Israel’s Defeat Because of Sin
Open Your Bible
Hosea 9:1-17, Hosea 10:1-15, Psalm 25:16-18, Luke 23:30
BY Jennifer Redmond
My husband’s hobby is gardening, or, as I affectionately describe it, “puttering around in the yard.” Despite my good-natured ribbing, I greatly appreciate the lush results of his diligence. Now, after a few years of consistent care, our backyard flower beds have transformed from nondescript piles of lumpy, orange clay into a hidden oasis where wisteria vines dance across the fence. Hydrangea and peony blooms greet us throughout the summer months, and butterfly bushes, heavy with blossoms, host monarchs that flit about.
It’s a lovely, peaceful site and one that hinges on a single element more than any other for its survival: water. We’re fortunate to live in a part of Virginia that receives decent amounts of rain. Yet even so, summer temperatures can scorch our plants to such a degree that my husband spends 30 minutes watering on any day without significant rainfall.
Rain sustains life and allows for regenerative growth; it may be one of the reasons Hosea references it in 10:12, writing, “until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” It’s an allusion rife with meaning. Chapters 9 and 10, which lead to this pronouncement, make the dire situation clear—Israel’s behavior has been such that “they have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity; He will punish their sins” (Hosea 9:9). Hosea says, “Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt” (Hosea 10:2).
And yet, there is hope; just as rain ushers in the promise of life in the midst of a dry and arid drought, so does Christ’s righteousness restore us to new life in and through Him. Without it, we perish, as Hosea 9:16 says, “their roots are withered; they cannot bear fruit.”
Israel had not only sinned, they had cultivated their sinful ways as a farmer cares for his crops; now Hosea calls them to instead “sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground” (10:12). To sow takes purposeful effort, but the imperative is clear: “It is time to seek the LORD” (v.12). The psalmist echoes this humble posture of the heart, saying, “Consider my affliction and trouble, and forgive all my sins” (Psalm 25:18). Doing so will allow the merciful, redemptive rain of His righteousness to fall on us. And, like a garden in desperate need of sustenance, we will live.
47 thoughts on "Israel’s Defeat Because of Sin"
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Yes, it is time to seek the Lord! That’s what I’m going to hold onto from today’s reading. It was a hard one! If you will, please pray for me. I have PTSD and have been battling for almost 3 years with it. I would love prayers for healing, but also for a deep trust in the Lord in this process and for strength to endure. Thank you! And I hope you all have a lovely Monday.
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Julia, this is the first fall in 30 years that I am not home schooling! I miss it but I am so thankful for all the blessings I am now reaping because of God’s call on our family to homeschool. We had years of struggling with different issues and I cried out to God and begged Him to take away those trails. I can relate to your heartache with Annie. I have gone down that road too. I am praying for you and your family! All I can say it stay strong in your commitments. You will see the favor of God pour over your family in time. If the mandates effect your children then God may be directing you to homeschool without the charter school. I have used some charter school help at times but I know I had to be diligent in not surrendering my values over the money they gave. We have been battling vaccine mandates too! Daughters have been able to receive religious exemptions so far for college and work but we don’t know how long this will last. Be strong and courageous, the Lord our God is with us!! My one daughter is looking ahead and realizing that she will probably lose her job because of the mandate but she is trusting God through it. I will keep praying for you as these are hard days your family is walking through but can be such a blessing too.
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Mandy this was my first thought as well. I so agree. I am slightly surprised that this idea doesn’t come up more in comments, to me the parallels between Israel and the us are so obvious. In regards to revival I am praying the same, check out the Let Us Worship movement with Shaun Fuecht if you aren’t familiar with it. He’s currently doing 21 days of prayer for offer nation as well. Bring your rain of righteousness and revival on our nation lord!
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There is so much in this study! I’m writing notes like crazy. Hosea 10:12 sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the LORD until he comes and sends righteousness on you like rain.
SARAJOY – I loved your comments regarding gardening and the Lord. So good! Good to hear from you Tina! I live in Colorado where it never rains. I miss that cleansing.
Please continue to pray for my son. He choked again the other night. I need prayer as I’m starting to experience anxiety over it all. My husband is still in great pain. Praying that God gives him relief.
Prayers over all your requests. -
Hosea 10:12 spoke to me today, especially “break up your unplowed ground. It’s time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” So what ground needs to be broken up and plowed in my life? I looked up unplowed ground and read a commentary about Hosea 10 and Jeremiah 4. God tells us to break up our unplowed ground and not sow among thorns. Jesus described thorns as worries of this life, deceitfulness of wealth and desires of other things. Mark 4:3-20 The worries of this life hit home. I need to plow this out of my heart so God can cultivate and produce fruit in my life. Fill me Lord with the fruit of the Spirit! Loved the gardening parallels you shared Sarah Joy. Thank you Angie for sharing, “the darker the night the brighter the light” which reminded me of SRT words on page 13 in the study book and from the podcast. “The darker prophecy gets, the bigger the cross appears.” I love this!! Keep our eyes on Jesus and our worries will be diminish! I went back over the prayer request from this weekend and I am praying for you ladies. Love seeing your post Tina. My heart always leaps in joy when I see your name come up on here, just like other names that often share their life and wisdom!
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Sherri praying for you. Elaine and Melanie praying for you and your families . This reading was a little tough for me for some reason this morning. But as other have mentioned I too felt drawn to “it is time to seek the Lord”. At our church yesterday we talked about fasting which I have been considering doing to get some of the noise out of my life in order to hear God more clearly. I can’t fast from meals right now but thinking about what other things I can abstain from to devote that time to prayer. Thank you Jesus for Your righteousness, every time we study the OT I get first sad that I’m sure my behavior is like the Israelites in some way, then grateful that we have forgiveness of these sins through our Savior.
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Praying for you Sherri!
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Laura, I’m in a similar struggle with my own daughter. Praying for strength and encouragement for you and an awakening to Truth for your daughter! Jesus is able!! ❤️❤️❤️
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