The Lord Has Done Great Things for Us, And We are Filled With Joy

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HOSEA 6:1-9:17 | 3 JOHN 1:1-15 | PSALM 126:1-6 | PROVERBS 29:12-14

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Hosea continues on with his warnings to Israel to turn from their wicked ways — to turn back to the One who loves them and wants to be their God. 

But Israel is unrepentant.  They take on new gods, and when they tire of those, they build new ones for themselves.  They sow the wind.  And Hosea warns that they will then reap the whirlwind.  This is what Hosea says:

⁵ Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!
   My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?

⁶ They are from Israel!
This calf—a metalworker has made it;
   it is not God.
It will be broken in pieces,
   that calf of Samaria.  

⁷ “They sow the wind
   and reap the whirlwind.

Isn’t that how it is with us sometimes?  We willfully enter into the path of destruction.  We intentionally court heartache and disaster.  We almost wish the evil upon us, and when we are in the midst of it, and are perhaps so fortunate as to receive a forewarning to turn from our ways, we pay no heed.  Until of course, it is too late.  We’ve sown the wind by then, and like Israel, we must now reap the whirlwind.

But the road to repentance is sometimes a long and winding one — unlike the broad highway that brought us to where we are.  But despite it all, there is hope to be had.  Because a contrite spirit is pleasing to God, and just as he turned his face toward the people of Israel, he will not let his anger last forever.  But for now, these are Hosea’s words to the children of Israel:

⁷ The days of punishment are coming,
   the days of reckoning are at hand.
   Let Israel know this.
Because your sins are so many
   and your hostility so great,
the prophet is considered a fool,
   the inspired person a maniac.

Would that we might understand these truths! 

But would that we might also understand another truth:  God will not be mocked.  And so, it would be foolish to assume that we can continue in our misguided ways time and time again without consequence.  Forgiveness is free, indeed, but it cannot not be abused.

Turning now to our reading in the New Testament, we open the third and last letter of John.  This is a letter to a man named Gaius.  The power of bearing witness and receiving a good report is such a significant one, even to this day.  It transcends all cultures and customs.  A favorable letter of recommendation in these modern times for instance, be it for education or employment, bestows upon the person a sense of honor and worth, and eventually serves to open doors. 

John is citing the effect of the good reports that have come to him in verse 3 when he says:

³ It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.

 John continues in his exhortations to treat each other in love and in truth.  He says: 

⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. ⁶ They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

May it be that we strive to conduct ourselves in a manner that would cause our fellowmen to bear good witness on our behalf, and that would be pleasing in the sight of God.

Turning now to our reading of the Psalms, we find a beautiful psalm of praise by David. I reproduce it in its entirety for the timeless promise of comfort that may be had by anyone even to this day. 

May it be that we might also raise our voices high in order to say, “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” 

The Psalmist says:

¹ When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dreamed.
² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
   our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
   “The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us,
   and we are filled with joy.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, LORD,
   like streams in the Negev.
⁵ Those who sow with tears
   will reap with songs of joy.
⁶ Those who go out weeping,
   carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
   carrying sheaves with them.

Finally, a few verses from the book of Proverbs, worthy of record and rumination.  Solomon, wise king of Israel, says:

¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
   all his officials become wicked.

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
   The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
   his throne will be established forever.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.