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FreeWay Foundation            December 13, 2013

 

Eating the bread of mourning

(Hosea 9:1-17)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Hosea pronounced God's judgment upon Ephraim because of her spiritual

     unfaithfulness (adultery); he said that the nation would "eat the bread of

     mourners," Numbers 19:14-15  . . . Israel would go into Assyrian captivity

     like the Egyptian bondage centuries earlier, vv. 1-6.

2.  Hosea condemned the false prophets of the nation as "fools" and "insane,"

     while characterizing himself as "the watchman of Ephraim," a true prophet

     who was considered to be their enemy, vv. 7-8.

3.  Hosea compared the nation's present wickedness and corruption with their

     sins in the days of Gibeah and Baal Peor, vv. 9-10.

4.  Hosea predicted intense grieving by the nation, illustrating their coming

     sorrow as being like mourning over the death of a child, vv. 11-17.

II.  Meditation:  on the significance of the cities named here

            1.  Memphis (6) – an Egyptian city on the Nile River south of Cairo, noted for

                 its huge burial grounds; this is a reminder of Israel's former captivity, and

                 the pending "death" of the nation.

            2.  Gibeah (v. 9) – a city in Benjamin where the inhabitants raped and murdered

                 the concubine of a Levite, leading to a bloody civil war, Judges 19-20.

            3.  Baal Peor (v. 10) – the place where during the wilderness wanderings, the

                 nations fell into idolatry and immorality resulting in 24,000 persons dying of

                 a plague, Numbers 24-25.

            4.  Tyre (v. 13) – a wealthy and influential seaport city which, like Ephraim, would

                 be destroyed because of their sins of pride, Ezekiel 26-28.

III.  Revelation:  on the grief and mourning caused by sin

            1.  Sin brings sorrow like that of a woman who is barren:  "no birth, no pregnancy,

                 and no conception, v. 11.

            2.  Sin brings sorrow like that of parents who are forced to watch their children

                 being slaughtered by enemy soldiers, vv. 12-13.

            3.  Sin brings sorrow like that of a mother whose child perishes in infancy because

                 she is unable to produce milk to nourish it, v. 14.

            4.  Sin brings sorrow like that of a mother whose infant is born dead, v. 16.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Realize that the wages of sin is death . . . remember Memphis.

            2.  Understand that one sin can have a domino effect which produces far-reaching

                 Tragedy and devastation . . . remember Gibeah.

            3.  Avoid compromising with sin, which leads to idolatry, immorality, and a deadly

                 Spiritual plague upon my life . . . remember Baal Peor.

            4.  Shun Satan's fatal flaw, the sin of pride, which inevitably leads to a fall and eternal

                 Destruction . . . remember Tyre.

 

 

 

 

Sowing and reaping financially

(II Corinthians 9:1-15)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Observations:  on the background and setting of this chapter (vv. 1-5)

            Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, telling them how he had boasted to the Macedonian

            believers about the zeal and generosity of the Corinthians in making provision for the

needy Christians in Jerusalem; he urged the Corinthians to have their offerings ready

when he arrived, as they had promised to do.

II.  Concentration:  on how a Christian is to give (sow) to the Lord (vv. 6-7)

            1.  Sowing must be done bountifully, not sparingly . . . with abounding generosity, not

                 with stinginess, v. 6.

            2.  Sowing must be from the heart, v. 7.

            3.  Sowing must not be made grudgingly (reluctantly, resentfully), and sowing must not

                 be of necessity (by coercion; by pressure), v. 7.

            4.  Sowing must be done cheerfully (joyfully, gladly), v. 7.

III.  Meditation:  on God's gifts to us (vv. 9-11)

            1.  God has given His blessings to everyone, v.9.  (See Psalm 112:9)

            2.  God makes believers rich:  "supplies seed to the sowed, and bread for food," v. 10.

            3.  God multiplies our sow3n seed and increases our fruits of righteousness (good works),

                v. 10.

            4.  God enriches our spiritual lives as we invest our money in His work, v. 11.

IV.  Revelation:  on why God makes us "RICH" (vv. 11-14)

            1.  So believers can be generous on every occasion, v. 11.

            2.  So thanksgiving and praise may be offered up to God, vv. 11-13.

            3.  So the needs of God's people (ministers) may be supplied, v. 12.

            4.  So that a believer's personal testimony and prayer life may be strengthened, vv. 13-14.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Give cheerfully and from the heart to support God's work.

            2.  Recognize that God is the source of everything I have to give . . . He even is the One who

                 gives me the ability to hold a job and to earn wages, Deuteronomy 8:18.

            3.  Understand that as I give to supple the needs of others, God continues to abundantly supply

                 my needs, Philippians 4:19.

            4.  Perceive, in the light of my thanksgiving for God's "indescribably gift" . . . CHRIST (v. 15),

                 that my charitable giving is as important in God's sight as love or faith, II Corinthians 8:7.

 

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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