Year: 2023

引言：

这章经文神又责备以色列，神的心意是要以色列子民回转归向祂。V6所以你当归向你的神，谨守仁爱、公平，常常等候你的神。

一、吃风追风徒劳无功 (V1-2)

以法莲为求自保，与邻近的强国埃及和亚述结盟，以为是两面讨好的外交策略。但先知指出以色列忘记了神才是最终的保护！以法莲追求自以为可靠的，却像‘吃风追风’一样，增添了虚谎和强暴，最终遭神惩罚，徒劳无功。

我们是否会四处追风，却不追求神？活得好像没有神的外邦人？

二、当效法雅各归向神 (V3-6)

以色列和犹大都是雅各的子孙。雅各一生都是用‘抓’的、‘骗’的。他在母腹中已经是抓住哥哥以扫的腳，他也骗了哥哥以扫的长子名份，他与天使较力并且得胜，而之后他哭泣恳求，要天使一定要祝福他，然后在伯特利遇见耶和华。最终他明白最重要的是神的祝福！

神在告诉以色列子民，他们的行为与祖先是一样的，然而他们的祖先会哭泣恳求神归向神。于是神呼吁以色列民‘所以你当归向你的神，谨守仁爱、公平，常常等候你的神。’

三、不可忘记神的恩典（V7-11）

1.忘记神恩再住帐棚（V7-9）

先知劝诫以色列子民不要忘记神的恩典，切记富足财宝全是来自神的恩典。可是，神的子民却自负地认为一切都是自己的劳力回报，而且他们是用诡诈欺骗来谋取利益。所以神要审判他们，使他们‘再住帐棚’，重温旷野飘流的经历，才能学会感恩，记得神的恩典。

2.忘记神恩祭拜偶像（V10-11）

神已多次晓谕众先知，也让先知们看见异象，劝诫神的子民。但是他们总是不知醒悟！忘记神的恩典去祭拜偶像！就像‘基列 和‘吉甲’这2个地方，偶像的祭坛又多又乱，如‘田间犁沟中的乱堆’，以为拜得越多就越蒙福，忘了一切都是来自神的恩典！

四、归向真神必得保存（V12-14）

雅各寄居亚兰地二十年，神仍然可以把他带回来，神对将灭亡的以法莲说：我能把雅各带回来，将来你们被掳到亚述，只要听先知的话，我也会透过先知让你们得以保存。正如以色列以前听摩西的话，经过旷野四十年仍得以保存。

神借着先知重述这段历史乃是要以色列子民归向神得保存，免陷于羞辱归还他们！

总结：

从一开始雅各是靠抓靠骗，最后到了绝境，神施恩怜悯他才知道要归向神！神提醒以色列子民只有一条出路，就是归向等候你的神！我们不需要等到绝境羞辱才哭泣回转；只有我们快些归向神，生命就快些蒙福！

Hosea 12 Return to God who waits on you
GK611 Morning Devotion
16/05/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps. Daniel

Introduction:

In this chapter, God rebukes Israel again. God’s will is for the children of Israel to turn back to Him, ‘So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.'(V6)

1. It is futile to feed and chase the wind (V1-2)

In order to protect itself, Ephraim formed an alliance with the neighbouring powers Egypt and Assyria, thinking it was a diplomatic strategy to please both sides. But the prophet pointed out that Israel has forgotten that God is the ultimate protection! Ephraim pursued what he believed to be reliable, but like “feeding and chasing the wind”, he added lies and violence and was punished by God in the end, in vain.

Are we chasing after the wind instead of God? Live like a godless Gentile?

2. Follow the example of Jacob and return to God (V3-6)

Both Israel and Judah were descendants of Jacob. Throughout his life, Jacob used “grab” and “cheat”. He had already grabbed the feet of his elder brother Esau in his mother’s womb, and he also lied to his elder brother Esau about his birthright. He wrestled with the angel and won, cried, begged the angel to bless him, and then met Jehovah at Bethel. Ultimately, he knew that what he wanted most was God’s blessing!

