March Scripture Journaling Devotion
FRIENDS, HAPPY MARCH!
We are exploring God’s promises as we navigate through the Bible this year. We have already written down 31 promises for January and 28 promises for February, and we are now moving on to find 31 additional promises of God in the Bible for March.
One of the verses we are journaling this month is in Hosea 14. Let’s examine this promise together.
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:
for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:3-4
I would like to encourage you to spend some time reading the book of Hosea this coming week. It offers a profound view of the steadfast love the heavenly Father has for His people.
Background of Hosea
Although the Old Testament prophetic book of Hosea has the most autobiographical material, little is known about him.
Hosea’s book is a book on love. Hosea is known as the prophet of steadfast love. He exhibits a love that “suffers long and is kind”. He exhibits an unwavering love that never gives up!
Israel’s prophetic zero hour is Hosea. The level of corruption in the country had reached such proportions that a severe act of divine wrath could no longer be averted. What the crying Jeremiah represented for Judah, the sobbing Hosea represented for Israel. They have one more “door of hope” (2:15) available to them.
When Hosea began prophesying, Israel had divided into two kingdoms. Hosea primarily addressed Israel, the northern kingdom that was ruled by Jeroboam and Jehoash. Throughout the kingships of Uriah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, Hosea served as God’s representative. (Hosea 1:1) Most Bible scholars consider that he prophesied in the final 30 years of Israel’s existence as a nation, just before they were taken captive by the Babylonians.
Hosea’s Message
God illustrates Israel’s relationship with Yahweh through Hosea’s life in chapters 1–3. Gomer represents Israel, while Gomer represents the Lord.
The symbolism in this story is explained and applied in each stage as it is presented chronologically. Hosea’s home country’s tragedy is mirrored in his personal life, and vice versa! The faithful husband and the adulterous woman are contrasted with her faithful God and the unfaithful Israelites. The country’s citizens are its children. The kindness and patience shown by Hosea to Israel’s sinful people are the kindness, patience, and love of God!
Israel made a serious mistake! Spiritual adultery is a sin. She looked for fulfillment in immoral relationships. God, however, loved Israel! Throughout Hosea’s 14 chapters, God instructed them to “return” 15 times! We don’t reflect on this facet of God’s divine love often enough. God intended for us to have communion with Him. Hence, sin is hurtful to our loving God! That violates not just his law but also his loving heart. Calvary proves this. God’s heart is broken by lost souls. Without a doubt, Hosea’s story paints a picture of the lost sinner and the loving Savior.
The accusations against Israel begin in chapter 4, and Hosea’s admonition is broken up into four sections:
1. Love’s problem
Hosea must to have found it challenging to love an unfaithful wife. Our LORD, however, has no trouble loving people whose lives have been disfigured by sin! (Titus 3:3–7, Romans 5:6–8, Ephesians 2:1–5)
Hosea 9:1-2 says, “Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
Hosea accuses Israel of transgressing fundamental covenant obligations and disobeying God’s law in chapters 1–5. They practiced cult prostitution and idolatry. In place of God, they placed their reliance in human nature, their kings, princes, soldiers, chariots, and international alliances. They had oppressed the vulnerable and committed acts of injustice, violence, murder, robbery, and deceit. They desired to be rewarded through earthly lusts rather than rewarded in the favor of God and eternal life.
Can someone with a troubled background be saved, pardoned, and used by the LORD? ABSOLUTELY!
2. Love’s pleading
Gomer was unaware of the provisions prepared for her by Hosea’s love for her! Today’s sinners don’t even comprehend how God’s mercy gives them the very life that sustains their bodies!
Through Hosea, the Lord warns his people to turn away from their wickedness and return to Him (6–8).
*Love Provides:
-
- A Plea for Reconciliation
- A Place for Repentance
- A Patience for Restraint (Hosea 11:9, 14:4)
3. Love’s payment
A servant in the Old Testament was worth 30 pieces of silver (Exodus 21:32). Gomer was half-priced when purchased by Hosea. But to atone for sinners, our Savior, Jesus Christ, paid the entire price! (John 19:30; 1 Corinthians 6:20)
4. Love’s Pardon
Hosea was legally allowed to divorce Gomer, per the law! (Deuteronomy 24:1-2) He nevertheless decided to love her instead!
In chapter 14, the Lord reminds Israel of his mercy and love through Hosea. He draws their attention to the fact that their only hope is in Him.
Forgiveness brings a new life, new liberty, and new loyalty! (John 8:11; Matthew 6:24)
We who have been saved ought to praise our Lord, Jesus Christ, for such love!
How can we tell when we’ve wandered off course?
We can search for some indicators:
- Is it difficult for you to pray? Do you struggle to approach the Lord in prayer?
- Has your level of stress increased to the point where you now seek affirmation from the world rather than the Lord?
- Do you delight in something or someone else more than you delight in the Lord?
- Do you desire to spend rich fellowship in God’s Word or prayer?
- Do you make excuses for doing things that displease the Lord? Have you become complacent toward sinful circumstances around you?
- Are you putting up a fight against what God has clearly called you to say or do?
- Do you view Christ’s commands as restrictive instead of expressions of His love?
- Do you take God and His Word for granted?
These are only a few signs that we might have moved on from our first love and are now clinging to our man-made idols. As a result, Hosea provides Israel with a set of instructions in chapter fourteen on how to return, repent, and reconcile with the Lord in light of these markers for Israel.
Have you fallen away like Israel and Judah?
Have you let the nations, idols, cultural standards, etc. influence you? Have you let them keep you from a strong and enduring connection with The Father?
Returning to the Lord is still possible.
For some, this can be a necessary daily process. My hope is that this lesson will be an encouragement to surrender and turn back to the Lord. May we cease falling away and cling to Christ. May we trust Him with our lives and give Him the praise He deserves.
-
- Admit that we are sinners
- Believe His Word
- Confess our sin
- Get rid of anything that consistently pulls us away from Him.
- Hold fast to His promises
- Follow the Lord’s direction and walk in His ways.
Our hearts ought to yearn to know God, to know Him deeply. And this is God’s promise to His children: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:” (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
Take action to rekindle your relationship with God if your love for Him has grown cold. Return to your first love. With open arms, He is waiting for you.
You can download a copy of the March Scripture Journaling plan here:
https://charitymaeprosper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Promises-of-God-for-March.pdf
