Tag: Hosea 9

Links for today’s readings:

Apr 8  Read: Hosea 9 Listen: (2:52) Read:   Matthew 12 Listen: (6:41)

Scripture Focus: Hosea 9:1

1 Do not rejoice, Israel;
    do not be jubilant like the other nations.
For you have been unfaithful to your God;
    you love the wages of a prostitute
    at every threshing floor.

Reflection: Flimsy Farce of Faith

By Erin Newton

In the 2004 movie, Mean Girls, one of the characters yells, “She doesn’t even go here!” in response to a girl taking part in a community apology though she had never actually been part of that community. The scene has become a meme for signaling outsiders. While the scene is comical, what does it mean when your claim to belong to a group is revealed as a lie?

Israel, in the book of Hosea, is criticized for their false worship. They claim to be followers of God yet they “prostitute” themselves by serving other gods. They put on the label of “God-follower,” but their actions do not live up to it. They want the benefits of being in that community—the festivals and feasts—but do not want to live the life a God-follower identity requires.

“Do not rejoice.” God dampens Israel’s festivities and jubilant celebrations. While other nations are happy and exuberant, Israel is chastised for their false identity. God hates celebration when one’s life is a charade.

Many of those who don the title “Christian” see the identity marker as a way to gain clout, to feel more righteous, to gain a sense of belonging, or to utilize it for some other purpose. But claiming to follow God while truly serving other interests (power, wealth, self, status, etc.) is a flimsy farce rejected by God himself.

God desires that our inward identity match our outward identity. If we claim to follow God, we must align our outward actions with inward faith. Matthew 5.23-24 says, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” God rejects outward religious actions without inward righteousness.

If we claim to belong with Christ, we are invited into his celebrations. Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful partner is an allegory of what it means to say you are a Christian while not truly committing yourself to Christ.

Let us not read this as a call to embrace only a life of non-rejoicing. Jesus proclaims, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10.10). Life and joy are the gifts of following God. But claiming the joys of a life in Christ without living a Christ-like life is hypocrisy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Confessing Hostility—Guided Prayer 2

Prophets spoke against violence. We called them foolish.
People were inspired to protest. We called them maniacs.

Confessing Hostility—Guided Prayer

Read more: The Gospel Heist

A good heist restores freedom or justice. The gospel is a heist which restores both.

The Gospel Heist

Scripture Focus: Hosea 9.1
1 Do not rejoice, Israel; 
do not be jubilant like the other nations. 
For you have been unfaithful to your God;

Reflection: Confessing Hostility—Guided Prayer
By John Tillman

We originally published this prayer during the contentious week of the 2020 election in the United States. We need this confession no less now than we did then. 

May we continue to seek repentance, patience, peace, and faith. Pray for these things over this weekend using words adapted from today’s reading from Hosea. 

Confessing Hostility
Lord, we confess that our sins and hostility have been great.
We have been
Hostile toward leaders
Hostile toward our brothers and sisters.
Hostile to mercy and justice

The days of punishment are coming, 
the days of reckoning are at hand. 
Let Israel know this. 
Because your sins are so many 
and your hostility so great, 
the prophet is considered a fool, 
the inspired person a maniac. — Hosea 9.7

Prophets spoke against violence. We called them foolish.
People were inspired to protest. We called them maniacs.

The prophet, along with my God, 
is the watchman over Ephraim, 
yet snares await him on all his paths, 
and hostility in the house of his God. — Hosea 9.8

Preachers spoke the truth. We shouted them down.
Watchmen called out warnings. We attacked them.

Because of their sinful deeds, 
I will drive them out of my house. 
I will no longer love them; 
all their leaders are rebellious. — Hosea 9.15

Like rebellious, prodigal children, our hostility breaks fellowship with you and with our brothers and sisters.

What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals, 
on the feast days of the LORD? 
Even if they escape from destruction, 
Egypt will gather them, 
and Memphis will bury them. 
Their treasures of silver will be taken over by briers, 
and thorns will overrun their tents. — Hosea 9.5-6

We have loved religious posturing and procedures rather than our neighbors and trusted in ceremonies for righteousness while denying justice.

