Author: astherainandsnow

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1-9

“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens.” Proverbs 4:19

“It is he who made the earth by his power,
    who established the world by his wisdom,
    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15

The psalmist’s heart is overflowing with gratitude to the Lord for His magnificent creation and activity through history. He sees them as an ongoing act of steadfast love, the essence of God and the impulse, motivation, and signature of everything He has made. The more he observes, the brighter God’s benevolent care shines and the deeper his praise in response. (1 John 4:8)

The triune God is as orderly and powerful and purposeful as He is creative. From chaos to exquisite universe, His steadfast love for His people pulses. Designing and crafting man for meaningful industry and relationships, He prepared his world in minute, colorful, and systematic detail, and continues to interact with it through hours and seasons to bring about His divine plans. Fully knowing our low and helpless estate, He perfectly executed our deliverance. The rightful response of His creatures, who are loved beyond measure, is to give Him unceasing thanks! (Genesis 1:1-28,31; Psalm 136:10-26; Proverbs 8:27-31)

Would that we regularly take time to marvel at God’s creation! He has made all things well and beautiful for our delight. His world is designed to teach us about Him, and life, and to satisfy physical need. (Psalm 104:14-15; Proverbs 6:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Amos 4:7-9; Matthew 6:25-34)

What have we observed recently that heightened our wonder at the Creator? What common sense have we gleaned and employed? What in God’s world delights our souls unto praise?

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.” ~Joachim Neander (1680)

Creator, may I ever adore You!

“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
    for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Take with you words
    and return to the Lord;
say to him,
    ‘Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
    and we will pay with bulls
    the vows of our lips.
Assyria shall not save us;
    we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
    to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.’

“I will heal their apostasy;
    I will love them freely,
    for my anger has turned from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
    he shall blossom like the lily;
    he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
his shoots shall spread out;
    his beauty shall be like the olive,
    and his fragrance like Lebanon.
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
    they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
    their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
    It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
    from me comes your fruit.

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
    whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
    and the upright walk in them,
    but transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:1-9

The prophet closes his book with a final plea to God’s beloved people. The punchline was that they’d been horrific and God was holy, yet He would not stop pursuing them. Hosea had exemplified the Lord’s unrelenting love for His wayward Israel, and spelled out how His gracious mercy persisted in calling them back to Himself. Genuine penitence and petition would be met with promises they could trust.

Any stumbling requires Penitence to restore a right relationship with the Lord. He calls us to name our sin, acknowledge its folly and hurtful consequences to others, and intentionally turn from it in particular repentance. There is much wisdom in paying attention to our attitudes and behaviors that need to be made pure. (2 Samuel 12:13)

The words we’re commanded to bring Him should include Petition for His cleansing mercy, for protection from the devil’s wiles and strength not to sin again. When we ponder His past graces, we can make clear declaration of need that we believe He will profoundly meet.

The Lord replies with Promises we can believe and count on. God’s power is poured forth as His Spirit directs and meets us in prayer, and supplies truths on which we can stake our unknowns.

When we stray from the Lord or His pattern for living, do we panic in fear we’ll be found out, or approach Him humbly on the basis of His passionate love for us? Have we grown apathetic, unwilling to consider the possibility of a changed outlook or way forward? What in our thinking, our hearts, our habits, needs to be punctuated by God’s power? Where is He calling us to genuine penitence, or to more explicit and persistent petition? What particular promises will we claim for ourselves as we progress on our spiritual journey?

Lord, may I daily return to You for purity and passion to flourish for Your glory.

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:2-3

“ Pray then like this:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.'” Matthew 6:9-13

From the birth of life in the world, man was made to commune with his Maker. Although sin early breached that perfect communion, God’s covering made a way for shameless conversation and knowing. Throughout scripture, the Lord’s speaking and man’s calling weave a strong net of delight and duty in meaningful intimacy, a secret place of safety where God’s people are firmly held and cares can be washed away. (Genesis 2:7-9,15-3:10,21)

Through prayer, the Lord gives insight, wisdom, and inspiration, opening our minds to His and making way for the Spirit to flow. By prayer, we gain encouragement to fortify, mercy and grace to help in time of need. In prayer, we align perspective so we can live in the world and remain not of it. In prayer, our souls are quieted from the bedlam that is the world’s stress and responsibility, and find rest in a haven of peace. In prayer, sorrow finds solace, and a song. (Job 35:10; Psalm 62:5-8; John 17:14-15; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 4:15-16)

It is our privileged duty to go often to the Lord in prayer and take advantage of Christ-borne access. How are we maintaining the two-way conversing to know the Lord better and to build trust? In what effort and deliberation are we finding delight? Has obedience borne the savor of God’s welcome, character, and answers? Where in prayer has expectation built as authorities are supported, quandaries are settled, cares are unloaded, needs are released, hope is inspired, discernment is granted, and faith is made sight? Drudgery in duty turns to delight when the Lord is sought, trusted, and praised. (Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 7:7-8; James 1:5; 4:2b-3)

