Amazing Love of God - Hosea

God is Love and if you want to know more about him, and how he loves us, you need to read the book of Hosea. Brought up in a Lutheran Christian family, I was taught to preach short sermons as part of Sunday school competitions. At that age, I never understood the theology what I was speaking. I don’t think anybody understood the theology which was preached on Sundays. Most of the Sunday school and Youth competitions, I have got the topic “God’s Love” for preaching, and here are the things which they expect us to tell.

• All the commandments put together in one word is Love
•  God’s love to mankind is Jesus Christ.
• First in the fruits of the Holy Spirit is Love and so on…

I have heard and seen children preaching like professionals, even in other denominations and churches. I have seen the same people growing as adult, preaching with the same intensity, and not living by the word they preach, which means they don’t understand what they preach. Even other than the Bible students, I don’t think anyone will be able to concentrate hard to understand it. The Bible is given to us to study it and implement it in our lives and to get motivated with it.

The main character of this book, Hosea, is one of the greatest lovers in all literature. We find his love so strong that even the worst actions of an unfaithful wife could not kill it. We can see a bit of personal history of the prophet in Hosea 1:1. We hear God speaking his first words to Hosea himself (Hosea 1:2). We know little about Hosea other than that he had a very sad home life. The book pictures this man as gentle, frank and affectionate. He had a deep loving nature that made him attached to his home. Hosea was sent to the ten northern tribes called Israel. He prophesied in the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel. He lived in this Northern Kingdom when the splendours of Jeroboam’s brilliant reign of 41 years were beginning to fade into the black midnight of Israel’s captivity.

As chapter 1 opens, we see a young man marrying a girl unworthy of him. He loved her truly. God told him to do something that would have been very repulsive to him (Hosea 1:2, 3). It was a severe test. Hosea is told to marry a woman worthless in character, in fact, a harlot. God was using this for a sign to his people of how they remained the object of Jehovah’s love in spite of their sinfulness. This all seems very strange to us. But God was making this picture of his redeeming grace. Grace is unmerited favour.

Hosea obeyed God and married Gomer (Hosea 1:3). His name was hers. Home, reputation, God’s favour, comfort, was Gomer’s. All that he had he gave her. In return, Hosea’s name, domestic reputation, love, was all sacrificed on the altar of a shameful and worthless woman. How like our Lord Jesus this is! He not only came to us while we were yet in sin, but he also died the death of shame on Calvary for us that all he had might be ours (Titus 2:14).  Gomer ran away from home and left her young husband, Hosea, with 2 little sons and a daughter to care for. Lured away by the sin about her, she fell into the moral cesspool of the day and finally was carried off a slave. Through it all, Hosea was true to her. Still loving her, he tried everything to win her back to a happy family life. But she would not. What a sad picture of a person’s stubbornness! What a wonderful picture of God’s love!

Just as Hosea was married to an unfaithful bride, Gomer, so God was married to unfaithful Israel (New Testament Israel is the one who believes in Christ). This experience of Hosea helped him to understand God’s heart of love as he yearned over wayward Israel to come home to him. No doubt there were tears in his voice, for there was tragedy in his life. He had thrown himself worthy into his mission.

When you read Hosea 4 to 10 we see Hosea telling the people to return to the Lord as they went away from the Lord (Hosea 6:1). Hosea’s message was “Return to God and he will return to you”. We must understand God’s attitude towards sin. He says. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7).

Hosea 14 is one of the best chapters in the Bible for backsliders. Read the wonderful words of the Lord to backsliding Israel in Hosea 14:4. “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely”. God’s great heart is bursting with love, but our sins keep him from telling us all that is there. As with Israel, you may know the joy of barriers broken down and love poured out. “I will be like the dew to Israel: he will blossom like a lilly” Hosea 14:5. The dew speaks of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Just understand how God portrays his abiding joy in his people after they are healed.

This love of God for Israel is given to us through Christ Jesus. Like Hosea in this Book, Christ is perfect and he gave himself for us who are imperfect like Gomer. I pray that you will understand this great love story of God and leave the sinful life and be Holy in Christ and live a faithful life.

