Good Morning “Earth Salters”.
Today we are in Hosea 9.
I think it’s hard for us to wrap our minds around how depraved Israel had become. We tend to view the world through our own perspective, our own little world. I think at least in part - that’s why we fail to effectively be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). There is some sense that “I’m not a part of that,” “I don’t get involved”, “I’m not big on politics”, “church is no place for politics”, “my world is good.”
What does God mean when through Hosea He says “They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah…” Hosea 9:9 NIV
The answer is found in Judges, chapter 19.
A Levite living in the hill country of Ephraim, was traveling with his concubine to go and worship in Jerusalem. On their journey, the Levite and his concubine spent the night with an elderly gentleman in the city of Gibeah. Gibeah is in the territory of Benjamin.
It was there that the following incident took place - see (Judges 19:22).
In response…
The older man offered his virgin daughter to the mob, and the Levite offered his concubine. Review the rest of the story if you like, but understand it gets even more horrific. This scene mirrors the one that brought judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, except it directly involved tribes of Israel, Gods people, instead of pagan Gentiles.
Hosea tells us here - that Israel had corrupted themselves “as in the days of Gibeah.” If you indeed reviewed Judges 19, likely you now feel the gravity of his statement?
Consider the culture we live in today: legalized abortion up until birth, legalized homosexual marriage, the new trans and “love is love” movement that even brings children into the mix. Human trafficking is one of the top 3 largest grossing industries in the world with an estimated $236 billion dollars trading hands annually. Our culture appears to have no regard for human life anymore, no moral compass. No sense of right and wrong. Our nation is filled with liberal judges, and even scandalous pastors and clergy. In the midst of it all we want our ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Wait… is Hosea warning them or us? Were they living as in the days of Gibeah or are we? Or both?
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
Today we are in Hosea 9.
I think it’s hard for us to wrap our minds around how depraved Israel had become. We tend to view the world through our own perspective, our own little world. I think at least in part - that’s why we fail to effectively be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). There is some sense that “I’m not a part of that,” “I don’t get involved”, “I’m not big on politics”, “church is no place for politics”, “my world is good.”
What does God mean when through Hosea He says “They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah…” Hosea 9:9 NIV
The answer is found in Judges, chapter 19.
A Levite living in the hill country of Ephraim, was traveling with his concubine to go and worship in Jerusalem. On their journey, the Levite and his concubine spent the night with an elderly gentleman in the city of Gibeah. Gibeah is in the territory of Benjamin.
It was there that the following incident took place - see (Judges 19:22).
In response…
The older man offered his virgin daughter to the mob, and the Levite offered his concubine. Review the rest of the story if you like, but understand it gets even more horrific. This scene mirrors the one that brought judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, except it directly involved tribes of Israel, Gods people, instead of pagan Gentiles.
Hosea tells us here - that Israel had corrupted themselves “as in the days of Gibeah.” If you indeed reviewed Judges 19, likely you now feel the gravity of his statement?
Consider the culture we live in today: legalized abortion up until birth, legalized homosexual marriage, the new trans and “love is love” movement that even brings children into the mix. Human trafficking is one of the top 3 largest grossing industries in the world with an estimated $236 billion dollars trading hands annually. Our culture appears to have no regard for human life anymore, no moral compass. No sense of right and wrong. Our nation is filled with liberal judges, and even scandalous pastors and clergy. In the midst of it all we want our ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Wait… is Hosea warning them or us? Were they living as in the days of Gibeah or are we? Or both?
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!