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
that calls me from a world of care, 
and bids me at my Father’s throne 
make all my wants and wishes known. 
In seasons of distress and grief, 
my soul has often found relief, 
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare 
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
the joys I feel, the bliss I share 
of those whose anxious spirits burn 
with strong desires for thy return! 
With such I hasten to the place 
where God my Savior shows his face, 
and gladly take my station there, 
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
thy wings shall my petition bear 
to him whose truth and faithfulness 
engage the waiting soul to bless. 
And since he bids me seek his face, 
believe his word, and trust his grace, 
I’ll cast on him my every care, 
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!” ~W. W. Walford (1845)

Lord, turn the duty of prayer to delight in Your greatness, to Your honor.

“There is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” John 5:2-9

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!'”

“As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.  They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’  And he cried out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!..’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me recover my sight.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” Luke 17:5; 18:35-38,40-43

The invalid at Bethesda made excuses and blamed others, and through inertia and self-pity his want to be made whole had atrophied. The faith of the blind man recognized that by mercy he could be healed, and implored Jesus accordingly. Rather than limit the Lord by lethargic assumption, he clung to divine possibility with hope that loosened His power.

Jesus attends to His people in mercy, inviting us from initial need to go deeper. He probes to see what we really desire, how deep our faith might reach. Superficial solutions blind us from better and more significant work He can and intends to do. What is it we really want from Jesus?

When burdened with cares for life and loved ones, angry at ourselves for poor discipline, missed opportunities, or impulsive words, we often want a quick fix. Simple restoration to health, easier circumstances, carefree hours. When we wallow in our weak estate, we can grow complacent in shrunken possibility. But Jesus probes to turn shallow to substantial.

His goal is faith, life-change, sanctification. He designs circumstances to awaken hope, fortify faith, and develop broad spiritual insight. Answering with an immediate ‘all better’ often doesn’t accord with His longer-term purposes.

How big and deep are my desires? Where do I limit what I think God could do for or through me by impatience, or a narrow perspective? Do I allow circumstances and fears to close in and limit expectation, or fling open the windows of faith to possibility, and let loose my prayers and wants to God? Will I ask Him for the impossible, the too wonderful and too difficult for anyone but Him? The greater our view of God, the greater our asking, and the greater our anticipation of His answers. (Matthew 19:26; James 4:3)

Father, increase my faith and understanding of You so I never limit, but ever endeavor to loosen and magnify Your power and glory.

“Hezekiah received the letter,.. read it, and went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before [him]. [He] prayed before the Lord and said: ‘O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, and see; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God… The kings of Assyria… have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands… Now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.’

“Then Isaiah sent to Hezekiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord,.: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:

‘She despises you, she scorns you—
    the virgin daughter of Zion;
she wags her head behind you…

‘Whom have you mocked and reviled?
    Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes to the heights?
    Against the Holy One of Israel!
By your messengers you have mocked the Lord,
    and said, “With my many chariots
I have gone up the heights of the mountains,
    to the far recesses of Lebanon;
I felled its tallest cedars,
    its choicest cypresses;
I entered its farthest lodging place,
    its most fruitful forest.
I dug wells
    and drank foreign waters,
and I dried up with the sole of my foot
    all the streams of Egypt.”

‘Have you not heard
    that I determined it long ago?
I planned from days of old
    what now I bring to pass,
that you should turn fortified cities
    into heaps of ruins,
while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,
    are dismayed and confounded,
and have become…
like grass on the housetops,
    blighted before it is grown.

‘I know your sitting down
    your going out and coming in,
    your raging against me.
Because you have raged against me
    and your complacency has come into my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
    and my bit in your mouth,
and I will turn you back on the way
    by which you came.'” 2 Kings 19:14-16,18,20-28

King Hezekiah knew Assyria’s evil idolatry and great power. Offended for God’s sake by their king’s defiance and threats, he took them before the Almighty in humble, confident prayer. In timely answer, Isaiah reminded him that God would not be mocked, that king Sennacherib did nothing apart from His sovereign will. Hezekiah could trust that His ultimate and just determinations would stand. (2 Kings 19:5-7; Galatians 6:7)

It’s difficult for earnest Christians when God is mocked and maligned. We can believe that He reigns and will eventually triumph, yet still be unsettled by injustice, blatant pride, enemy pressures, and threatening opposition that demeans the Almighty. Taking concerns promptly and directly to the Lord elicits His confirming word as He delights to answer. Time in His presence reminds us He is omniscient, upright, and pledges justice on our behalf. (Isaiah 26:3; Daniel 9:16-23)

How does my view of God shape responses to the world? Am I troubled when He’s mocked? Do I quake at the world’s threats, or quiet myself in faith before my Sovereign? How will my restless soul find rest in Him?

