Devotion - Wednesday, October 17

As noted a few days ago, my morning readings are progressing through Hosea.  One of the Minor Prophets, this is a book with which you might be unfamiliar.  I would encourage you to read it.

The book addresses the ways in which Israel has forsaken God.  The metaphor is the marriage of Hosea to Gomer, who forsakes Hosea's care for her in order to chase other lovers.  

This morning I read:

For Israel has forgotten his Maker,

and built palaces;

and Judah has multiplied fortified cities.

One of the marks of those whose possessions are great is the tendency to fortify a barrier around their storehouses.  Those who wake each day and look to God for their survival and their salvation have no need to protect possessions.  They have none; or they don't worry about such things.  But those who have "multiplied altars for sinning," will feel the need to wall of those who might deface or destroy.

From the Prophets (like Hosea) we learn that individual ethics and morality inform the ethics and morality of a people (think society or country).  The actions of the whole are not separate from what drives the individual.  As followers of God, our devotion shows in how we live as a people.

How would you evaluate the culture in which we now live?  What are we building?  Are we seeking to protect "what is ours?"  Or looking for ways to care for the least among us?

Hosea is a short book.  Don't get lost in the names and references (though understanding these can be exciting and helpful).  Read it and learn from it how easily we become seduced.  Read and remember how faithful is the God who waits and pleads for our return.