reconciliation.…The first 10 chapters focus on disobedience and coming Judgment… They display three aspects of His character….
1 God is Sovereign… Ch 1-3
2 God is Holy… Ch 4-7
3 Just… Ch 8-10
4 Loving….. Ch 11-14
The last 4 chapters focus on God´s Love….
Review:   Chapters 11-14
The LORD`s self-disclosure in this chapter has caused many scholars to say that chapter 11 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible….
That´s where we find ourselves tonight….
Hosea 11: 1,2                       KJV
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
Hosea 11: 1,2                       slt 2000
1 Als Israel jung war, liebte ich ihn, und aus Ägypten habe ich meinen Sohn gerufen.
2 Aber sobald man sie rief, wandten sie sich vom Angesicht [der Rufenden] ab.1 Den Baalen opferten sie, und den Götzenbildern räucherten sie.
1… child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.… Here God remembers His tender love for Israel… The Hebrew is excellent….. God says I loved and I called my son….. That is what we saw when more than 500 years before the time of Hosea He brought them out of slavery in Egypt… Here we see the wonderful truth of the Fatherhood of God…. It is a picture of unconditional love and sacrifice… This is a perfect place to remember John 3: 16….
This prophesy was fulfilled in the life of Jesus…. Matthew 2:13- 15 shows how the words “out of Egypt I called My son” were fulfilled when the child Jesus return from Egypt after escaping from Herod's massacre of the young boys of Bethlehem..…..  5th fact about God…
5 God is our Father…. Romans 8: 12-17 turn please…
Romans 8: 12-17   NKJV    
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 12-17      slt 2000
12 So sind wir also, ihr Brüder, dem Fleisch nicht verpflichtet, gemäß dem Fleisch zu leben!
13 Denn wenn ihr gemäß dem Fleisch lebt, so müßt ihr sterben; wenn ihr aber durch den Geist die Taten des Leibes tötet, so werdet ihr leben.
14 Denn alle, die durch den Geist Gottes geleitet werden, die sind Söhne Gottes.
15 Denn ihr habt nicht einen Geist der Knechtschaft empfangen, daß ihr euch wiederum fürchten müßtet, sondern ihr habt den Geist der Sohnschaft empfangen, in dem wir rufen: Abba, Vater!
16 Der Geist selbst gibt Zeugnis zusammen mit unserem Geist, daß wir Gottes Kinder sind.
17 Wenn wir aber Kinder sind, so sind wir auch Erben, nämlich Erben Gottes und Miterben des Christus; wenn wir wirklich mit ihm leiden, damit wir auch mit ihm verherrlicht werden.
What wonderful news…. Because of His unfailing love and mercy…. Not only are we not destroyed…. God provides a substitute….. His only Begotten Son….The Lord Jesus Christ… But we are adopted into His family…
Back to Hosea 11…
2… As they called them, so they went from them… God called Israel out of bondage in Egypt….. He delivered them from the idolatry of the Egyptians…. but the idolatry of the Canaanites corrupted Israel…… and they forsook the LORD and followed the Baals…… Look at the tender love of the Lord for these rebels…
Hosea 11: 3,4             KJV
3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Hosea 11:3,4                    slt 2000
3 Und ich war es doch, der Ephraim gehen lehrte, der sie auf seine Arme nahm. Aber sie haben nicht erkannt, daß ich sie heilte.
4 Mit menschlichen Banden zog ich sie, mit Seilen der Liebe; ich hob ihnen gleichsam das Joch auf vom Kinn und neigte mich zu ihnen, um ihnen Nahrung zu geben.
3a… I taught Ephraim to walk… but they did not know that I healed them: God does so much for His people that we are unaware of….. Often we attribute blessings that come directly from the hand of God to some other source…. This is exactly what the Children of Israel were doing when they credited their prosperity and wellbeing the false gods of the pagans around them….
3b… Taking them by their arms… The picture is of a parent teaching a child how to walk by holding the child's arms and supporting the child as they make their awkward steps.
4… I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love… When God draws His people to Himself…  it is with gentle cords of love… not with harsh manipulation…. God wants to win us over, but not will brute force….
"Understand, then, it is true that no man comes to God except he is drawn; but it is equally true that God draweth no man contrary to the constitution of man, but his methods of drawing are in strict accordance with ordinary mental operations. He finds the human mind what it is, and he acts upon it, not as upon matter, but as upon mind. The compulsions, the constraints, the cords that he uses, are 'cords of a man.' The bands he employs are 'bands of love.'" (Spurgeon)

4a… as they that take off the yoke on their jaws … refers to relaxing and loosening the yoke-collar of a plowing animal, giving the animal rest and the freedom to breathe.
4b… I laid meat unto them … God humbled Himself to minister to His needy people….. One might almost think it is beneath the dignity and honor of God to stoop so for His people, but He never thinks so….. This is the heart of God perfectly reflected in the servant nature of Jesus…. (Philippians 2).