Prophet of Dreams - Daniel

Daniel stands in God’s word as the man who dared to keep a clean heart and body (Daniel 1:8), and the man therefore whom God chose as a channel for his message to the Gentile nations of the world. Daniel was in the palace at Babylon the same time Ezekiel was toiling in a slave gang.

Daniel has been called the prophet of dreams. God revealed to him his secrets. “During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision” (Daniel 2:19). Daniel, like Ezekiel, looks far into the future. He is quoted most in Revelation. One cannot understand the great signs of Revelation without looking at their meaning in Daniel. Although Daniel was a captive, he rose to be prime minister of Babylon. The wonderful thing is that he always remained true to Jehovah God.

Daniel was the companion of Kings. He was, like Joseph, God’s candle shining in pagan darkness. He was chief statesman in the first empire of the world, chief adviser of a great monarch and a great protector of his own people. God gave him favour and love in the sight of the court official, Ashpenaz. Even proud Nebuchadnezzar seemed to have had real affection for Daniel. Book of Daniel reveals the power of God and his universal sovereignty. God’s power is contrasted with world power.

In Daniel 1, we see God’s power in keeping Daniel and his companions. They were given understanding and wisdom above all the wise men of Babylon.

In Daniel 2, we see the power of God in revealing the dream of Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel. None of the wise men of Babylon could do this.

In Daniel 3, we see the power of God in delivering Daniels three companions from the fiery furnace. This occurred after they had been in Babylon about 20 years, and God was demonstrating in this most dramatic way his power over all the gods of this country.

God’s power is revealed in the deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den in Chapter 6.

Unlike other prophets, Daniel deals more fully with the Gentile nations than with his own Jewish nation. The other prophets only mention the gentiles as incidental to something concerning Israel. But Daniel gives us the history of the Gentile powers from Babylon to the end.

The prophetic revelations are from Chapter 7 to 12. We see a glimpse of the last days in chapter 11. Description about the great tribulations is also mentioned in Chapter 12.

As we are experiencing lots of signs of the last days which are mentioned in the Bible, it is important to study this book along with the last book in the Bible, Revelation. May the Spirit of God lead and guide you to live a holy life as of Daniel and be prepared to see Christ coming to take his Church at any time.

God’s Prophet - Jeremiah

Jeremiah came from the village of Anathoth some 3 miles from Jerusalem. This gave him the advantages of the Holy City. He inherited the traditions of an illustrious ancestry. His early life was, no doubt, molded by strong religious influences. God had something better for Jeremiah than to spend his life as a priest serving at the alters. God appointed this young man to be a prophet of the Lord in this most trying hour in the history of the chosen people. God often choses unlikely instruments to do his work. He chose the sensitive shrinking Jeremiah for what seemed a hopeless mission, with the words, “Do not say, I am only a child, you must go to everyone I send you to say whatever I command you, do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord” – (Jeremiah 1:7-8). This is what a prophet is - one that tells forth what God says.

Jeremiah prophesied during the time when Israel had been taken into captivity and Judah was in the declining days. Lists of the prophecies of Jeremiah are:

·         Judah – Captivity. Restoration

·         Cities – Jerusalem, Babylon, Damascus

·         Gentile nations – Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Elam, Babylon

·         Messiah

Jeremiah uses many symbols given him by God in teaching the people. On one occasion he wore a rotted girdle, another time he put a yoke on his neck, like an ox, again he broke a bottle in the presence of the ruler, he bought a field and buried the deed. He was the ninth of the prophets. He prophesied to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, before the exile and during the trying days of the captivity. He saw five kings upon the throne of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. He was to Josiah what Isaiah had been to Hezekiah. 

There were three main events in Jeremiah’s life:

·         Battle of Megiddo, between Judah ad Pharaoh Necho of Egypt in which good king Josiah was killed

·         Battle of Carchemish, which happened during Jehoiakim’s reign. Egyptians were defeated by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and the first deportation of Jews followed.

·         Capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, destruction of city and temple, and exile of greater part of those who were left by Babylon.