Lord, keep me coming always to You in humble dependence and passion for Your glory.

“Israel is a luxuriant vine
    that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
    the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
    he improved his pillars.
Their heart is false;
    now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
    and destroy their pillars.

For now they will say:
    ‘We have no king,
for we do not fear the Lord…
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
    in the furrows of the field…
The high places, the sin of Israel,
    shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
    on their altars,
and they shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us…’
I will discipline them…
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
    reap steadfast love;
    break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
    that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

You have plowed iniquity;
    you have reaped injustice;
    you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way.” Hosea 10:1-4,8,10,12-13

“My beloved had a vineyard
    on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
    and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
    and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
    but it yielded wild grapes…

What more was there to do for my vineyard,
    that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
    why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you
    what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
    and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
    and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
    it shall not be pruned or hoed,
    and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
    that they rain no rain upon it.

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
    is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
    are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
    but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
    but behold, an outcry!” Isaiah 5:1-2,4-7

The Lord in love and generosity did everything for His people to make them a fruitful vineyard, burgeoning with rich and abundant fruit. And grow they did, yet away from their Root in many a wrong and wild direction. Willful rebellion and idolatry left them untamed, languishing in spiritual drought, heavy with sour grapes that could not nourish.

The world has many devices to make us look pretty and pretend at luxury. The measure of success in the world’s eyes is askew from God’s standards. Glossy exteriors and an abundance of stuff can give a false impression of fruitfulness, but many an extravagant life wanders astray, meaningless and lacking flavor. God treasures the inner person and directs us to heavenly riches. (Matthew 6:19-21)

How has the Lord tended the vineyard of my life, family, job, surroundings, even with discipline? Am I grateful, or do I take His supply and care for granted, worshiping created things and self-effort rather than Him? What needs to be removed from my mindset or activities for me to flourish in righteousness? Realizing all He’s provided compels us to bear fruit as His pleasant planting. (Romans 1:20-25)

Lord, break the fallow ground in my heart, that I may reap love and delicious fruit that pleases You.

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

“The defiled and unbelieving… profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may… [have] nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be… well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of… Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 1:15-2:14

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Salvation imparted is a stamp of identity and expectation. Salvation received is salvation expressed. The Lord makes clear that those who know Him are to show forth His beauties and character. His children living by faith must be zealous in good works that reflect His graces and power. He calls, equips, and commands that our knowledge accords with godliness by eager employment of His gifting and purpose to build up the Body and bring Him glory. (Titus 1:1)

“I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:17

It is healthy to assess how well our actions and attitudes match our profession. We may be in the habit of separating Sunday belief from weekday practice, cordoning off any infringement on long-ingrained habits and preferences and self-will. We tout that we know God, yet fail to give evidence to His Spirit’s presence in speech, viewpoint, and behavior. (Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:4-6)

“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

The better we know God’s attributes, the deeper our love for Him grows in us, and it will by nature blossom in Christ-like desire and makeup. Our actions and interactions give evidence of how well we know Him. In what ways is Christ reflected in choices made and daily living? What portion of ourselves, our time and resources, do we offer for His service? How do we reflect His love, compassion, generosity, patience, and truth to those around us at home and work?

Lord, may my life and works show forth Your excellencies, to Your glory.

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like streams..!
Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126

“After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

The psalmist begins and ends with the resolution, the joyful restoration of the place he loved and the settling home with bounty. Tucked into the short mention of seeds of sorrow sown to bring about such gladness were years of separation, heartache, suffering, longing. While fixed on and emphasizing the great things the Lord had done, there was necessary an intermittent season in which He also invisibly worked. Weeping made clearer His handiwork and sweeter the joy.

We fancy the fortune. We relish the laughter. We readily rejoice in the refreshment of streams, sheaves of favor, and comforts of home. But often we resist the journey required to get to these places. We avoid the difficult choices, skirt the hardship, chafe at waiting. We want reaping without sowing, comfort without pain, knowledge without learning, agility without bending, fruitfulness without death. We look for product but are unwilling, at least reluctant, to experience process.

Jesus invites us to the tears of the cross. He exemplifies that death is a precursor to true life. Repeatedly the Scriptures teach that suffering and trials are the seeds of spiritual growth and train us toward Christ-likeness. His promises remind us that we can trust His hidden work even in season of sorrow to produce a glorious end. (John 10:10; 12:24; Philippians 3:7-11; James 1:2-4)

What great things is the Lord doing at present? How has He supplied through barren, challenging seasons to teach deep lessons and conform us to Himself? How is our praise richer for what we’ve learned about His mercies and strength and light in the darkness? For what attribute, intercession, or provision will we rejoice today? (Lamentations 3:22-23; 2 Corinthians 12:7-20; Philippians 4:11-13)

If we’re in a season of grief, will we trust that He’s sowing the pain for good, the brokenness and loss for ultimate bounty? What weaknesses, fears, or doubts might He be transforming? What new aspects of His character are more real and personal because of weeping? What promises will we take as our own? (Romans 8:28-30)

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” ~George Keith (1787)

Lord, help me endure tears with great and hopeful joy, trusting Your powerful work and promises.

