Year: 2023

引言：种瓜得瓜、种豆得豆，这是必然的定律！

一、你想得医治吗？（7:1-4）

祸患和灾难往往是神管教或审判的一种方式，所谓“不见棺材不落泪”，意思说考验会让人心知罪而回转向神。但是，当神的管教一过去，既是灾祸离开时，神准备医治时，人又开始放松了。跟着又是老毛病重犯，这正是人不断绕旷野而走不出困局的原因。但是，神的美意本非如此，你想得医治、得拯救、得脱离捆绑吗？我们真的要认识神啊！明白神的属性、尊从神的法则、定意顺服敬畏祂。

二、同流合污者死（7:5-8）

这里说到国家领袖的问题，王家有宴乐的日子本不为过，但是首领们都被酒精所辖制，失去了对神的信靠，反而勾结哪些无法无天的异教君王，一同陷入网罗里。（这是与蒙福的法则背道而驰，遵从恶人的计谋、站在罪人的道路、坐在蔑视神的人之座位···。）

【热炉】就好比当时以色列的领袖们，心中燃烧着对权力和欺诈的热切欲望。何西阿一生看见三个以色列王被谋杀。他们分别是亚撒利亚、沙龙、比加辖，他们的内政外交，都因为偏离神而陷入祸患。与外邦人掺杂，烤饼不翻就会烧焦而不能吃，因他们忽视神和祂的话语，结果就混乱了。

三、无知自投罗网（7:9-16）

1.被吞吃而无知（V9）

2.愚民不知出路（V10）

3.弃真而反求假（V11）

4.不知悔改之民（V12-13）

5.悖逆抗拒神恩（V14-15）

6.哀哉找错对象（V16）

先知不断的指出君王的无知、百姓的无知，人心的无知是何等的可怕，因为这无知而把人辖制在祸患咒诅的困苦中！若说这是恶者的作为，神乐于拯救我们。若说这是因为缺了神的祝福，神可是乐于祝福人的神。所以问题到底在哪里呢？在于人的无知、人的不信、人的固执与悖逆。

总结：选择得医治吧！

这是唯一的道路、真理、生命！此外都不是路，你又何必硬要走呢？
今天再次立志，紧紧跟随主，永不回头！

Hosea 7 Do you want to be healed or hurt?
GK611 Morning Devotion
05/05/2023
Speakers: Rev David Tan

It is an inevitable law that if you sow melons, you will reap melons, and if you sow beans, you will reap beans!

1. Do you want to be healed? (7:1-4)

Disasters and catastrophes are often a way of God’s discipline or judgment. The so-called “no tears until the coffin is seen” means that trials will make people realise their sins and turn to God. However, when God’s chastening is over, the disaster is gone, and when God is ready to heal, people begin to relax again. Then old mistakes happen again, which is why people keep going around the wilderness and can’t get out of the predicament. However, God’s good intention is not like this. Do you want to be healed, saved, and freed from bondage? We really need to know God! Understand God’s attributes, obey God’s laws, and be determined to obey and fear Him.

2. Death to those who collude (7:5-8)

Here we are talking about the leaders of the country. It is not an exaggeration to have feasts in the royal family, but the leaders are all controlled by alcohol and have lost their trust in God. (This is contrary to the blessed law, pursuing the counsel of the wicked, standing in the way of sinners, sitting in the seat of those who despise God.)

[Hot Oven] Just like the leaders of Israel at that time, the burning desire for power and deceit was burning in their hearts. During his lifetime Hosea saw three kings of Israel murdered. They are Azariah, Shallum, and Pekahiah. Their domestic and foreign affairs have all fallen into a disaster because they deviated from God. Mixed with the Gentiles, the scones will be burnt and uneatable unless they are turned over, because they ignore God and His Word, and the result is confusion.

3. Ignorance throws itself into a trap (7:9-16)

（1）Be devoured and leads to ingnorance (V9)

（2） Fools don’t know the way out (V10)

（3）Abandon the truth and seek the false instead (V11)

（4）Unrepentant people (V12-13)

（5）Rebellion against God’s grace (V14-15)

（6）Regretful to find the wrong person (V16)

The prophet kept pointing out the ignorance of the king, the ignorance of the people, and how terrible the ignorance of the hearts of the people is. Because of this ignorance, people are bound to the misery of calamity and curse! If this is the work of the evil one, God is happy to save us. If it is said that this is due to the lack of God’s blessing, God is a God who is willing to bless people. So, what is the problem? It lies in man’s ignorance, man’s unbelief, man’s stubbornness, and rebellion.

Conclusion: Choose to be healed!

This is the only way, the truth, the life! Nothing else is the way, so why do you insist on going?
Resolve again today to follow the Lord closely and never look back!