A prophet is simply God’s messenger boy delivering not his own ideas, but conveying to the last detail God’s thoughts. Jeremiah’s commission was worldwide, including not only his own country, but also all nations and kingdom of Egypt, Ammon, Moab, Tyre and Sidon. His commission was to root out the idolatry and pride and to say only what the Lord commanded him to say.

In Jeremiah 1:9, you see the touch of God on Jeremiah’s life. “Then the Lord reached out his hand”. This touch of God on his life gave him the confidence that God was with him and he could not get away from it. God’s word shows its power in two ways – in destruction and in construction. We see this in God’s words to Jeremiah. If people accept God’s word it will give life, it they reject it, it will bring condemnation (John 3:36).

We see the warnings God gave to his chosen people so that they can leave sin and live a righteous life. God chosed Jeremiah for cautioning the people. In the beginning of his ministry he faced difficulties, which God told was just a beginning of the trials he is going to face. From this book, we can understand two things. First one is to honour God and live a godly life when we are told about our sin. Because otherwise, even when grace is unlimited, we may have to face the punishment. Second is to understand when you carry God in your life, hardship will always be there following you.

Other prophets in the Bible had at least occasional success to cheer their hearts in the midst of difficulties, but Jeremiah seemed to be fighting a losing battle to the very end. Disaster, failure and hostility were rewards for his work. He preached to deaf ears and seemed to reap only hate in return for his love for his people. In life he seemed to accomplish little. He was broken hearted. But God has given us a record that makes him one of the greatest prophets. God delights to trust a trustworthy child with a trial. When we go through tough times, stay connected with the love of God, even though you don’t see any results.

May Almighty help you to understand the relationship between Jeremiah and God, so that you can have him as an example in your life, and live a holy and faithful life to glorify God.

Royal Prophet - Isaiah

Prophet Isaiah was brought up in the court and had high standing with the people of Jerusalem. He not only was a prophet, but he also married a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3,118). Isaiah was the prophet during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). He received his real commission in the year King Uzziah died. He preached God was about to abandon Judah, showing that God wants his people to be holy more than prosperity.

God called Isaiah just as he called Moses, Joshua, Gideon or Paul. Isaiah’s commission came at the tragic death of the grand old King Uzziah (Isaiah 6 :!). For years he preached and told of doom and deliverance. Hardship and tough times awaited him, but God gave him a victorious strength. He was the man of the hour.

The secret of all Isaiah’s power lay in a vision in the Temple. This vision should be every disciple’s experience.

·         Conviction – a sense of sinfulness before God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Confession – a broken heart and a contrite heard is precious to the Lord (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Cleansing – guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:7)

·         Consecration – here I am, send me attitude (Isaiah 6:8)

·         Commission – Gods command to Go (Isaiah 6:9)

From Isaiah 7 to 24 we see the days of King Ahaz. He was utterly bad and an idolater. For this reason, God gave the kingdom to other kings. Isaiah was silent, but this invasion brings him to the front in his ministry (Isaiah 7:3). God sent him to encourage Ahaz. Besides predicting the Assyrian invasion in Isaiah 8, the prophet saw an end to all of Israel’s troubles through the birth of Jesus Christ who shall rule over the kingdom of David in righteousness forever and forever. He gave Ahaz a sign that Judah was not to perish – the prophecy of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14). But Ahaz pursued his own idea with Assyria, and that nation on which they now leaned was to become the means of their punishment (Isaiah 7:17-20).

In Isaiah 13, we see prophecy about Babylon’s destruction. God often allows nations to punish Israel for her national sins, but retribution is inevitable. In Isaiah 14, we see the death of king Ahaz. But Isaiah warns the people that his death must not be hailed as the end of their burdens. Even worse oppressors than Ahaz were yet to come (Isaiah 14:28-32).

From Isiah 15 to 39, it talks about the period under Hezekiah, which was an important period in all of Israel’s history. He was a godly king. The critical year in Hezekiah’s reign was the 14^th year (Isaiah 36:1). It was then we have the Assyrian invasion, the king’s mortal sickness and his recovery, and the withdrawal of Assyrians from the land.

