Dei Time

Are We an Adulterous Nation?

Hosea 2:1 – 3:5 

Hosea's message from God in chapter 2 relates to the "adulterous" nation that He has established. The reason for the metaphor is that Israel had left God, her "husband", to eagerly pursue other gods; not only the idols of the Canaanites, but the lifestyles that ruined their society. Cheating one another, using the poor to feed the rich, concentrating on wealth at the expense of family relationships, ignoring God's laws if they cost in terms of commitment, charity, or loss of power were also part of their idolatry. When we look at the situation in these terms, we clearly also pursue our own idols still today.

God says through Hosea, "They have not acknowledged that I was the one who gave…. (vs.8). Isn't that the rejection that we find in our own nation? We are the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, and yet we are adamantly and deliberately pushing the God who has so blessed us out of any mention in the land. Will we ever realize that we are worse off without God? (vs.7)

God makes it clear in His word that He controls the fate of nations, whether they acknowledge Him or not. Do we have God's chastisement in our future? If so, we may take comfort in the verses of restoration that Hosea prophesies. Or, has the unchangeable God changed since the Old Testament? Does He still view nations as His domain? Some say that these verses are only for Israel in the Old Testament; that God does not concern Himself with nations anymore. Some say that He has no right to interfere in a nation that has decided to travel in a direction away from Him; that religion is a philosophy and that our human philosophy is as valid as any religion. What do you think about these questions?

Hosea, God’s Visual Aid

Hosea 1:1 – 11

Hosea was one of four prophets in the 700's B.C. who dictated their prophecies to a scribe or personally wrote them down. He and Amos ministered to Israel to the north. Isaiah and Micah ministered to Judah in the south at about the same time. All had the same message—the unfaithfulness of God's people and coming judgment, but each stated it a little differently. Hosea is the first of what are called the writings of the "minor prophets", but this refers only to the length of the writing, not to the importance of the prophet.

God chose to reveal very little of Hosea's background, perhaps to help us stay focused on Hosea's marriage, meant to reflect God's relationship with His people.

Although Hosea only mentions Jeroboam II as king of Israel, there were six northern kings during the time of the southern kings mentioned by the prophet. In those days Assyria and Babylon were busy in other areas, so the nations of the future Palestine were free practice their commerce, gain wealth and stability, and live in relative peace.

Unfortunately, there were two major moral problems building in both nations. The rich took advantage of the poor in order to build their own power and wealth, and both nations pursued idols instead of remaining faithful to the true God. The prosperity of the region would collapse as Hosea's ministry closed.

From the comments of the prophet and his description of historical events, commentators estimate that God called Hosea as a prophet in the later years of King Jeroboam II, around 760 B.C. He ministered at least thirty years, perhaps almost until Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. Some scholars believe that Hosea's apparent familiarity with Judah may have resulted in the preservation of his writing, as those in the south took them and protected them from destruction.

Hosea's marriage was to illustrate the relationship between God and His people. Like Gomer, they were unfaithful; like Hosea, God would take them back even in their guilt.

Hosea's son, Jezreel, reminded the people of the injustice done by Jehu when he exceeded God's instruction in his slaughter of King Ahab's family. His daughter's name, Lo-ruhamah, meant "not pitied". His second son's name meant "not my people". Yet, along with the announcement of judgment is the promise of restoration.

In verse 7, Hosea's message from God emphasizes that, at least at this time, He will continue to protect and rescue Judah to the south.

Daniel’s Vision of the Future

Daniel 10:1 - 12:13

Two histories seem to be included in the angel's visit to Daniel. One history is about spiritual warfare, the warfare of which we are aware, but do not yet see. In that spiritual battle, Satan's forces tried to stop Gabriel from coming to Daniel, but the angel Michael came to Gabriel's assistance. The second history presented to Daniel concerned his own world and coming kings and nations.

Since chapter 11:2-32 is an almost exact history of Alexander the Great and the families and national upheaval that followed his death, it is hard to dispute that part of Daniel's vision was fulfilled prior to Jesus' birth. On the other hand, Jesus affirmed Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 when He said, "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel…" (Matthew 24:15), so we are still left with the question of whether Daniel's apocalyptic vision has a further purpose in God's plan for the world. Verses 36-45 of chapter 11, for instance, are far harder to place in history. Why?

The answer to that question may be found in the first few verses of chapter 12, where the angel states that some of these things will occur not in the immediate future but at the end when "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." (12:2)

This was Daniel's final apocalyptic vision. The angel's words bring to mind a couple of things. He said that many will be resurrected to "everlasting contempt". Many of those around us will awake not to joy but to condemnation. While it is tempting to spend our time trying to interpret the visions and recognize the exact events that will come, it is far more important to share Jesus with as many as we can. God does not want any to be lost, so we serve Him best by witnessing His reality, love, and free salvation to others. Another point to consider is that the presence of even God's angels was so overpowering that Daniel could hardly breathe. Our God is a God of power as well as love. No matter what happens in our world as Jesus' return nears, we have nothing to fear. Neither Satan nor man can stop the all-powerful God from fulfilling His plan for the universe.

If you are interested in some of the history involved in Daniel's vision, the following is a pretty good site about the Seleucid dynasty that inherited part of the empire of Alexander the Great: http://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucids/seleucids.html

 

A Prayer and a Prophecy

Daniel 9:1 - 27

Were the prophets known in their own time, or did their writings came to light only years after their deaths? Daniel tells us that Jeremiah was well known and well respected, at least after his unwelcome messages proved to be true. Daniel studied the prophet's words years after his death (vs.2).

Daniel noted that 66 of the 70 years of exile prophesied by Jeremiah had passed. In relation to his observation, he prayed the prayer that we read today. In it is Daniel's open confession of his sin and the sin of his nation. In verse 18 Daniel implores God's mercy not because of any merit of his or the nation, but "…on account of Your great compassion."

We may ask why Daniel would include himself with the sinful nation? We have seen him only as an upright and holy man. Like us, Daniel was a sinner. It is a condition into which we are born. We cannot avoid it. Daniel realized that in God's eyes, his sin was as condemning as the nation's, and that God's love and compassion could not die. God's mercy was and is everlasting through His gift of life through Christ.

Gabriel's entrance to the scene is an assurance about God. He does indeed know what lies in our hearts even without our confession. Gabriel tells Daniel, "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you…." God does not need our prayer in order to know our needs, but He commands that we pray so that we may understand the importance of talking with Him about every concern.

What did the vision portend? There are many views on this, but the title "Anointed One" can very properly be translated "Messiah". Knowing this, we may assume that Jesus' reign, whether His ministry on earth or His eternal reign, is involved.

However, how should the numbers be interpreted? Jesus' earthly ministry was longer than 62 weeks. In addition, who is the destroying "ruler" and who are "his people"? As you can see, there can be many ways to interpret the words in their historical perspective. Even the translators of the words are not in complete agreement. NIV, for instance translates a phrase near the end of today's reading as, "on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." NASB translates the same phrase as, "on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." This does not mean that we cannot trust God's word to be true or comprehensible! It does demonstrate that, when it comes to apocalyptic visions, we will know only at the end of history exactly what historical circumstances were described.

Hiatus

Sorry to have been off for so long, but needed a hiatus, sabbatical, time-off, vacation, etc., but now Dei TIme is retuning. Regular posts will begin next Monday, October 26th. It's good to be back!