today's meditation (Hos.3) Having a Personal Relationship

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Hosea 3:1-5) Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 Then I said to her, “You shall live with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute, nor shall you have another man; so I will also be toward you.” 4 For the sons of Israel will live for many days without a king or leader, without sacrifice or memorial stone, and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Because of Gomer's adultery, she was no longer considered Hosea's wife.  In order to restore her position according to customary practice, he purchased her and then had her quarantined for a certain number of days.  Remember, after even just menstruating or touching a deceased person, the Israelites were supposed to go through a quarantine period of cleansing.

This all symbolizes the events that Israel was and is going to go through.  The price Hosea paid for Gomer was that of a slave, and the forced seclusion symbolizes Israel's exile.  As for Israel returning to the Lord, that will happen in the Tribulation when they see the signs of His second coming.  And as for the Lord sitting on David's throne as King, that will happen in the Thousand Year Reign.

Having someone go through a time of seclusion or cleansing seems unfair until you consider that we are all sinners deserving death.  And it might seem harsh until we realize that the Lord Jesus came to earth in flesh to suffer and die in our place in order to pay the price for all sin so that we might have eternal life!  In His resurrection, He conquered death!

Just to be clear - we are born as slaves to sin - and Jesus paid for our freedom.  And He paid FAR MORE for us than the price of a slave!!!  Things are so much better with the Lord!  Why would one wait before running to Him, or running back to Him?  God desires to have a personal relationship with everyone.  And He desires to bless us.

(James 1:17)  Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

today's meditation (Ez.19) Recognizing Destructive Ways

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Ezekiel 19:1-14)    “As for you, take up a song of mourning for the leaders of Israel  

2   and say,
    ‘What was your mother?
    A lioness among lions!
    She lay down among young lions,
    She raised her cubs.
3   When she brought up one of her cubs,
    He became a young lion,
    And he learned to tear his prey;
    He devoured people.
4   Then nations heard about him;
    He was caught in their trap,
    And they brought him with hooks 
    To the land of Egypt.
5   When she saw, as she waited,
    That her hope was lost,
    She took another of her cubs 
    And made him a young lion.
6   And he walked about among the lions,
    He became a young lion;
    He learned to tear his prey;
    He devoured people.
7   He destroyed their palaces 
    And laid waste their cities;
    And the land and its fullness were appalled 
    Because of the sound of his roaring.
8   Then nations set against him 
    On every side from their provinces,
    And they spread their net over him;
    He was caught in their trap.
9   They put him in a wooden collar with hooks 
    And brought him to the king of Babylon;
    They brought him in hunting nets 
    So that his voice would no longer be heard 
    On the mountains of Israel.
10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,
    Planted by the waters;
    It was fruitful and thick with branches 
    Because of abundant waters.
11 And it had strong stems fit for scepters of rulers,
    And its height was raised above the clouds 
    So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
12 But it was uprooted in fury;
    It was thrown down to the ground;
    And the east wind dried up its fruit.
    Its strong stem was torn out 
    So that it withered;
    The fire consumed it.
13 And now it is planted in the wilderness,
    In a dry and thirsty land.
14 And fire has gone out from its stem;
    It has consumed its shoots and fruit,
    So that there is no strong stem in it,
    A scepter to rule.’”

This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

One should be saddened at the outcome of a destructive life, but it's even more saddening that one doesn't recognize and embrace what they could have when it is good.  Destruction and death are a part of sin.  Only in God is there life, hope and joy.  

today's meditation (Ps.119:57-64) Hurrying to God's Will

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:49-176) 

57 The Lord is my portion;
     I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I sought Your favor with all my heart;
     Be gracious to me according to Your word.
59 I considered my ways 
     And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I hurried and did not delay 
     To keep Your commandments.
61 The snares of the wicked have surrounded me,
     But I have not forgotten Your Law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You 
     Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion to all those who fear You,
     And to those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth is full of Your goodness, Lord;
     Teach me Your statutes.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Why wait?   If we know that God is good, and that living in His will is beneficial to our lives, why would we not want to immediately correct something that we are doing wrong?  And when we face temptations, why would we not immediately think through God's Law in order to remain steadfast? 

 And to help in our walk, why would we not turn to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving no matter when or where we are.  And to have extra little help in our walk, why would we not develop deep friendships with those who also walk in God's will?  If the best things in life are in one direction, why would we walk in the opposite direction?

today's meditation (Ps.106:1-13) Being Inspired to Wait on the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 106:1-13) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
     For His mercy is everlasting.
2   Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the Lord,
     Or can proclaim all His praise?
3   How blessed are those who maintain justice,
     Who practice righteousness at all times!

4   Remember me, Lord, in Your favor toward Your people.
     Visit me with Your salvation,
5   So that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones,
     That I may rejoice in the joy of Your nation,
     That I may boast with Your inheritance.

6   We have sinned like our fathers,
     We have gone astray, we have behaved wickedly.
7   Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
     They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses,
     But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
8   Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,
     So that He might make His power known.
9   So He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up,
     And He led them through the mighty waters, as through the wilderness.
10 So He saved them from the hand of one who hated them,
     And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries;
     Not one of them was left.
12 Then they believed His words;
     They sang His praise.

13 They quickly forgot His works;
     They did not wait for His plan,

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God is so good, there isn't one person who could capture that in words which would do that justice.   And all the books in the world could not contain a record of every amazing thing He has done.  Yet we can so quickly forget about God and His goodness as we rush headlong into things.  

Why are we always in such a rush?  We tend to want what we want - and we want it all right now!  But this is what usually gets us into trouble, whether it is filling a desire, or seeking retribution.  So when we think we want something, it benefits us to remember God's abundant kindness.  If we ask and the answer is no or wait, we should realize that it is for our own good.  

Waiting on the Lord does take patience, but we can ask God to give us patience.  And waiting on the Lord does take trust, but we can know God is trustworthy.  We can even ask God to help us trust Him more!  "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"  Whatever we are going through, there is something for us to learn and grow from, all in the Lord's strength.  Remembering that He is good and that He wants good things for us will inspire us to continue living and striving in His will.