God is telling the children of Israel that their behaviour is the same as that of their ancestors, but their ancestors will cry and beg God to return to God. So, God reminded the Israelites, ‘So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. ‘

3. Don’t Forget God’s Grace (V7-11)

(1) Forget God’s grace and live in tents again (V7-9)

The prophet exhorted the Israelites not to forget God’s grace, and to remember that wealth and treasure all come from God’s grace. However, God’s people are conceited that everything is their own reward for their labour, and they use deceit and fraud to seek benefits. Therefore, God will judge them and make them “dwell in tents again” and revisit their experience of wandering in the wilderness, so that they can learn to be grateful and remember God’s grace.

(2) Forgetting God’s grace and worshiping idols (V10-11)

God has spoken to the prophets many times, and let the prophets see visions and exhort the people of God. But they always don’t wake up! Forget the grace of God and worship idols! Just like the two places of ‘Gilead’ and ‘Gilgal’, the altars of idols are numerous and chaotic, like ‘heaps in the furrows of the field’, thinking that the more they worship, the more they will be blessed, forgetting that everything comes from God’s grace!

4. Returning to the true God to be preserved (V12-14)

Jacob lived in Syria for 20 years, but God could still bring him back. God said to Ephraim who was about to perish: I can bring Jacob back. When you are taken captive to Assyria in the future, just listen to the prophet’s words, which I will also preserve you through the prophets. Just as Israel listened to the words of Moses and survived for forty years in the wilderness.

God recounted this period of history through the prophets in order for the Israelites to return to God and be preserved, so as to avoid to be trapped in humiliation!

Conclusion：

From the very beginning, Jacob relied on grabbing and deceiving, and finally, when he was in a desperate situation, God showed grace and mercy to him before he knew he had to return to God! God reminded the Israelites that there is only one way out, which is to return to the God who waits for you! We don’t need to wait until we are desperate and humiliated then weep and turn around; as long as we return to God quickly, life will be blessed soon!

引言：子不教父之过

一、慈父之爱（V1-4）

1.从年幼就爱（V1）

这里说明远从以色列人民还在埃及当奴隶的时候，神与他们就已经有了亲密的‘父子’关系！

从我们还在母腹中、还不认识神，神已经爱我们如儿子。

2.从埃及召出（V1-2）

神从埃及召出以色列人，当作儿子养育教导；但他们长大以后，却成了悖逆的浪子，越走越远。
感谢神从罪恶的世界救赎我们出来，召我们做祂的儿子！

3.亲手教行走（V3）

以色列人出埃及以后，不断地犯罪、跌倒，神却不断地施恩救赎。就像慈爱的父亲教导孩子行走，孩子跌倒受伤了，父亲立刻‘抱着他们、医治他们’。

4. 用慈爱牵引（V4）

神用慈绳爱索牵引以色列人，就好像作父母的用一条布做绳子，绑在幼儿身上。当幼儿想拿危险的东西，或者走近危险的地方，父母就会拉住绳子，不让他过去。父亲还会俯下身去喂养幼小的孩子。

慈爱的天父也同样把我们从世界中呼召出来，用祂的慈绳爱索牵引我们。在我们软弱时，祂加力量；跌倒时，祂扶持，神对我们的爱就是慈父之爱！

二、管教之爱（V5-7）

神这么爱以色列，但以色列人却不肯归向祂，随从自己的计谋，偏要背道离开神，选择埃及、亚述。结果是沦为亚述的囚奴，而不是得着自由。

在我们的人生旅途中，天父也必管教我们，‘因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。’（来12:6）

三、神圣之爱（V8-12）

1.不舍弃逆民（V8-9）

神是圣者神，祂不会舍弃悖逆的子民，也不随着怒气来攻击子民，甚至祂要出手的时候，祂的怜爱发动，因为祂是神，不是世人，有神圣的反应！有神圣之爱！

2. 应许再召回（V10-11）

神一面宣告被掳的刑罚，一面宣告回归的盼望。祂过去象狮子‘撕裂’百姓（何5:14），现在却要‘如狮子吼叫’，再召聚百姓像受惊的雀鸟急速回归。应许有一天，他們要被神從四方招聚而來，必使他们住自己的房屋。

总结：

在我们人生的旅途中，神用祂的慈绳爱索牵引我们，用永不止息的爱扶持我们。无论我们过去用什么态度回应神，今天神再一次用不止息的爱呼召我们！你选择如何回应神的爱？

Hosea 11 God’s Unceasing Love
GK611 Morning Devotion
12/05/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps. Daniel

Introduction: It is the parent’s fault for not teaching their children.