Chapters 40 to 66 are called the Book of Consolation because Isaiah tells in glowing terms not only of the restoration of Judah, but also of the coming of Jehovah’s servant to be the Messiah king. Isaiah 53 gives us a perfect picture of our suffering redeemer. Isaiah 60 to 66 tells of the coming kingdom – the future glory of Israel. God’s goodness to redeemed Israel is seen in chapter 61 and 62. He promises an era of prosperity in chapters 63 to 65.

Isaiah spent his life trying to get Judah to become acquainted with God and his word. He wanted them to trust wholly in God’s guidance. This book not only speaks of Israel, but of Jesus Christ who came to take away the sins of whole world. It shows us how Christ suffered for the sins which we have done.

When you pray and read this book, you will understand the real grace which God showed upon the humanity to get saved. I pray that everyone understand this grace of Christ that he died for our sins to make us free, and accordingly live a life pleasing and testifying Jesus Christ.

The BOOK – Country Preacher

Micah was a country preacher who lived in the days of Isaiah and Hosea. He was a prophet of the common people. He prophesied concerning Samaria, the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. He denounced the social sins of his day (Micah 2:2). He felt keenly these social evils. He saw the unfair treatment of the poor by the rich. He felt that these sins cried up to heaven.

Micah wanted the people to know that every cruel act to one’s fellow citizen was an insult to God. God is offended by the conduct of the people and the rulers. In spite of the state of things, the people tried to carry on their religious observances. Micah shows the uselessness of all this (Micah 6:7-8).

As the book opens we hear the cry, “Hear O peoples, all of you listen. O earth and all who are in it, that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you” (Micah 1:2). He further added God rebuked Samaria and Jerusalem for social injustice, unfaithfulness, dishonesty and idolatry (Micah 2:1-11; 1:6-9). He told them that Samaria, the capital of Israel, would fall (Micah 1:6-7). A similar judgement would come upon Judah. Judah’s sin is described as an incurable wound. The sins of the people ae stated in Micah 2:1-11. God will being suffering and shame upon them for their unscrupulous use of power.

In Micah 3 to 5 he gives a message to rulers concerning the coming of Christ. Even there he broken hearted tells of God’s judgement upon Judah for her sins. Jerusalem and its temple will be destroyed (Micah 3:12; 7:!3). The people of Judah will be taken captive to Babylon (Micah 4:10).

Micah was also a prophet of hope. He always looked beyond doom and punishment to the day of glory when Christ himself shall reign, when peace shall cover the earth. God gives the promise. Messiah will come. He will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 4:8; 5:2-4). In Micah 6, he gives a definition of religion. He tells to Act Justly, Love mercy and walk humbly with God. 

Men and women are always trying to get back into the good graces of God with some outward religious service or some worldly rather than spiritual things. God wants righteous conduct and a real personal experience of him in each life. Because of unrighteous conduct, the people had to suffer unbelievable consequences. The best way to get back into God’s grace is to accept God’s grace.

May God help to walk with him and be victorious in your life through Romans 12:1-2.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Don not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

The BOOK - Mini Bible

Isaiah was a man of vision and who certainly spoke boldly to his own time, but as a prophet he spoke of the future as well; hence he is the prophet for all times. He not only was a prophet, but he also married a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3, 18)

“The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw” - Isaiah 1:1

Isaiah was the prophet of the southern kingdom of Judah. He lied at the tome the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria. Isaiah was the one whose voice saved the kingdom of Judah during these trying hours. He told the judgement that must fall on Judah because she would not fulfil her mission in the world. But through the whole book we find the ultimate triumph of God’s plan through his appointed servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would bring in final victory through suffering and death (Isaiah 53)

The divisions of Isaiah are an interesting coincidence. Isaiah is a miniature Bible in structure.

·         This book has 66 chapters, just as Bible has 66 books.

·         There are 2 great divisions, just as there are in the Bible, with 39 chapters in the first (like Old Testament) and 27 chapters in the second (like New Testament)

·         The Old Testament opens with God’s case against humans because of their sin. Isaiah opens the same way (Isaiah 1:18).

