Lesson for 1/17

Hey all, The Sunday School lesson for tomorrow comes from the Old testament book of Hosea 1. "An unfaithful Bride" Before you proceed, please stop right now, and do a quick prayer to God for understanding............Now that is done, Im going to do my best to provide insight and direct you to the parallel I believe is shown here. Looking at Hosea 1 - Verse 2 brings out how God first spoke through Hosea, he said to him "Go marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this nation is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord." To give you an idea of what took place in that time- Hosea 4 1-2 says "“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed."

As you read on you will see the symbolism God uses. He instructs Hosea to name His Son Jezreel, why? Because verse 4-5 brings out how God is going to "punish", "put an end to the kingdom" and "destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel" Keep reading, Verse 6 - God tells Hosea to name the daughter Lo-Ruhamah, which means "not loved" - "because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Isreal." The verses continue on mentioning and symbolizing God's frustration and anger with the nation. BUT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO VERSE 10! "However, IN THE FUTURE the number of the people of Isreal will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, "You are not my people, it will be said to them, "You are children of the Living God!" 11) Then the people of Judah and the people of Isreal will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!" After all that, why squeeze verse 10 and 11 in there now? The remaining chapters of Hosea still talk about God's wrath on Isreal. The parallel Verses 10 and 11 are pointing to is found in the book of Revelation 19: 6-10. This is SO DEEP, remember in Ephesians 5:25. Jesus said "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her" ------------ for her, meaning for us! We (Christians, believers, followers of Christ) should be striving to be the Bride that is being mentioned in Revelation 19:6-10. Ver 7: "Let us rejoice and exult and give Him (God) glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb (Jesus) has come, and His Bride has made herself ready! (Us). Ver 8. "She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen..(for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints)"

To God be the glory for His Son Jesus!
 And as Verse 11 of Hosea says "We will be called Children of the living God" I will go deeper into the book of Revelations soon!

Don't be an unfaithful Bride! LIVE THE LIFE YOU CONFESS! If you are unsure or don't understand, continue to read, study and pray to your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus.

God bless!