I. Fatherly love (V1-4)

1. Love from childhood (V1)

This shows that since the people of Israel were still slaves in Egypt, God had already had a close “father and son “relationship with them!
Since we were still in the womb before we knew God, God has loved us like sons.

2. Called out of Egypt (V1-2)

God called the Israelites out of Egypt to raise and teach them as sons; but when they grew up, they became rebellious prodigal sons and went further and further away.

Thank God for redeeming us from the sinful world and calling us to be His sons!

3. Teach walking personally (V3)

After the Israelites left Egypt, they continued to sin and stumble, but God continued to redeem them with grace. Just like a loving father teaching his children to walk, when the children fall and get hurt, the father immediately “holds them and heals them”.

4. Draw with loving kindness (V4)

God drew the children of Israel with cords of love, just as a parent makes a cord of cloth and binds it to a child. When a child wants to take something dangerous or approach a dangerous place, the parents will pull the cord to prevent him from passing. Fathers will also bend down to feed their young ones.

The loving Father has likewise called us out of the world and draws us with the cords of His love. When we are weak, He strengthens us; when we fall, He supports us. God’s love for us is fatherly love!

II. The Love of Discipline (V5-7)

God loves Israel so much, but the Israelites refused to return to Him. Following their own schemes, they turned their backs on God and chose Egypt and Assyria. The result was captivity in Assyria, not freedom.

In our journey of life, the Father will also chasten us, ‘For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ (Hebrews 12:6)

III. Divine Love (V8-12)

1. Don’t give up on the people

God is the Holy One, He will not abandon the rebellious people, nor will He attack the people with anger, even when He wants to attack, His compassion will be activated, because He is God, not the world, and has a holy response! Have divine love!

2. Promise to call again (V10-11)

On the one hand, God announced the punishment of exile, and on the other hand, He announced the hope of return. He who used to ‘tear apart’ the people like a lion (Hosea 5:14) will now ‘oar like a lion’ and gather the people back like a frightened bird. It is promised that one day they will be gathered from all directions by God who will make them live in their own houses.

Conclusion：

In our journey of life, God draws us with His loving cords and sustains us with His never-ending love. No matter what attitude we used to respond to God in the past, today God calls us once again with unceasing love! How do you choose to respond to God’s love?

引言：保持温度，不断上升

一道煮好的菜，若放的太久冷了就不好吃。同样，我们对主的心也不能冷却下来。

一、一心一意来侍奉神（V1-2）

当时候在耶罗波安二世统治之下，以色列军事和经济就突然繁荣起来。但是国家越繁荣，拜偶像之风就越盛行。

现今的我们也需要多加留意，一个国家越蒙神赐福，就越高举人、越提倡宗教多元化，表面上是祝福满爱，实际上是果子越多，就越增添祭坛；地土越肥美，就越造美丽的柱像，同样要定为有罪。

同样的，当我们的事业开始旺盛的时候，人总会开始忙绿，容易忘记了神，专注于事业。最后一心二意服事神，甚至最后把神先放下。我们要留心！

二、爱神必得世代蒙福（V3-8）

以色列民发假誓去祭拜偶像导致神发怒，最后就是灾罚四处滋生，百姓的心态是惊恐悲哀、蒙羞惭愧。最后国家灭亡，因为不持守耶和华的约而遭到审判。当一个国家没有君王的时候，就是人民任意而行的时候，他们也在思想就算有王，那他又能为他们做什么呢？