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
    let Israel now say—
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
    when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
    the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.

Blessed be the Lord,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped!

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124

David had known many an enemy and close call. Plotting people, raging armies, discouragement- the snares were varied and threatening. Though he exercised great strategy and skill to evade troops and trouble, he knew that it was the Lord who was his shield and deliverer. Man’s efforts were useless without the power of the Lord.

Unavoidably, we face storms and pressures in our day to day and seasons of life, and in the flesh we naturally engage energy and acumen to confront them. We prepare, scheme, defend or attack, and perhaps we win small battles and outsmart enemy wiles or overcome particular troubles. But the enemy of our souls will not relent, and only Jesus achieved and offers forever escape from impossible bondage. (1 Peter 5:8)

If He were not on our side, we would remain in our sin, doomed to everlasting separation from Him. If He were not on our side, the trials of this life would drown us. If He were not on our side, we would have no defense against temptation, doubt, shame, despair. If He were not on our side, we would be captive prey, forever hunted, never free. Blessed be the Lord who has saved us!

What snares presently hold us struggling and feeling helpless? Are we hunted by past failures, haunted by regret, despondent about unfulfilled dreams? What challenges at work, in relationships, with health or finances, seem unceasing and impossible to remedy? The Lord is on our side! Our captivity has been claimed and conquered by Christ! (Romans 8:31-39)

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!” ~Charles Wesley (1738)

In every angry flood, every tempest of temper or trouble, every attack to heart, mind, or body, would we summon and bless the Lord, our Help and Deliverer?

“O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Gracious Savior of my ruined life
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders
In my place You suffered bled and died
You rose, the grave and death are conquered
You broke my bonds of sin and shame
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
May all my days bring glory to Your Name.” ~Nathan Stiff (2017)

Father, free from sin that so easily entangles, help me run with perseverance the race You’ve assigned, to Your victory and glory. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

“Plead with your mother,
    for she is not my wife,
    and I am not her husband—
that she put away her whoring..,
    and her adultery from between her breasts;
lest I strip her naked..,
and make her like a wilderness,..
    like a parched land,
    and kill her with thirst.
Upon her children also I will have no mercy…
For their mother has played the whore;
    she who conceived them has acted shamefully.
For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,
    who give me bread and water,
    wool and flax, oil and drink.’
Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns,
    and build a wall against her,
    so that she cannot find her paths.
She shall pursue her lovers
    but not overtake them,
and she shall seek them
    but not find them…
And she did not know
    that it was I who gave her
    the grain, wine, and oil,
and who lavished on her silver and gold,
    which they used for Baal.
Therefore I will take back
    my grain..,
    and my wine..,
and I will take away my wool and flax,
    which were to cover her nakedness.
Now I will uncover her lewdness
    in the sight of her lovers…
And I will put an end to all her mirth,..
    and all her appointed feasts.
And I will lay waste her vines and fig trees…
And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals
    when she burned offerings to them…
    and went after her lovers
    and forgot me, declares the Lord.

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
    and bring her into the wilderness,
    and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her vineyards
    and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope…

“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness…

“And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
    and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’;
    and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:2-15,19-20,23

The willful and defiant Gomer whom Hosea took for his wife depicted Israel in all her rebellion against God. In a beautiful message of mercy meeting depravity, the prophet describes the devastating consequences of sin against God being conquered by His love. Naked, parched, hungry, lost, she was destitute, forsaken, helpless. Only divine affection could lure her back and transform such emptiness to fulfillment and the shame and separation of her spiritual harlotry to faithful covenant betrothal. (Hosea 1:2-9; 4:6-14)

“Great is your mercy, O Lord,” Psalm 119:156a

The horrors of sin magnify the exquisite splendor of God’s mercy. The trouble with men is we seldom recognize our depravity- the entrenched idolatry, insidious greed, stubborn pride, willful rebellion against God’s lead that sap true life. When the Word calls it out, we squirm, make excuses, justify, and compare, rather than agreeing with the Almighty. We hide shame rather than bringing it to Calvary for cleansing.

Am I languishing in certain areas because of unconfessed sin? What deep-rooted bitterness, dark habit, or raw selfishness has depleted joy and needs the light of Calvary? When will I be honest and return humbly to the Lord?

“My sins they are great but his mercy is more.” ~Matt Boswell and Matt Papa (2016)

Merciful Lord, compel me daily to press on to know You and make Your mercies known. (Hosea 6:3)