引言：

以色列人以为他们认识神,但其实他们并不认识神。

一、神要人悔改归回（v1-3）

何西阿鼓励百姓归向耶和华，竭力追求认识他。然而，他要百姓的“归向”是一种内心的醒悟，而不是只是外表虚伪的态度。

让我们来反思我们自己的态度。我们是否轻言忏悔，却从未认真思考生命中，知道自己所需要做的改变呢？我们要真的知道我们生命当中的软弱，而定意要回转、改变。

二、神所喜悦的祭祀（v4-10）

1. 真正认识（v4-6）

神是信实的。如若我们带着虚伪的心，面对我们的神，自己受到的伤害是最大的。

在此神表明祂真正要的不是这些祭祀、仪式，而是持久的良善与真正的认识神。如果我们的心远离神，那么做这些礼仪，也是空虚徒劳的。神要的不是以色列人的礼仪，而是他们的心。当我们在进行宗教仪式时，我们的心要能寻求真理，寻求圣灵的开启光照，揣摩神的话，在神的话中明白神的心意，对神有认识，并定意要实践神的话语，这才是用心灵和诚实敬拜神。如此，我们的生命就会不断地有长进，我们就更加的认识神。

2. 真诚守约（v7-10)

示剑曾经是亚伯拉罕筑坛献祭的地方。约书亚也曾在示剑与百姓立约。约瑟在埃及死后葬在示剑，所以示剑是一个祷告、立约、及彰显信心的地方，但现在变成了路上杀戮的地方。这里提到了以色列家的问题——他们背约去拜偶像。因此神不但要惩罚北国以色列人民，也准备要惩罚南国的犹大以色列人民。

因此，神所盼望的是，祂的子民可以真诚的守与祂立的约，使他们得神所应许给他们一切的福。

总结:回转向神得拯救

今天，神也在提醒我们，要深思我们在神面前的态度。 我们需要认识神是一位管教、也有医治、且有丰盛的神。祂看重与我们之间的关系，祂要搭救我们从无知当中回转归向祂。

Hosea 6: Must know the Lord
GK611 Morning Devotion
04.05.2024
Speaker: Ps. Stella Ling

The Israelites thought they knew God, but in fact they did not know Him.

1. God wants people to repent and return (v1-3)

Hosea encourages the people to turn to the Lord and to strive to know him. However, the “turning” he wanted from the people was an inner awakening, not just an outwardly hypocritical attitude.

Let us reflect on our own attitudes. Do we talk about repentance lightly, but never think seriously about the changes we need to make in our lives? We need to really know the weaknesses in our lives and be determined to turn around and change.

2. The sacrifice that pleases God (v4-10)

(1) True Knowledge (v4-6)

God is faithful. If we face our God with a hypocritical heart, we will hurt ourselves the most.

Here God shows that what He really wants is not these sacrifices and rituals, but an abiding goodness and true knowledge of God. If our hearts are far from God, then doing these rituals, too, is empty and futile. It was not the rituals of the Israelites that God wanted, but their hearts. When we perform religious rituals, our hearts must be able to seek the truth, seek the opening light of the Holy Spirit, speculate on God’s Word, understand God’s heart in God’s Word, have knowledge of God, and be determined to practise God’s Word, which is worshipping God with spirit and truth. In this way, our lives will continue to grow and we will come to know God more.

(2) Keeping the covenant in good faith (v7-10)

Shechem was the place where Abraham built an altar and offered sacrifices. Joshua also made a covenant with the people at Shechem. Joseph was buried at Shechem after his death in Egypt, so Shechem was a place of prayer, covenant and demonstration of faith, but now it has become a place of killing on the road. It mentioned that the problems of the house of Israel – they had broken the covenant and gone into idolatry. So God was not only going to punish the people of Israel in the northern kingdom, but was also prepared to punish the people of Judah and Israel in the southern kingdom.

God’s hope, therefore, is that His people will keep their covenant with Him in good faith, so that they may receive all the blessings that God has promised to them.

Conclusion: Turning back to God for salvation

Today, God is also reminding us to think deeply about our attitude before Him. We need to recognise God as a God who disciplines, who heals, and who abounds. He values our relationship with Him, and He wants to turn us back to Him from our ignorance.

引言：愿听者为王，不听者灭亡

耳、王、十、目、一和心，这几个字组成起来就是繁体的的‘听（聽）’。拆字就是“十目一心耳为王”也就是说要多听多看用心记，虚心听取别人的意见和合理的建议。这其中的含义是需要眼到、口到、心到。并且要做到用眼看、用口说、用心记。

以色列民之所以陷在罪中，除了许多外邦文化的影响，更重要的关键就是领袖们没有做好榜样，甚至引导百姓们往错误的方向去。昨天和今天的经文都是要对未尽责的祭司和领袖们发出严厉的警告！神透过何西阿提醒领袖们要听，重新带领百姓们归回。

一、审判临到不听的人

经文提到神向三类的领袖发出审判的宣告，第一类是众祭司、第二类是向以色列的家长、第三类是王家。神将管治权柄交给他们，所以神首先要审判他们。以下的行为都是导致我们没办法用心听，我们要鉴察自己是否有这样的行为。

1. 悖逆的人 (V1-2)