神的约已经向以色列表明了，“叫人不可跪拜那些像，也不可侍奉它，因为我耶和华你的神是忌邪的神。恨我的，我必追讨他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代。”（出20:5-6）。

神是信实持守约的神，若我们会悔改，求神的饶恕，回转爱神，我们的后代必蒙祝福。

三、知罪悔改神必拯救（V9-10）

基比亚的日子，指士师记所记载的基比亚匪徒奸杀利未人之妾， 从以色列人出埃及地，直到今日，这样的事没有行过，也没有见过，结果导致便雅悯支派几乎全部灭绝。

另外，基比亚是扫罗的根据地，每次扫罗出去打仗、或追杀大卫，都回到基比亚；所以基比亚是一个时常犯罪的地方，是预表扫罗，因为扫罗代表自己做决定，自己决定献祭、自己决定祭物、自己决定方法，也就会心怀二意，当我们不求问神时，就会容易犯罪。

以上两件事都说明，当人随己意犯罪时，神必兴起周围的环境攻击我们。

四、栽种公义得神慈爱（V11-15）
神告诉以色列民有一条出路，就是要寻求耶和华。从三个方面来回转寻求神：（1）开垦荒地，就是要除掉生命中的杂草；（2）等神临到，要不断等候神，让神掌权；（3）栽种公义，就是要做正直公义的事。

当我们这样做时，神公义的种子就被耕种起来，神的慈爱、公义、圣洁就会临到。

总结：今天，就是开始栽种，开始寻求神的日子！

今天正是要寻求神的时候，当我们决定开始跟随神来过生活，就栽下了那颗公义的种子。神必喜悦这一个栽种，必使我们收获祂丰盛的慈爱。求神带领我们栽下那公义的种子，帮助我们活出神心意的生命。

Hosea 10: Now is the Day to Seek the Lord
GK611 Morning Devotion
11/05/2023
Speakers: Bro Asher Chang

Introduction: Keeping the temperature and rise continuously

A dish that is cooked is not good if it is left too long to get cold. In the same way, our heart for the Lord should not cool down.

1. Serving God with one heart and one mind (V1-2)

At that time under Jeroboam II, Israel suddenly prospered militarily and economically. But the more prosperous the nation became, the more idolatry became prevalent.

The more a nation is blessed by God, the more it exalts people, the more it promotes religious pluralism, and the more fruitful it appears to be, the more altars are built; the more fertile the land, the more beautiful pillars are built, which are also condemned.

In the same way, when our careers begin to flourish, one always starts to get busy and tends to forget God and focus on the business. One ends up being preoccupied with serving God and even ends up putting God down first. We need to watch out!

2. Love of God will be blessed for all generations (V3-8)

The people of Israel made false vows to worship idols, which led to God’s anger and eventually to plagues and punishments, and the people were in a state of fear and sorrow and shame. In the end the nation fell and was judged for not keeping the covenant of the Lord. When a nation has no king, it is a time when the people do as they please, and they are thinking that even if they had a king, what could he do for them?

God’s covenant had been made clear to Israel, “5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,” (Ex 20:5-6).

God is a faithful and covenant-keeping God, and if we will repent, ask for God’s forgiveness and turn to love Him, our future generations will be blessed.

3. God will save if you repent of your sins (V9-10)

The days of Gibeah refer to the rape and murder of the Levite’s concubine by the bandits of Gibeah as recorded in the book of Shakespeare, which has not been done or seen since the Exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt until today, resulting in the extermination of almost all the tribe of Benjamin.

Furthermore, Gibeah was Saul’s base, and every time Saul went out to war, or to hunt David, he returned to Gibeah; so Gibeah was a place where sin was often committed, and was a foreshadowing of Saul, because Saul represented himself as making his own decisions, deciding on his own sacrifices, deciding on his own offerings, deciding on his own methods, and thus being double-minded, and when we don’t ask God, we are prone to sin.

Both of these things show that when man sins according to his own will, God will raise up the circumstances around him to attack us.

