“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. 9 No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.” Hosea 11:8-9 NLT
God the Holy One,
Here in these two verses Hosea wrestles with the dilemma of a You, being a holy, righteous God and yet who overflows with compassion. It is as if he can read Your heart – but as You remind him – You God are not a mere mortal. We wither and die and You do not. We are not capable of being good and You demand righteousness. We are want to fail and doubt and waver and yet, You are faithful.
I wonder if Hosea saw the journey of Israel from Abraham to Moses to the Promised Land to the divided Kingdom with all the swings between faith and folly? Obedience and rebellion? Saw how much You loved the children of Israel and yet hated their rebellious and sinful behavior. Would Hosea see how You repeatedly held to Your promises. We know that Your dilemma Lord would not have a solution for over 700 years – in Jesus.
It gives me hope and a great respect for Your mercy. You still love us, Your creation, regardless of the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1) even Your family in Christ. And You are still calling out to those who would hear and find You.
Thank You, that You did not give up on Your chosen people, or on me. You will not give up on those yet to come. You never give up loving. We cannot fathom the depths of Your love but gratefully give thanks in Jesus
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 19th July 2025
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Repeat . . .
Lyrics: Frederick Martin Lehman