Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Roots, Shoots & Fruits

Reflection

Imagine if my garden were to declare its independence from me. (A silly image, perhaps, but bear with me!) No more watering, no fertiliser, no pruning, no care when pests and diseases strike. Some plants would manage, but many would never survive, or if they did, they would never flourish as they do now.

In the time of the prophet Hosea, Israel effectively declared their independence from God. They turned to the worship of Baal, put their faith in untrustworthy foreign powers and went their own way. God’s warning was repeatedly to turn back to him – flourishing would come when they lived righteously, not just following God’s laws outwardly, but truly putting their faith in him for their protection and wellbeing. Only when God was at the centre could they truly “reap the fruit of (God’s) unfailing love.”

Question

What changes might you need to make to put God at the centre of your life?

Prayer

Holy God, help me to live in obedience to you. Sow righteousness into my life that I may reap the fruits of your unfailing love. Holy Spirit, work in me to help me to live in such a way that your love shines through me for all to see. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hosea 10:1-15

1Israel was a spreading vine;

he brought forth fruit for himself.

As his fruit increased,

he built more altars;

as his land prospered,

he adorned his sacred stones.

2Their heart is deceitful,

and now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will demolish their altars

and destroy their sacred stones.

3Then they will say, ‘We have no king

because we did not revere the Lord.

But even if we had a king,

what could he do for us?’

4They make many promises,

take false oaths

and make agreements;

therefore lawsuits spring up

like poisonous weeds in a ploughed field.

5The people who live in Samaria fear

for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.

Its people will mourn over it,

and so will its idolatrous priests,

those who had rejoiced over its splendour,

because it is taken from them into exile.

6It will be carried to Assyria

as tribute for the great king.

Ephraim will be disgraced;

Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.

7Samaria’s king will be destroyed,

swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

8The high places of wickedness will be destroyed –

it is the sin of Israel.

Thorns and thistles will grow up

and cover their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’

and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’

9‘Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel,

and there you have remained.

Will not war again overtake

the evildoers in Gibeah?

10When I please, I will punish them;

nations will be gathered against them

to put them in bonds for their double sin.

11Ephraim is a trained heifer

that loves to thresh;

so I will put a yoke

on her fair neck.

I will drive Ephraim,

Judah must plough,

and Jacob must break up the ground.

12Sow righteousness for yourselves,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unploughed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes

and showers his righteousness on you.

13But you have planted wickedness,

you have reaped evil,

you have eaten the fruit of deception.

Because you have depended on your own strength

and on your many warriors,

14the roar of battle will rise against your people,

so that all your fortresses will be devastated –

as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,

when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

15So will it happen to you, Bethel,

because your wickedness is great.

When that day dawns,

the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

Roots, Shoots & Fruits

Day 6 of 14

NIVUK

Hosea 10:12-13

Days

Hosea 10:1-15