4. Planting righteousness and receive God’s mercy (V11-15)

God told the people of Israel that there was a way out, and that was to seek the Lord. To turn back to God in three ways: (1) to cultivate the wilderness, that is, to get rid of the weeds in their lives; (2) to wait for God to come, to keep waiting on God and let Him reign; (3) to plant righteousness, that is, to do what is just and righteous.

When we do this, the seeds of God’s righteousness are planted and God’s love, justice and holiness will come.

Conclusion: Today is the day to start planting the seeds and to start seeking God!

Today is the day to seek God, when we decide to begin to follow God in our lives, we plant the seed of righteousness. God will be pleased with this planting and will enable us to reap the fullness of His love. Pray that God will lead us to plant that seed of righteousness and help us to live the life that God desires.

引言：最后通牒

源自于拉丁语Ultimatum。某方提出最后的条件，并表明如果条件不被接受就拉倒或进行严厉的惩罚。在外交上的最后通牒通常是没有谈判余地的最后要求。 如果最后通牒不被接纳，下一步就是严厉的制裁，甚至是宣战。今天，何西亚书第九章，也让我们看到，神透过先知也正在向以色列百姓下放最后通牒。

一、祝福中要常常儆醒（v1-6）

1.敬拜真神要专一

喜爱-性交易；赏赐-妓女的酬劳

经文的背景是以色列百姓在庆祝住棚节的日子。住棚节原本是丰收，向神献上感恩的欢庆日子。可是以色列百姓却在当中参杂了迦南地人祭拜巴力神明的活动。酗酒、跳舞、更可恶的是效法外邦人祭拜巴力时，进行男女欢爱，与庙妓行淫。先知何西阿指出色列民，这样行邪淫离弃神，拜偶像的观念就像妓女一样。妓女只要有赏赐、金钱、酬劳，就可以跟任何人发生关係。只要新酒五穀祝福，以色列不介意是神或偶像，他们就会去拜。

今天有基督徒为了想得到祝福，包括平安、财富、事业顺利、健康、婚姻、孩子学业等，而到处找出路。但会否因为要得到这些而离弃神，拜偶像，甚至行邪术或耍手段呢？

2.恩典时刻要儆醒

已经危在旦夕的以色列百姓，盲目乐观地以为，谷场和酒榨上的丰富证明他们是蒙神祝福的子民。但先知却宣告民间的欢乐将要止息，降罚的日子临近，他们将大祸临头了。

弟兄姐妹，求神让我们有儆醒的灵，常常被圣灵光照，有谦卑悔改的生命。对神的心不要参杂。我们不要一边敬拜神又一边贪爱世界。不要堕入随从世属的宴乐后还盲目的以为可以在今生做财主，来世作拉撒路。

V3审判临到时，百姓要面对粮食的短缺和被掳到亚述为奴。而被掳后，因为是住在灵性死亡之地，所以他们不但只能吃不洁净的食物，所吃的也相当于居丧者的食物。此外，他们也失去了向神守节的机会和欢乐。

神的恩典是有限时的。在神的恩典中堕落是何等的可怜。欢乐变为哀伤，丰富变为缺乏，还有完全失去了自由。此外，V6看哪，他们逃避灾难；埃及人必收殓他们的尸首，摩弗人必葬埋他们的骸骨。他们用银子做的美物上必长蒺藜；他们的帐棚中必生荆棘。

3.忠于所托要出声

何西阿呼吁以色列人不要狂欢庆祝的原因，是因为以色列人道德败坏，且即将遭审判。这样的呼吁目的是希望以色列人认清他们处境，进而悔改归向神。今天作为神的儿女、神的教会，让我们像何西阿一样，忠于神的托负，依照神的标准，对淫乱、犯罪、邪恶的世代发出声音，守护真理，引人归正。

二、不听劝告深深败坏（v7-9）

1.藐视先知的劝告（v7-8）

昨天8:2里，既然以色列百姓说他们认识神了，先知在这里就讽刺的说，如果他们真认识神，就必知道降罚的日子临近，报应的时候来到。但是，以色列百姓不但没有悔改，反而讥笑先知是愚昧狂妄的，甚至痛恨和设法要谋害他。