My God will reject them 
because they have not obeyed him; 
they will be wanderers among the nations. — Hosea 9.17

May you relent, O God. Do not reject us as we deserve.
May you hear our repentance and sorrow, Lord.
May you run to us, prodigals returning.
May we humble ourselves under your rule, no matter what king you place over us.

May renewed faithfulness make us jubilant in obedience to you.
May you restore us to fruitfulness and joy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Everyone will stand in awe and declare God’s deeds; they will recognize his works. — Psalm 64.9

Today’s Readings
Hosea 9Listen – 2:52)
Psalm 140-141(Listen -3:04)

This Weekend’s Readings
Hosea 10Listen – 2:47), Psalm 142-143(Listen -2:35)
Hosea 11Listen – 1:53), Psalm 144(Listen -1:56)

Read more about God Changes—Guided Prayer
As ones who deserve your judgment, Lord, we cry to you.

God Changes—Guided Prayer

Read more about Have Mercy—Guided Prayer
Have mercy on us, O God
You are our only holiness

Have Mercy

Scripture Focus: Hosea 9.1
1 Do not rejoice, Israel; 
do not be jubilant like the other nations. 
For you have been unfaithful to your God; 

Reflection: Confessing Hostility—Guided Prayer
By John Tillman

During this contentious election week in the United States, we are seeking repentance, patience, peace, and faith. We will pray for these things this week, using the scriptures from our reading plan. We will pray through the closing chapters of Hosea, today’s chapter being the ninth. 

Confessing Hostility
Lord, we confess that our sins and hostility have been great.
We have been
Hostile toward leaders
Hostile toward our brothers and sisters.
Hostile to mercy and justice

The days of punishment are coming, 
the days of reckoning are at hand. 
Let Israel know this. 
Because your sins are so many 
and your hostility so great, 
the prophet is considered a fool, 
the inspired person a maniac. — Hosea 9.7

Prophets spoke against violence. We called them foolish.
People were inspired to protest. We called them maniacs.

The prophet, along with my God, 
is the watchman over Ephraim, 
yet snares await him on all his paths, 
and hostility in the house of his God. — Hosea 9.8

Preachers spoke the truth. We shouted them down.
Watchmen called out warnings. We attacked them.

Because of their sinful deeds, 
I will drive them out of my house. 
I will no longer love them; 
all their leaders are rebellious. — Hosea 9.15

Like rebellious, prodigal children, our hostility breaks fellowship with you and with our brothers and sisters.

What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals, 
on the feast days of the LORD? 
Even if they escape from destruction, 
Egypt will gather them, 
and Memphis will bury them. 
Their treasures of silver will be taken over by briers, 
and thorns will overrun their tents. — Hosea 9.5-6

We have loved religious posturing and procedures rather than our neighbors and trusted in ceremonies for righteousness while denying justice.

My God will reject them 
because they have not obeyed him; 
they will be wanderers among the nations. — Hosea 9.17

May you relent, O God. Do not reject us as we deserve.
May you hear our repentance and sorrow, Lord.
May you run to us, prodigals returning.
May we humble ourselves under your rule, no matter what king you place over us.

May renewed faithfulness make us jubilant in obedience to you.
May you restore us to fruitfulness and joy.
May we again be a light for a darkening world.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commandments. — Psalm 119.10

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle

Today’s Readings
Hosea 9  (Listen – 2:52)
Psalm 126-128 (Listen – 1:58)

Read more about Good and Pleasant Unity? A Prayer for Election Week
The rancor and rhetoric of 2016, rather than relaxing, has ramped up, raising political tensions, accusations, and attacks.

Good and Pleasant Unity? A Prayer for Election Week

Read more about Responding to Political Violence
Our political rancor has reached the point of normalizing violence…Christians not excluded.

Responding to Political Violence