米斯巴和他泊山都是有敬拜偶像的邱坛。北国的祭司和领袖们都在引导百姓名门误入歧途，就像把百姓们当成是鸟，张开网罗，使他们陷入罪里，无法自拔。
神称这些领袖是悖逆的人，他们甚至施行杀戮，神说他们的罪孽极深。

2. 行淫的人 (V3-4)

以法莲是北方十个支派中的领导支派，常被何西阿用来代指北国以色列。行淫、所行的指敬拜偶像的行为，淫心指敬拜偶像的心思。

今天当我们不能专心跟随神的时候，或许有一些思虑、钱财、宴乐挤住了。以色列不能归向神，因为他们喜欢拜偶像，里面存了拜偶像的心思。我们要警醒，若我们侍奉两位主，就如行淫的人一样。

3. 骄傲的人 (V5-6)

圣经形容以色列的骄傲当面见证自己就像是作见证控告自己，使他们在审判的时候因自己的罪孽跌倒。骄傲的人会不断否定别人的提醒，坚持自己是对的，最后的结果就是跌倒。我们要留心听劝，谦卑顺服地听，免得自己掉入蒙蔽的深渊里。

4. 诡诈的人 (V7)

当时候的以色列有许多的百姓们认为自己是在尽心地敬拜神，但是祭司只是引导百姓们虚假地，透过表面的宗教仪式敬拜神。这样的行为就如生了私生子，在淫乱中所生的孩子一样，他们甚至用宗教的名义去行淫，神都看见。

我们要警醒，不要停在表面上敬拜神，而是我们的生命，都要献给神。以心灵和诚实敬拜祂。

二、战争临到麻木的人

1. 轻慢神带来战争之祸 (V8-11)

犹大的领袖擅自挪移神所设立的地界，对神的命令不尊重，甚至南国犹大勾结亚述，侵占了神赐给北国以色列的领土。因此、经文提到吹角、吹号，和吹出大声，因为争战的事要临到。神警告百姓们，审判、地业要被吞灭，敌军要来攻击他们的日子已经临近。

2. 藐视神终成朽烂之木 （V12-14）

神使以法莲如虫蛀之物，使犹大家如朽烂之木。神在形容以法莲因为这些战事被欺压，为了求和，他们向亚述纳税钱，以致暂时平息这些战争。但是这只会使他们的经济越来越衰弱，外表看起来被保护了，但是里面却是已经烂了。

这是因为他们没有依靠神的保护，一直以金钱讨好敌人，藐视了神。就如罪恶的生命，最后带来的结局就是跌倒，被虫蛀了很久都不知道，最后产业被吞灭，生命被偷窃。

总结：神在原处等我们 （V15）

这一章经文最特别之处是，神在最后给以色列民一个出路、得救的盼望。以法莲最后没钱、没人搭救的时候，才想起神，才发现自己有罪。神在原处，就如父一样，在家里等我们回转。人愿意听，就得以回转。人的悖逆骄傲使人的生命如被虫蛀一样，全归无有。

Hosea 5 : “Hear from the Heart and back to the origin
GK611 Morning Devotion
03.05.2024
Speaker: Asher Chang

Introduction: May he who listens be king, but he who does not listen perish

The words ‘ear’, ‘king’, ‘ten’, ‘eye’, ‘one’ and ‘heart’ form the traditional Chinese word ‘listen’. The word is “ten eyes, one heart and ears are king,” which means we should listen more, read more and remember more, and listen to others’ opinions and reasonable suggestions with an open mind. The meaning of this is the need to eye to, mouth to, heart to. And we must see with our eyes, speak with our mouths, and remember with our hearts.

The key to why the people of Israel are now in sin, besides the influence of many Gentile cultures, is that the leaders did not set a good example and even led the people in the wrong direction. Yesterday’s and today’s scriptures are meant to be a stern warning to the priests and leaders who have not done their part! Through Hosea, God reminded the leaders to listen and lead the people back again.

1. Judgment comes to those who do not listen

The Scripture mentions that God issued a declaration of judgment to three categories of leaders, the first category being the priests, the second category being to the parents of Israel, and the third category being the royal family. God gave them authority to rule, so God will judge them first. The following behaviours are the ones that cause us to fail to listen attentively, and we need to examine ourselves to see if we have such behaviours.

(1) The rebellious (V1-2)

Both Mizpah and Mount Tabor were altars with idolatrous worship. The priests and leaders of the northern kingdom were leading the people’s names astray, as if they were birds, spreading their snares so that they would fall into sin and be unable to extricate themselves.
God called these leaders disobedient people, who even committed murder, and God said their sins were deep.

(2) The adulterers (V3-4)

Ephraim was the leading tribe of the ten northern tribes and was often used by Hosea to refer to the northern kingdom of Israel. Adultery, what is done, refers to the act of worshiping idols, and the adulterous mind refers to the mind of worshiping idols.

Today when we cannot focus on following God, perhaps there are thoughts, money, and feasting that crowd in. Israel could not return to God because they loved idolatry and had an idolatrous mind in them. Let us be wary, if we serve two masters, we are like those who practise adultery.