以色列百姓为什么对先知的话听不进去呢？首先是骄傲。以为自己很认识神了。其次，不喜欢听严厉的话。在国家社会繁荣的背景下，先知公开说国家会灭亡，人民会被虏，这样的话有谁会听得进去？

弟兄姐妹，我们会不会只想听好听的话而不能被人纠正？尤其是当我们的生活很顺利的时刻。

2.继续深深地败坏（v9）

士19，20记载因为便雅悯的基比亚匪徒曾因强暴利未人的妾，玷污凌辱致死而激动众怒，发生内战，自相残杀。以致便雅悯支派差点绝后。

先知何西阿指出，以色列民因为藐视先知的劝告，结果没有反省能力，继续深深地败坏。不断重复列祖先所犯的过失，而且比他们更败坏，正如过去在基比亚的日子所犯可怕的罪行一样。因此神必要追讨他们的罪恶。

三、被神审判漂流列国（v10-17）

神在这段经文里指出2个祂憎恶的事和地方。V10以色列是神立约的子民。神喜爱他们，像在旷野看到香甜的葡萄和初熟的无花果一样。但在摩押他们就被引诱去拜“巴力毗珥‘。

吉甲是以色列百姓厌恶耶和华为王，转而膏立扫罗为王的地方。因为他们厌恶耶和华，因此神说祂憎恶他们。并且要在他们所选择的人事物上，败坏他们。百姓以为拜巴力会带来生育，因此神将灭绝他们的后代，使他们绝子绝孙。他们选择离弃神，求告埃及，投奔亚述，神就让他们飘流在他们所向往列国中，为自己的选择付出代价。如果我们硬颈，坚持悖逆神，就要为自己的选择付出代价。

总结：不要让神这样出手

全能神真的很爱他的子民。相信若有选择，祂都不想对所爱的百姓施行如此重的审判。无奈因百姓的硬颈悖逆，公义神唯有忍痛出手管教。让我们从以色列的历史作为警戒，常常儆醒，及时悔改。不要让神关上恩典之门。更不要让神像对以色列这样的出手，否则就真的没有回转的机会了。

Hosea 9: Be Watchful Always and Turn Back in Time
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/05/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps. Deborah

Introduction: Ultimatum

Derived from the Latin Ultimatum. A party puts forward a final condition and indicates that if the condition is not accepted, it will be withdrawn or severely punished. Ultimatums in diplomacy are usually the last demands that are not negotiable. If the ultimatum is not accepted, the next step is severe sanctions or even a declaration of war. Today, Chapter 9 of Hosea also shows us that God is issuing an ultimatum to the people of Israel through the prophets.

1. Always be watchful in blessing (v1-6)

(1) Be focused on worshipping the true God

Favour – the sex trade; Reward – the prostitute’s wages

The background of the passage is the day when the people of Israel celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was originally a day of harvest and a celebration of giving thanks to God. However, the people of Israel mixed in the activities of the Canaanites to worship the gods of Baal. Drinking, dancing, and what’s more abominable is to imitate the Gentiles when worshipping Baal, having sex with men and women, and committing adultery with temple prostitutes. The prophet Hosea pointed out that the people of Israel practise fornication and forsake God. The concept of idolatry is like a prostitute. A prostitute can have sex with anyone as long as there is a reward, money, and wages. As long as they are blessed with new wine and grain, Israel will worship them, regardless of whether they are gods or idols.

Today, some Christians are looking for ways to obtain blessings, including peace, wealth, a smooth career, health, marriage, and children’s education. But will they forsake God, worship idols, or even practise sorcery or tricks just because they want to get these things?

(2) Be alert when receiving grace

The people of Israel, who were already in dire straits, blindly believed that the abundance of grain fields and winepresses proved that they were a people blessed by God. But the prophets declared that the joy of the people would cease, that the day of judgment was near and that great disaster was upon them.

Brothers and sisters, may God allow us to have a vigilant spirit, be constantly illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and have a life of humility and repentance. Do not mix your heart with God. We should not worship God and love the world at the same time. Don’t fall into the pleasures of following the world and blindly think that you can be a rich man in this life and a Lazarus in the next life.