Hosea 11: 5-7   KJV
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them , because of their own counsels.
7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him .
Hosea 11: 5-7         slt 2000
5 Er soll nicht nach dem Land Ägypten zurückkehren, sondern der Assyrer soll ihr König werden, weil sie nicht umkehren wollen!
6 Und das Schwert soll in ihren Städten umgehen und ihre Riegel vernichten und sie wegen ihrer Ratschläge verzehren.
7 Mein Volk hält am Abfall von mir fest2; ruft man es nach oben, so erhebt sich gar niemand!
5… Because they refused to repent… In this sense, it wasn't so much the sin of Israel that got them into trouble…. It was their stubborn refusal to repent after their sin….. Because they refused to repent…. God would make sure that war and exile waited for them….
7… My people are bent on backsliding from Me… Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him… Backsliding means that at one time…. Israel had a close…. genuine walk with God…. Now that is in the past, and their profession of faith is simply empty…. They call to the Most High in a formal religious way….. but they do not obey Him from their hearts or exalt Him with their lives….
Even now the Lord is deeply grieved at their rebellion and stubbornness… They are causing  their own punishment…. Even as the Lord is offering them mercy….
Jonah understood this very well…Turn with me to Jonah ch 2…v8…
Jonah 2: 8,9                              NKJV    slt 2000
8“Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.”
The Lord did not give up on Jonah…. He does not want to give up on the Children of Israel either… His Father´s heart is broken…. Back to Hosea 11…v 8…
Hosea 11: 8,9                       KJV  slt 2000
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
8 Wie könnte ich dich dahingeben, Ephraim, wie könnte ich dich preisgeben, Israel? Wie könnte ich dich behandeln wie Adama, dich machen wie Zeboim? Mein Herz sträubt sich dagegen, mein ganzes Mitleid ist erregt!
9 Ich will nicht handeln nach der Glut meines Zorns, will Ephraim nicht wiederum verderben; denn ich bin Gott und nicht ein Mensch, als der Heilige bin ich in deiner Mitte und will nicht in grimmigem Zorn kommen.
8a… How can I give you up, Ephraim?... Though the dark clouds of judgment are on the horizon…. God takes no pleasure in the chastening about to come upon Israel…. Instead He says, "My love and compassion is stirred." (Chesed)
Even when we are in sin… and guilty before God…. Yet He says, How can I give you up? Justice demands that He punish the sin and rebellion…  Yet even now He is determined to make a way of salvation…. God the Father sends the Lord Jesus Christ…. and on the cross Jesus was "given up"… He took our place…
Turn to Ezekiel 18…v30…
Ezekiel 18: 30-32                       NLT  Neues Leben
30 “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!
Ezekiel 18: 30-32                       NLT  Neues Leben
30 Deshalb werde ich jeden Einzelnen von euch nach seinem Verhalten richten, Volk der Israeliten´, spricht Gott, der Herr. `Kehrt um und hört auf zu sündigen! Lasst nicht zu, dass ihr Schuld auf euch ladet!
31 Trennt euch von euren Verfehlungen, die ihr begangen habt, und erneuert eure Herzen und euren Geist. Denn warum wollt ihr sterben, Volk der Israeliten?
32 Ich freue mich nicht über den Tod eines Menschen, der sterben muss, spricht Gott, der Herr. Kehrt also um, damit ihr am Leben bleibt!´
Find (get) yourselves a new heart and a new spirit…. This phrase reminds us of that great promise of the new birth given through the mouth of Ezekiel… turn to Ezek 36…v23…
Ezekiel 36: 23-27                       NLT  Neues Leben
23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.
Ezekiel 36: 23-27   Neues Leben
23 So werde ich meinem großen Namen, den ihr bei den Völkern entweiht habt, seine Heiligkeit zurückgeben. Und wenn ich vor ihren Augen meine Heiligkeit an euch offenbare, spricht Gott, der Herr, dann werden die Völker erkennen, dass ich der Herr bin.
24 Denn ich hole euch aus den Völkern und sammle euch aus allen Ländern und bringe euch in euer Land zurück.
25 Dann gieße ich reines Wasser über euch aus, und ihr werdet rein sein. Von allen euren Unreinheiten und von allen euren Götzen werde ich euch reinigen.
26 Und ich werde euch ein neues Herz geben und euch einen neuen Geist schenken. Ich werde das Herz aus Stein aus eurem Körper nehmen und euch ein Herz aus Fleisch geben.
27 Und ich werde euch meinen Geist geben, damit ihr nach meinem Gesetz lebt und meine Gebote bewahrt und euch danach richtet.
Back to Hosea v 8b…