(3) The Proud (V5-6)

The Bible describes the pride of Israel as testifying against itself to its face as if it were a witness against itself, so that they would fall at the judgment for their own sins. A proud person will constantly deny the reminders of others and insist that he is right, and the end result will be a fall. We need to listen carefully and humbly, lest we fall into the abyss of deception.

4. The deceitful man (V7)

There were many people in Israel who thought they were worshipping God with all their heart, but the priests only led the people to worship God falsely and through superficial religious rituals. Such behaviour was like having illegitimate children, children born in adultery, and they even committed adultery in the name of religion, which God saw.

Let us be alert and not stop at superficially worshipping God, but let us dedicate all our lives to God. Worship Him with spirit and truth.

2. War comes to the numb

(1). The scourge of war is brought about by despising God (V8-11)

The leaders of Judah removed the boundaries of the land established by God without permission, disrespected God’s commands, and even the southern kingdom of Judah collaborated with Assyria to invade the territory given by God to the northern kingdom of Israel. Therefore, the scriptures mention the blowing of horns and trumpets, and the blowing of loud voices, because of the war that was coming. God warned the people that the day of judgment and the devouring of the land was near, and that the enemy would come against them.

(2) Defying God will lead to rotten wood (V12-14)

God made Ephraim like a moth and the house of Judah like rottenness. God is describing how Ephraim was oppressed by these wars, and in order to make peace, they paid taxes to Assyria to temporarily quell these wars. But this only made their economy weaker and weaker, appearing to be protected on the outside, but rotten on the inside.

This was because they did not rely on God’s protection, but kept pleasing their enemies with money, and defied God. Just as the life of sin brings the final end of falling, being wormed for a long time without knowing it, and finally the estate is swallowed up and the life is stolen.

Conclusion: God is waiting for us where we are (V15)

What is special about this chapter is that God gives the people of Israel a way out, a hope of salvation, at the end. It was only when Ephraim finally ran out of money and had no one to help him that he remembered God and realised that he had sinned.

God is where He is, just like the Father, at home waiting for us to turn. If a man is willing to listen, he can turn back. Man’s rebellious pride brings his life to nothing as if it were worm-eaten.

引言：

何西阿书第4章讲的是，神的子民将因无知不认识神而犯罪，以及要面对无知的后果！

一、民因无知遍地罪恶（V1-3）

先知何西阿在此呼吁以色列子民要仔细听神的话，清楚说出他们因无知的罪状（V2）都是违反十诫的罪。因为人的罪恶，大地和其上的生物，也受到影响，失去了神的赐福（V3）。整个社会出问题都因为人不认识神而遍地罪恶。

惟有认识神的真理才是生命之道。罪恶泛滥是因为很少真正认识神的人！

二、民犯罪因祭司犯罪（V4-10）

1．没有教导神的律法（V6-7）

祭司的工作是帮助百姓透过敬拜、献祭认识神。但是当时的祭司自己都不认识神，也没有教导神的律法，以致祭司越多，就越发得罪神(V7)，更多地使百姓‘因无知识而灭亡’！而祭司失职的后果是被神‘弃掉’，连他们的儿女也被神‘忘记’。

2．满心愿意百姓犯罪（V8-10）

当时的祭司不但没有教导神的律法劝人远离罪恶，反而是希望百姓能够多犯罪，就多来献赎罪祭，以便得到更多的祭物。神因此要让祭司和百姓受到同样的惩罚：非但吃不饱，也得不到后代。

彼得前书2:9 说我们都是‘有君尊的祭司’。 所以，我们有义务明白神的律法，并在弟兄姐妹中勉励彼此谨守遵行。

三、无知拜偶像而倾倒（V11-14）

先知形容百姓拜偶像就像是犯奸淫。一方面是对神不忠诚，就像是婚内出轨；另一方面，迦南地很多拜偶像的仪式都包含了在祭祀场所的性行为。 求主帮助我们分辨是单单敬拜神，还是参杂了其他的偶像在其中。

四、民因无知而受审判（V15-19）

最后一段经文，神宣告对无知的以色列子民的审判。以色列人因为倔强不肯悔改，神就放任他们，好像是得自由到了‘宽阔之地’，但却失去了神的保护，他们只是任人宰割的羊羔。到时他们就会发现向偶像所祈求的保护完全落空。因为神借着外邦人的侵略，让他们羞耻地被敌人当做奴隶掳到外邦之地。

总结：

我们真实认识神吗？我们每天有亲近神的时间吗？ 但愿我们都来竭力认识神，不是一知半解的基督徒。自己先要明白并遵行神的旨意，并要与人分享真理，因为知识从神而来！让更多无知的人认识神得救赎！

Hosea 4 Consequences of Ignorance of God’s People
GK611 Morning Devotion
02/05/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps Daniel

Introduction：

Chapter 4 of Hosea is about God’s people who will sin because of ignorance and not knowing God and face the consequences of ignorance!