V3 When judgment comes, the people will face food shortages and be taken captive to Assyria as slaves. After being exiled, because they live in a place of spiritual death, not only they can just eat unclean food, but what they eat is equivalent to the food of the mourners. In addition, they also lost the opportunity and joy of keeping feasts with God.

God’s grace is limited in time. How pitiful it is to fall from the grace of God. Joy turned to sorrow, abundance to lacking, and loss of freedom completely. Besides, V6 For indeed they are gone because of destruction. Egypt shall gather them up; Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their valuables of silver; Thorns shall be in their tents.

3. Be faithful and speak up

The reason Hosea called the Israelites not to rejoice was because the Israelites were immoral and about to be judged. The purpose of such an appeal is to hope that the Israelites will recognise their situation, and then repent and turn to God. Today, as God’s children and God’s church, let us, like Hosea, be faithful to God’s entrustment, speak out against the adulterous, criminal, and evil generation in accordance with God’s standards, guard the truth, and lead people to correction.

2. Not listening to advice and deeply corrupted (v7-9)

(1) Despise the counsel of the prophets (v7-8)

Yesterday at 8:2, since the Israelites said they knew God, the prophet sarcastically said here that if they really knew God, they would know that the day of punishment was approaching, and the time of retribution would come. However, instead of repenting, the people of Israel ridiculed the prophet as being foolish and arrogant and even hated and tried to murder him.

Why did the people of Israel not listen to the words of the prophets? The first is pride. Thought that they knew God very well. Secondly, do not like to listen to harsh words. Compared to the prosperity of the country and society, the prophet openly said that the country would perish, and the people would be captured. Who would listen to such words?

Brothers and sisters, don’t we want to hear good things and not be corrected? Especially when our lives are going well.

(2) Continue to be deeply corrupted (v9)

Judges 19 and 20 recorded that because the bandits of Gibeah in Benjamin had raped the concubines of the Levites, defiled and humiliated them to death, they aroused public outrage, and civil war broke out and they killed each other. As a result, the tribe of Benjamin was almost extinct.

The prophet Hosea pointed out that because the people of Israel ignored the prophet’s advice, they were unable to reflect and continued to be deeply corrupted. To repeat the faults of their ancestor, and to be worse than them, as in the days of Gibeah when they were terrible crimes. Therefore, God will punish their sins.

3. Be judged by God and wandering among nations (v10-17)

God pointed out 2 things and places He hates in this passage. V10 Israel is God’s covenant people. God loves them like sweet grapes and first-ripe figs in the wilderness. But in Moab, they were enticed to worship “Baal-Peor”.

Gilgal was the place where the people of Israel hated Yahweh as king and anointed Saul as king instead. Because they hated the Lord, God said He hated them. And to ruin them in the people and things of their choice. The people thought that worshipping Baal would bring fertility, so God would destroy their offspring, making them utterly childless. They chose to forsake God, appeal to Egypt, and flee to Assyria, and God let them wander among the nations they yearned for, paying the price for their choice. If we stiffen our necks and persist in rebelling against God, we will have to pay the price for our choices.

Conclusion: Don’t let God do this

Almighty God really loves His people. I believe that if He had a choice, He would not want to impose such a heavy judgment on the people He loves. But because of the people’s stiff necks and rebellion, the righteous God had no choice but to take pains to discipline them. Let us take the history of Israel as a warning, always watch and repent in time. Don’t let God close the door of grace. Let alone let God take action as Israel did, otherwise, there is really no chance of turning back.