8b… Admah and Zeboiim were two cities near Sodom and Gomorrah that were also destroyed (Deuteronomy 29:23). God says, "I can't bear to allow My people to be caught up in the destruction that will come upon all the nations…. as Admah and Zeboiim were caught up on the destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah….
Again we see that God does not rejoice in the death of the wicked… Ezek 18: 30-32…
9a… I will not again destroy Ephraim… Though their sin deserves it… God will not wipe out Israel….. He will leave a remnant….. and will restore the nation…..
9b… For I am God, and not man… The longsuffering, forgiveness, and compassion of the Lord toward His people seems unbelievable until we remember that He is not man…. but God….. Thank God that He is not at all like us…
    - Man cannot hold back his anger very long
    - Man cannot bear with others when he is tired, stressed, or annoyed
    - Man will not reconcile if the person who offended him is a person of bad character
    - Man is often only willing to be reconciled if the offending party craves forgiveness and makes the first move
    - Man is often only willing to be reconciled if the offending party will never again do the wrong
    - Man, when he does reconcile, does not lift the former offender to place of high status and partnership
    - Man, when he is wronged, does not bear all the penalty for the wrong done
    - Man, when he attempts reconciliation, will not continue if he is rejected
    - Man will not restore an offender without a period of probation
    - Man will not love, adopt, honor, and associate with one who has wronged him
    - Man will not trust someone who has formerly wronged them
Spurgeon wrote… What passes for forgiveness among men is nothing like the amazing forgiveness of God….. "Suppose that someone had grievously offended any one of you…. and that he asked your forgiveness…. do you not think that you would probably say to him, 'Well, yes, I forgive you; but I - I - I - cannot forget it'? Ah! dear friends, that is a sort of forgiveness with one leg chopped off, it is a lame forgiveness, and is not worth much."
Verse 10…
Hosea 11: 10- 12               KJV   slt 2000
10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
10 Sie werden dem Herrn nachfolgen, der brüllen wird wie ein Löwe; wenn er brüllt, so werden die Söhne zitternd vom Meer herbeieilen;
11 wie Vögel werden sie aus Ägypten zitternd herbeieilen und wie Tauben aus dem Land Assyrien; und ich werde sie in ihren eigenen Häusern wohnen lassen, spricht der Herr.
1 Ephraim hat mich mit Lügen umgeben und das Haus Israel mit Betrug; auch Juda schweift immer noch umher neben Gott, dem Heiligen, der treu ist.
10… When He roars, then His sons shall come trembling from the west…God speaks of the ultimate restoration of Israel…. an expression of His mercy to Ephraim….. He will even now show mercy… He will redeem  and restore Israel…
12… Ephraim has encircled Me with lies… God makes these promises knowing they will not repent…
This is the miracle of the grace of God….. He knows that we don´t love and serve him from our hearts…. He knows that we are stubborn and unwilling to repent… And yet…   As we read in Ezekiel 36…. God says I will act for my great names sake….. Look at those verses again in closing…. Let´s see those wonderful things that he says He will do…
V23..
Ezekiel 36: 23-27                       NLT  Neues Leben
23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.
Ezekiel 36: 23-27   Neues Leben
23 So werde ich meinem großen Namen, den ihr bei den Völkern entweiht habt, seine Heiligkeit zurückgeben. Und wenn ich vor ihren Augen meine Heiligkeit an euch offenbare, spricht Gott, der Herr, dann werden die Völker erkennen, dass ich der Herr bin.
24 Denn ich hole euch aus den Völkern und sammle euch aus allen Ländern und bringe euch in euer Land zurück.
25 Dann gieße ich reines Wasser über euch aus, und ihr werdet rein sein. Von allen euren Unreinheiten und von allen euren Götzen werde ich euch reinigen.
26 Und ich werde euch ein neues Herz geben und euch einen neuen Geist schenken. Ich werde das Herz aus Stein aus eurem Körper nehmen und euch ein Herz aus Fleisch geben.
27 Und ich werde euch meinen Geist geben, damit ihr nach meinem Gesetz lebt und meine Gebote bewahrt und euch danach richtet.

23a I will show how holy my great name is…
23b  I reveal my holiness through you…
24 I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again…
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean…
26a I will give you a new heart…
26b I will put a new spirit in you…
26c I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart…
27 I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my commands.

Jonah was 100% correct… Salvation is of the LORD!



No comments:

Post a Comment