1. Because of ignorance, sin is everywhere (V1-3)

Here the prophet Hosea appeals to the children of Israel to listen carefully to the Word of God, clearly stating their sin of ignorance (V2), are all sins against the Ten Commandments. Because of man’s sin, the earth and its creatures are also affected and lose the blessing of God (V3). The whole society has problems because people do not know God, and sin is everywhere.

Only knowing the truth of God is the way of life. Sin is rampant due to so few people really knowing God!

2. The sins of the people were caused by the sins of the priests (V4-10)

(1) Did not teach the law of God (V6-7)

The job of the priest is to help the people know God through worship and sacrifice. But the priests at that time did not know God themselves, nor did they teach the laws of God. As a result, the more priests there were, the more they offended God (V7), and the more people “perished because of ignorance”! The consequence of the priests’ neglect of duty was that they were “abandoned” by God, and even their children were “forgotten” by God.

(2) Allowing People to Sin (V8-10)

The priests at that time did not teach the law of God to persuade people to stay away from sin but hoped that the people would sin more, so they would offer more sin offerings to get more sacrifices. Therefore, God wanted the priests and the people to suffer the same punishment: not only would they not have enough to eat, but they would also not have offspring.

1 Peter 2:9 says we are all ‘a royal priesthood,’. Therefore, we are obliged to understand the laws of God and encourage each other to obey them among brothers and sisters.

3. Falling into Idolatry due to ignorance (V11-14)

The prophet described the worship of idols by the people as committing adultery. On the one hand, it is unfaithful to God, like cheating in marriage; on the other hand, many idol worship ceremonies in Canaan include sexual behaviour in sacrificial places. May the Lord help us to discern whether our worship is purely worshipping God, or whether it is mixed with other idols.

4. People are judged for their ignorance (V15-19)

In the last verse, God pronounces judgment on the ignorant people of Israel. Because the Israelites were stubborn and refused to repent, God let them go as if they had been freed to the ” open country”, but they lost God’s protection and were just lambs to be slaughtered. Then they will find that the protection they have prayed to their idols has failed. Because God used the aggression of the Gentiles to let them be ashamed to be taken captive by the enemy as slaves to the Gentiles.

Conclusion：

Do we really know God? Do we have time to be close to God every day? May we all strive to know God, and not be half-past-six Christians. You must first understand and obey God’s will, and share the truth with others, because knowledge comes from God! Let more ignorant people know God and be saved!

引言：

“爱上一个不回家的人！”如果没有神，结局只是彻底绝望····。

一、再去爱吧！（3:1）

3:1 耶和华对我说：“你再去爱一个淫妇，就是她情人所爱的；好像以色列人，虽然偏向别神，喜爱葡萄饼，耶和华还是爱他们。”

这话听起来好像是神要何西阿先知去爱另一个淫妇，其实是指着歌蔑他的妻子。NIV的翻译就很清楚：Go, show your love to your wife again。“去吧，再一次向你的妻子显出你的爱。”这表示对所爱的妻子没有放弃，不放弃的爱！这是神的爱、这是神要人学习付出的爱。这也是神一路向选民以色列所流露的爱。

再去爱吧！这是今天晨祷的真理亮光。你觉得爱不下去了吗？对方死性不改吗？听神的，再去爱吧！坚持到底才有神迹。

二、得赎自守！（3:2-3）

1.付代价买赎（V2）

3:2 我便用银子十五舍客勒，大麦一贺梅珥半，买她归我。

用钱和用了1.5贺梅珥（既是30俄梅珥）的大麦之代价去买赎“背叛自己”的妻子。想想自己所爱的家人中，无论是配偶或儿女，有没有这样的状况呢？对方背叛对不起你，但是你不但没有放弃，而且还付上极大的代价去为对方赎罪。5月8日是我们献晚祭的第30天，既是数算俄梅珥的第30天；也是经文这里所说的1.5贺梅珥。相信你若坚持等候到这一天，家里必有灵里的突破。

2.要洁身自守（V3-4）

3:3 我对她说：“你当多日为我独居，不可行淫，不可归别人为妻，我向你也必这样。”
3:4 以色列人也必多日独居，无君王、无首领、无祭祀、无柱像、无以弗得、无家中的神像。

要提醒你所爱的，让对方知道如何为主自洁谨守自己，不再犯过往的错误。而你自己也要洁身自守，以身作则的对待对方，且看神的作为如何？

对全以色列而言也是一样，完全脱去过往的虚假倚靠，单单独自面对神，且看神的作为。这话对教会而言也是一样的原则，放下过往的活动，单单面对神、等候神，且看神在我们中间所要做的事。

三、归回蒙恩！（3:5）

3:5 后来以色列人必归回（或作“回心转意”），寻求他们的神耶和华和他们的王大卫。在末后的日子，必以敬畏的心归向耶和华，领受他的恩惠。

感谢主，一个美好的盼望，看到悖逆者会回心转意。一是回归寻求神，二是认定大卫王；既是回到所认定的领袖面前。神应许后来必有许多敬畏神的人兴起，领受神的恩惠。这岂不是复兴的景象吗？这岂不是我们数算俄梅珥的目的吗？这岂不是今年五旬节的目标吗？感谢主如此对我们说话。

