“Emotions” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

June 15, 2020 Love For His People in Charlotte, North Carolina USA

“Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.” Hosea 1:2, NKJV

Have you ever read the Biblical book Hosea, considered a “small” prophet before? You know, the one short book in the Old Testament that is between the major prophets Daniel and Joel.

A quick storyline of his from Hosea the Prophet reads, “Hosea (active 750-722 B.C.) was a prophet of the kingdom of Israel. He called on Israel to repent its sins of apostasy and warned of the judgment to come from God. His writings form the first of the Old Testament books of the Minor Prophets.

Hosea was the son of Beeri and apparently belonged to the upper classes. Judging from his elegant style, he was highly cultured. Hosea married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim, who bore him two sons, the older of whom he called Yezreel, meaning “God sows.” This name may have been intended to signify the replanting of Israel back on its own soil after it had been dispersed in exile. The second son was called Lo Ami, meaning “not my people, ” to indicate God’s rejection of Israel as His people because of its faithlessness. Hosea’s daughter by Gomer was metaphorically named Lo-ruhamah, meaning “the unpitied one.” Since Gomer after her marriage became an unfaithful “wife of harlotry, ” it is possible that Lo-ruhamah and perhaps her brothers were illegitimate children. Scholars have speculated whether the prophet’s tragic marital experience was real or merely an allegory to stress the infidelity of Israel.”

In these modern days of our enlightenment and superiority of knowledge, Hosea doesn’t get a lot of acclamation or even comment in church or congregational circles. After all, he “only” spoke to the kings and the people of ancient Israel around 700 B.C., and what does that have to do with us today?

A lot.

Though I don’t consider or proclaim myself to be a biblical scholar, I have made it a consistent habit and disciple to read the Bible almost every day, believing that what it says, as the Creator of the Universe Himself told us, “Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-23, NKJV

And where does wisdom come, that we need so much today? Lord knows we do.

“For Adonai (the Lord) gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

He stores up common sense for the upright, is a shield to those whose conduct is blameless,

in order to guard the courses of justice and preserve the way of those faithful to him. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, fairness and every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will be enjoyable for you, discretion will watch over you, and discernment will guard you.” Proverbs 2:6-11, Complete Jewish Bible

As I began to read the first chapters of Hosea, I could sense the emotions of God the Father, trying to get His people’s attention through the practical picture he gave Hosea to publicly demonstrate.

Take a wife, a harlot. Yes, take one who has given herself to any and all. Have children. Call them the names which shows what I have called My people at this time in their ways apart from Me. Demonstrate how I feel, Hosea, about the condition of My people, My country, My heart.

Continuing to read, I could sense the passion of the Lord for His people, His emotional anger expressed as they had departed from His ways, which would be the only way to have life, if only they would seek and follow after Him. You can feel His heart cry for their return to Him.

America and the nations of the world are in this same condition today. We have turned from God. We have sought our own ways. We have lifted up our knowledge, our understanding, our attempts to remove God from any and all parts of our lives so as to not be accountable to Him Who sits on the throne.

If we do not cry out in our hearts, our souls, our minds and emotions for the Living God of Israel, the One Who alone can save, we are among those who are to be most pitied.

And yet if we repent, He will heal our land, which is a verse most used these days but which we must know and do.

“God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, “I accept your prayer; yes, I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship. If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-15, THE MESSAGE

Only God, the One Who created us, Who alone has the answers, can save America and all nations who would turn to Him. As my good friend Mordechai continually tells me, we must repent. We must turn from our wicked ways, which we as a nation have followed, obvious to any who have eyes to see. We must acknowledge and know that Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, must be lifted up in our individual lives, our homes, our places of worship, our cities, our country.

Lord help us to do just that.

Now think on this.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Founder/President  Love For His People, Inc.

UPCOMING ALIYAH FOR HIS PEOPLE EVENT IN THE CHARLOTTE, NC/ROCK HILL, SC REGION – Register now.

https://loveforhispeople.com/2020/01/26/aliyah-for-his-people-a-new-ministry-of-love-for-his-people-in-charlotte-north-carolina/
Carolyn Hyde will also lead Messianic worship!

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Now Think On This #518 – in the year of our Lord 06.15.2020 – “Emotions” Monday 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC USA

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