·         The first section closes with the prophecy of the coming King of Righteousness and the redemption of Israel (Isaiah 34-35), just as the prophets close the Old Testament with the prediction of His coming Kingdom

·         The second part of Isaiah (Isaiah 40) opens with the “voice of him that crieth in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3), and is concerned with the person and work of Jesus Christ. New Testament opens in exact accord with this. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, is announced as “the vice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:6, 23).

·         The book of Isaiah ends with the vision of new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness perfectly dwells (Isaiah 62:1-2; 5:17; 66:22). The New Testament closes with this same view in Revelation 21.

Isaiah chapter 53 is a wonderful one to store in your memory. Each verse is of golden truth. This is the chapter that picture Christ, our suffering redeemer. When I was a child, my father made me to study this chapter by-heart which I still remember. It is good to by-heart this chapter and make your children also study because you will always remember the sufferings of Christ which been fore told in the Old Testament, that proves Christ is our Lord.

The life of Jesus Christ is portrayed in Isaiah:

·         Birth – Isaiah 7:14; 9:6.

·         Family – Isaiah 11:1

·         Anointing – Isaiah 11:2

·         Character – Isaiah 11:3,4

·         Simplicity of life – Isaiah 7:15

·         Gentleness – Isaiah 42:1-4

·         Death – Isaiah 53

·         Resurrection – Isaiah 25:8

·         Glorious reign – Isaiah 11:3-16; 32.

As you begin the study of the book of Isaiah, may God anoint you with his Spirit to get the bread which is needed for you this hour so that you can go ahead in your studies in a deeper faith in God.

The BOOK – Prophets

Prophets were men whom God raised up during the dark days of Israel’s history.

“The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets’ and seers: Turn from the evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through the servants the prophets” - 2 Kings 17:13.

These prophets spoke fearlessly to Kings and people alike of their sins and failures. The captivities of Israel (Northern kingdom) and of Judah (Southern kingdom) are largely the theme of the Old Testament prophets. The record of these is found in 2 Kings 17:1-23; 24:11-25; 21. These are called the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Some of the prophets served before the exile, some during and some afterwards. These are called pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic prophets.

The prophets during exile (captivity in Babylon) were Ezekiel and Daniel. They prophesied to all the Israelites. Jeremiah’s lifetime also extended into this period. Those who prophesied after the exile were Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

The prophet’s chief duty was to deal with the moral and religious life of his own people during his day. He not only spoke of judgement that would come to pass to the people because of their sin, but he was also a foreteller of future events. 

Some of the writings of the prophets which are prophetic:

·         The dispersion and captivity of God’s chosen people; everywhere the prophet tells that the Jews are to be scattered among the nations of the world.

·         The coming of Messiah: Religious Jews were and are still looking for their Messiah.

·         The restoration of the chosen people to their own land under the coming Messiah: Jewish people are returning from the four corners of the earth to dwell in their own Promised Land. Almost all Jewish people have a longing in their hearts to be a part of Israel as a nation.

·         The reign of the Messiah over the whole earth: Even though we see the collapse of God’s people in the Old Testament – first Israel, then Judah being led into captivity – nevertheless, God revealed that the ending of his nation did not end his plans for his people. There is yet to be glorious future when the prince of peace shall reign over his people.

When you read the Gospels, you constantly find phrases such as, “so was fulfilled what the Lord has said” and “to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet.” We find in these passages that God fulfils prophecy literally. The prophets exposed the cold formalism of their religion. They constantly reminded the people that Jehovah was the only true God.

The prophecies concerning Christ in Isaiah 53 is so definite that it gives great assurance to us that the Bible is the word of God. But as the leaders of the church now – the preachers and the Pastors need to take the responsibility of what the Prophets have done in the Old Testament. They need to tell the truth when it is needed, without seeing the face of people, because they are chosen by God not only to lead the people, but also to lead them towards holiness through the word of God.

May God help all the leaders to take responsibility to lead the people in truth and holiness, Amen