总结：爱的付出与等候

靠着神的爱，坚信不疑的付出和等候，浪子终必回头，复兴终必临到，合家都要欢庆！

Hosea 3: The redemption of love
GK611 Morning Devotion
28/04/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Rev David Tan

Introduction：

“Fall in love with someone who doesn’t come home!” If there is no God, the end is just utter despair —-

1. Love again! (3:1)

3:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover[a] and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”

The NIV translation is clear: “Go, show your love to your wife again.” This indicates an unabandoned, unquenchable love for the beloved wife! This is the love of God, this is the love that God wants man to learn to give. This is the same love that God has shed all the way to the chosen people, Israel.

Go and love again! This is the light of truth in today’s morning prayer. Do you feel like you can’t love anymore? Does the other person not change their ways? Listen to God and love again! Persevere to the end and there will be a miracle.

2. Redeem yourself! (3:2-3)

(1) Pay the price for redemption (V2)

3:2 Then I bought her for me with fifteen shekels of silver and one and a half hemels of bar

I bought my wife who had “betrayed herself” with money and 1.5 homer (that’s 30 omer). Think about your beloved family members, whether they are spouses or children, have you ever been in this situation? May 8 is the 30th day of our evening sacrifice, which is the 30th day of counting the omer; it is also the 1.5 homer that the scripture refers to here. I believe that if you persevere in waiting until this day, there will be a spiritual breakthrough in your family.

(2) Be clean (V3-4)

3:3 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.”
3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim.

Remind your loved one of how to cleanse yourself for the Lord and not to make the same mistakes as before. And you yourself should be clean, and treat each other by example, and see what God does?

The same is true for all of Israel, to put off the false dependence of the past, to face God alone, and to see what He does. This is the same principle for the church, to put aside past activities, to face God alone, to wait on Him, and to see what God will do in our midst.

3. Return to grace! (3:5)

3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return (or “turn back”)and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.

Thank the Lord for a wonderful hope, seeing that the rebellious will return to their hearts. One is to return to seek God, and the other is to identify King David; both to the identified leader. God promises that many God-fearing people will rise up later to receive God’s favour. Is this not a sign of revival? Is this not the purpose of our counting of Omer? Is this not the goal of this year’s Pentecost? Thank you Lord for speaking to us in this way.

Conclusion: Giving and waiting in love

With God’s love, faithful giving and waiting, the prodigal son will return, revival will come, and the family will rejoice!

一、不死的爱：处处都是Hesed（V1-4）

V1是紧接昨天的1:11，继续宣告以色列将会被神复兴。经文里提到的弟兄和姐妹代表的是北国的以色列。这里再次让我们看到，慈爱的神审判心爱的百姓，目的并不是让他们活在绝望和黑暗里，因为，当神宣告审判的同时，也预言他们将重新蒙神怜悯、重新成为神的子民。

神反反复覆，宣告审判、可是又不希望他们被审判，总希望在审判来临前，他们可以回转。明明很爱，可是又爱不下去，最后还是主动继续的去爱。 这就是神的Hesed！

弟兄姐妹，如果我们回头看自己的人生，神对我们岂不也是这样吗？处处都是祂的Hesed。审判和管教都是为了要我们回转更新，活得更自由。盼望当我们被管教的时候，要记得紧紧抓住神的Hesed，回应神使生命得转化。

二、随从己爱：淫妇自招咒诅（V5-13）

V5-13提到很多淫妇所追随、所爱的。（V 5，7，10，12，13）而这些她所追随、所爱的都有一个共同点，就是不讨神喜悦，最终为自己带来咒诅。

耳环和别样妆饰通常是丈夫在结婚时买给新娘的贵重礼物。淫妇配戴丈夫所送的首饰去随从情夫，却忘记了丈夫的存在，这是对丈夫的极大羞辱。除了像现代人说的：给丈夫戴绿帽外，以色列百姓把神的供应和所赐与他们的祝福，都归给假神巴力。因此为自己带来了咒诅：

1.处处碰壁不亨通（V5-7）

神在v 6说祂将用荆棘堵塞百姓的道，筑墙挡住使他们处处碰壁，找不到出路，做什么事都不亨通。神不但把所有的门都关了，神更是让他们对崇拜偶像的结果感到虚无、失望，藉此使他们想起有神的光景比现在更好，终于回转归向真神。

世人都把成功、财富当作自己勤奋努力的回报或人类科技文明的成就。今天，一连几间大银行接二连三的倒闭，多少家财万贯的成功人士，一场新冠病毒，多少人破了产、或染病就去世了？求神帮助我们，知道一切都出于神。其次，当我们的生活或属灵生命似乎卡着或不顺利的时候，要警醒和安静下来检视自己的生命，若有软弱要快快悔改对齐神。