引言：

因神的百姓不肯接受神的医治和救赎。所以，神就一一的指出他们背弃神所犯的罪行并他们要承担的后果。

一、违背神律法(v1-3)

神命令先知何西阿吹角警告并宣告他们会遭受敌人像鹰一般迅速来临，攻击耶和华的家，兵灾战祸将无可逃避。这完全是因为‘这民违背我的约，干犯我的律法’的缘故。因为他们故意忘记施恩予他们、造他们的主，虽然神的警告早已经临到他们。

二、凭己意行事（v4-6）

以色列百姓总是凭己意，而不愿按神的心意行事。我们可以从他们立王、敬拜金牛犊，还有他们没有归向神，就算神一直给他们机会。所以，他们必要面对自己犯罪的后果、无可推诿。

三、倚靠外邦人（v7-10）

以色列崇拜偶像，与外邦结盟，并没有带来任何保护，反而因为寻求自保背离神，而为自己带来了灭亡。北国不肯归向神、倚靠神，一意孤行地投奔并向亚述进贡。然而，神的审判、亚述的入侵要如同猛烈的炫风般，临到以色列。

四、倚靠外邦神（v11-13）

以色列民增添了祭坛。不单以拜金牛赎来代替耶和华神，更增加巴力、亚舍拉的祭坛，又有属于亚兰和亚述的祭坛。 他们不再信任神，反相信外邦的神能保佑他们，使他们兴旺。然而，神曾吩咐以色列人不可以在圣殿的祭坛以外另筑别坛献祭。因此，必记念他们的罪孽，追讨他们的罪恶。

五、忘记造他主（v14）

以色列民本应倚靠造他们的主，却遗忘神而把安全寄托在自己所造的事物上。南北两国都倚靠自己所造的偶像和「宫殿、坚固城」，结果只是堆积预备焚烧的干柴。因此，神将摧毁他们所造的这一切。

总结：及时回转

今天，耶稣以宝血和我们立约，但若我们背约，我们就把自己放回被掳的光境，也丢弃神所赐给我们的福份。因此，若我们发现自己已不经意的远离神，寻求其他的保障，我们就要及时回转，得回神所要赐给我们的福份。

Hosea 8: Israel forsook God by breaking the covenant
GK611 Morning Devotion
09/05/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps Stella Ling

Introduction：

Because God’s people would not accept God’s healing and salvation. Therefore, God points out one by one the sins they had committed in forsaking God and the consequences they would have to bear.

1. Breaking God’s law (v1-3)

God commanded the prophet Hosea to blow the trumpet to warn and announce that they would suffer the swift coming of enemies like eagles against the house of the Lord, and that there would be no escape from the plague of war. This was because ‘Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. For they had deliberately forgotten the Lord who had given them grace and made them, even though God’s warning had already come to them.

2. Acting on their own will (v4-6)

The people of Israel always acted on their own will, rather than on God’s. We can see this in their making kings, their worship of the golden calf, and their failure to turn to God, even though God had always given them the opportunity to do so. Therefore, they had to face the consequences of their sins and were not to be blamed.

3. Leaning on the Gentiles (v7-10)

Israel’s idolatry and alliance with the Gentiles did not bring any protection, but brought about its own destruction by seeking self-preservation and turning away from God. The northern kingdom refused to turn to God and rely on Him, and was bent on defecting to and paying tribute to Assyria. However, God’s judgment, the Assyrian invasion, would come upon Israel like a violent wind.

4. Dependence on foreign gods (v11-13)

The people of Israel added altars. Not only did they worship the golden calf ransom in place of the Lord God, but they added altars to Baal and Asherah, and altars belonging to Aram and Assyria. They no longer trusted God, but believed that the foreign gods could bless them and make them prosperous. However, God had commanded the Israelites not to build an altar other than the altar of the temple to offer sacrifices. Therefore, their sins will be remembered and their iniquity will be recovered.

5. Forgetting their maker (v14)

The people of Israel, who should have relied on the Lord who made them, forgot God and put their security in the things they had made. Both the north and the south relied on their own idols and “temples and fortified cities”, which turned out to be nothing more than a heap of dry wood ready to be burned. God will therefore destroy all that they have made.

Conclusion: Turning back in time

Today Jesus has made a covenant with us in his blood, but if we break it, we put ourselves back into captivity and forfeit the blessings God has given us. Therefore, if we find ourselves inadvertently turning away from God and seeking other security, we need to turn back in time to regain the blessings that God wants to give us.