Psalms 16:2 and 31:1-3
My Shepherd let me sleep in this morning. Fridays are particularly challenging, but yesterday was gruelling. I wanted to finish early so I could attend the first B-Day party for a little hero. Becky had to go alone.
In the course of this “off” day, I met with a friend for our usual Saturday mid-morning confab. We discussed many things, but what stood out to me was an observation he made relative to a question he asked about a preacher marrying a converted harlot. While discussing the remarkable story of Hosea, when I mentioned the hedge of thorns (Hosea 2:, he raised the question of free will. I had the opportunity to explain that God’s interventions in our lives do not contradict free will; rather, they are intended to call us to choose a new direction.
Along the still waters, I reflected on the fact that Gomer is sometimes thought to be a Gentile bride. Nothing supports this definitively, and I think the balance of what circumstantial evidence we have leans more towards support for the conclusion that she was an Israelite. But there is a not-so-subtle suggestion that God has His eye on the Gentiles while He is reproving Israel. Compare Hosea 1:10 with 2:23 to Deuteronomy 32:21 with 1 Peter 2:10:
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Now read:
Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
1Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Ephraim is represented as dispersed Israel, and he “mixed himself among the people” (Hosea 7:8).
Did God turn this judgment upon Ephraim (Israel) to some good? Read Romans 11:15-16, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”
Then read Romans 11:19-21, “Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Selah!
Today, He calls Jew and Gentile together in one body: 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
It made me think of Romans 8:28 with a new and deepened appreciation: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
In the valley, I was reminded that this wonderful work of calling Jew and Gentile together into one body was wrought by the Cross, and it is effective in all who believe the Gospel. My work is to preach the Cross from it. Jesus called: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
At the table, my Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace (Psalm 23:5). Goodness and mercy hurried to follow us into the harvest! (Psalm 23:6).
Going live asap:
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