2.贫穷且不得温饱（V8-9）

神以歌篾并没意识到所拥有的财富都是何西阿给她的，反而以此来追求情夫，带出以色列人好像不知道祂才是赐下五谷、新酒，油和加增的金银给他们的神。像歌篾一样，竟然任意挥霍神给的财富，用来制造并供奉假神。因此，神说祂将收回对他们的祝福。使他们贫穷，不但吃不饱，也会穿不暖。就是经文说的，把遮体的羊毛和麻夺回来。

我们是神国的好管家吗？ 求神让我们有节制的灵，并且善用祂给我们的祝福。不管是金钱、恩赐、甚至是时间等，都要成为好管家，用在属神的事上，投资在永恒的国度里。否则当神收回时，我们就要像歌蔑一样，贫穷且不得温饱。

3.丑态显露失喜乐（V10-11）

节期、月朔、安息日、一切大会，是神定下祝福百姓的欢庆日子。这些与丈夫欢庆同乐的日子，已经变质成为与情夫行淫的聚会，所以神要止息这一切。葡萄树和无花果树是巴勒斯坦地区的主要经济来源；也是以色列在住棚节前收成的重要农作物，毁坏它们不止切断未来谋生的倚靠，更是预表失去神的同在。失去了神，以色列不但会失去喜乐，神也要使他们在所爱的眼前显露自己的丑态。

我们最爱的是什么？如果神不是我们最爱的，那我们一定要小心，神会在我们最爱的人、事、物前，让我们的丑态显露出来。

三、归回爱神：新妇祝福连连（V14-23）

1.重获盼望和喜乐（V15-17）

亚割谷有代表复兴的盼望。并且经文让我们看到，神不但要在亚割谷为他们看一扇盼望之门，也要赐他们葡萄园（产业），使他们能经历，像从埃及为奴之地被拯救，得自由、喜乐的歌唱。

很多到过阿尔卑斯山旅行的人，都会被离开不远的多洛米蒂山给吸引。这地方与布满冰雪的阿尔卑斯山对比，简直是人间仙境。在属灵的经历中也是如此，如果你现在正处以亚割谷，要相信在亚割谷必有门洞为你开，重点是，你是否愿意谦卑悔改，信靠神的向前迈一步？若是，那你就一定可以到神面前来，看到多洛米蒂山，重获盼望和喜乐。

2.恢复亲密的关系（V16-20）

神说当祂挽回百姓的那日，祂要从百姓的口中彻底除掉诸巴力的名号，取而代之的是更亲近、更温馨的伊施（我丈夫）。也就是说，当神复兴北国以色列以后，百姓不但彻底离弃偶像，与神的关系将会是前所未有的亲密，就像夫妻一样。并且神是用祂自己的属性仁义、公平、慈爱、怜悯和诚实来做聘礼，让百姓来经历祂、认识祂的性情。

3.再得丰盛蒙怜悯（V21-23）

以色列是神的子民、是神的百姓，蒙神怜悯的。当百姓与神恢复了亲密的关系后，神说祂将使天、地、万物都为他们效力，他们必再得丰盛的应许，也再次蒙神怜悯。让我们继续的为神所爱的以色列代祷。也为神把曾经认识主，但现在却走迷了的弟兄姐妹找回来。让他们能再次经历神丰盛的应许和怜悯

总结：淫妇或新妇

我们是神眼中的新妇吗？神以永远的Hesed来爱我们。纵使我们软弱，祂还是不停止的用慈爱主动挽回我们的心。有一位如此深爱我们的神，我们要以爱来回应神。就像牧师星期天所分享的信息，但愿我们都只敬拜独一真神，选择做神喜悦的事，服事神、去把人带到神的面前。作神蒙爱、成为领受神源源不绝祝福的新妇。

Hosea 2: Being God’s Beloved Bride
GK611 Morning Devotion
27/4/2023
The Morning Devotion Speakers: Ps Deborah

1. Undying Love: Hesed Everywhere (v1-4)

V1 follows yesterday’s 1:11 and continues to declare that Israel will be restored by God. The brothers and sisters mentioned in the scriptures represent the northern kingdom of Israel. Here again, we see that the purpose of the loving God in judging his beloved people is not to make them live in despair and darkness because when God proclaims the judgment, he also prophesies that they will receive God’s mercy and become the sons of God again.

God has repeatedly announced the judgment, but He does not want them to be judged. He always hopes that they can turn around before the judgment comes. He obviously loves them very much, though He can’t continue to love, yet ultimately, He took the initiative to continue to love. This is God’s Hesed!

Brothers and sisters, if we look back at our lives, isn’t God doing the same to us? Everywhere is His Hesed. Judgment and discipline are all for the purpose of turning us around and renewing our lives so that we can live more freely. I hope that when we are disciplined, we will remember to hold on to God’s Hesed and respond to God to transform our lives.

2 . Follow your own love: the adulteress invites her own curse (v5-13)

V5-13 mentions what adulteress desire and love. (v5, 7, 10, 12, 13) and those she desired and loved all had one thing in common, that is, they were not pleasing to God and eventually brought a curse on themselves.

Earrings and other accessories are often expensive gifts that husbands buy for brides at their weddings. The adulteress wears the jewellery given by her husband to follow her lover yet forgets the existence of her husband. This is a great humiliation to her husband. In addition to wearing the horns of a cuckold as modern people say, the people of Israel attributed God’s provision and blessings given to them to the false god Baal thus bringing upon itself a curse:

(1) Hit the wall everywhere and fail to succeed (v5-7)

God said in v 6 that He would block the way of the people with thorns, and build walls to block them everywhere, so that they could not find a way out, and they would not succeed in doing anything. God not only closed all the doors, but also made them feel emptiness and disappointment about the result of idol worship, so that they could remember that the situation with God was better than now, and finally they turned back to the true God.

People all over the world regard success and wealth as the rewards of their own hard work or the achievements of human technological civilization. Today, several big banks are closing down one after another, how many wealthy and successful people, how many people have gone bankrupt or died of illness due to the new covid virus? May God help us to know that everything is from God. Secondly, when our life or spiritual life seems to be stuck or not going well, we must be vigilant and quiet to examine our own life, and if we are weak, we must quickly repent and align ourselves with God.

(2) Poor and starving (v8-9)

God based on Gomer did not realise that Hosea gave her all the wealth but used it to pursue her lover, to bring out that the Israelites did not seem to know that He was the one who gave the grain, the new wine, the oil and the gold and silver to their gods. Like Gomer, they even squandered the wealth given by God to create and worship false gods. Therefore, God said that He would withdraw His blessing from them. Make them poor, not only do not have enough to eat but also do not have warm clothes. That is what the scriptures say, take back My wool and My linen,
Given to cover her nakedness.

Are we good stewards of the kingdom of God? May God allow us to have a controlled spirit and make good use of the blessings He has given us. Whether it is money, gifts, or even time, etc., they must be good stewards, used for God’s things, and invested in the eternal kingdom. Otherwise, when God takes it back, we will be like Gomer, poor and starving.

(3) Ugliness reveals loss of joy (v 10-11)

Feast days, New Moons, sabbaths and all appointed feasts are days of celebration that God has set to bless the people. These days of rejoicing with the husband have turned into a party of adultery with the lover, so God wants to put an end to it all. Grape vines and fig trees are the main sources of income in Palestine. They are also important crops harvested before the Feast of Tabernacles. Destroying them not only cuts off future livelihoods but also symbolises the loss of the presence of God. Without God, Israel will not only lose their joy, but God will also make them show their ugliness in front of the eyes of their loved ones.

What is our favourite? If God is not our favourite, then we must be careful, God will show our ugliness in front of the people, things, and things we love the most.

3. Returning to the God of Love: The Bride Be Blessed Again and Again (v14-23)

(1) Regaining hope and joy (v15-17)

The Valley of Achor represents the hope of restoration. And the scriptures let us see that God will not only show them a door of hope in the Valley of Achor, but also give them a vineyard (inheritance) so that they can experience, like being rescued from the land of slavery in Egypt, and gain freedom, and sing joyfully.

Many people who have travelled to the Alps will be attracted by the Dolomites not far away. Compared with the snow-covered Alps, this place is a fairyland on Earth. The same is true in spiritual experience. If you are in the Valley of Achor right now, you must believe that there will be doors opened for you in the Valley of Achor. The point is, are you willing to humbly repent and trust God to take a step forward? If so, then you will definitely be able to come before God, see the Dolomites, and regain hope and joy.

(2) Restoring Intimacy (v16-20)

God said that on the day He restores the people, He will completely remove the name of Baal from the people’s mouths and replace it with the closer and warmer Ishi (my husband). That is to say after God restores the northern kingdom of Israel, the people will not only completely abandon their idols, but their relationship with God will be unprecedentedly intimate, just like husband and wife. Moreover, God uses His own attributes of righteousness, justice, love, mercy, and honesty as dowry, allowing the people to experience Him and know His disposition.

(3) Receiving abundance and mercy again (v21-23)
Israel is God’s people, receiving God’s mercy. After the people regained their intimate relationship with God, God said that He would make the heavens, the earth, and all things work for them, and they would receive rich promises and God’s mercy again. Let us continue to pray for God’s beloved Israel. Also, for God to find back the brothers and sisters who once knew the Lord but now have gone astray. Let them experience God’s abundant promises and mercy again.

Conclusion: Adulteress or Bride

Are we the bride in God’s eyes? God loves us with an eternal Hesed. Even though we are weak, He still actively restores our hearts with His loving kindness. There is a God who loves us so deeply that we need to respond to Him with love. Just like the message the pastor shared on Sunday, I hope we all only worship the one true God, choose to do what pleases God, serve God, and bring people before God. To be loved by God and to be a bride who receives endless blessings from God.