Straight Are The Ways Of YAHWEH: The Just Walk In Them, But The Sinners Stumble

"Return to your GOD, YAHWEH, O Israel!

Your sins have caused your downfall,

Return to YAHWEH with humble words.  Say to HIM,

'Oh, YOU who show compassion to the fatherless,

forgive our debt, be appeased.

Instead of bulls and sacrifices,

accept the praise from our lips.

Assyria will not save us:

no longer shall we look for horses,

nor ever again shall we say 'Our gods'

to the work of our hands.'

I will heal their disloyalty

and love them with all MY heart,

for MY anger has turned from them.

I shall be like dew to Israel,

like the lily will he blossom.

Like a cedar, he will send down his roots;

his young shoots will grow and spread.

His splendor will be like an olive tree,

his fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar.

They will dwell in MY shade again,

they will flourish like the grain,

they will blossom like a vine,

and their fame will be like Lebanon wine.

What would Ephraim do with idols,

when it is I who who hear and make him prosper?

I AM like an ever-green cypress tree;

all your fruitfulness comes from ME.

Who is wise enough to grasp all this?

Who is discerning and will understand?

Straight are the ways of YAHWEH:

the just walk in them, but the sinners stumble."

- Hosea 14:2-10

 

(The book of Hosea ends with these encouraging words.  After the trials, Israel will seek YAHWEH who will allow HIMSELF to be found.  Humanity's reconciliation with GOD will be an authentic marriage and it will be accompanied by a reconciliation of humanity and nature.  This was already said in 2:17-22 and will be developed in the Song of Songs which will use some images taken from Hosea.)

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I AM GOD And Not Human

"I loved Israel when he was a child; out of Egypt I called MY son.  But the more I have called, the further have they gone from ME--sacrificing to the Baals, burning incense to the idols.

Yet, it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; yet, little did they realize that it was I who cared for them.  I led them with cords of human kindness, with leading strings of love, and I became for them as one who eases the yoke upon their neck and stoops down to feed them.

If they refuse to return to ME, they will have to go back to Egypt and be ruled by an Assyrian king.  Swords will flash in their cities, slaughtering their sons, putting an end to all their plans.

They insist on turning away from ME; they cry out because the yoke is upon them and no one lifts it.  How can I give you up, Ephraim?  Can I abandon you like Admah or make you like Zeboiim?  MY heart is troubled within ME and I AM moved with compassion.  I will not give vent to MY great anger; I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I AM GOD and not human.  I AM the Holy One in your midst; and I do not want to come to you in anger." - Hosea 11:1-9 

(Israel is GOD's spoiled child.  In former days GOD brought them out of Egypt, and ever since then, has been calling them and trying to draw them to HIMSELF, but they continue their depraved ways which bring punishment upon them.

I AM GOD and not human.  Our setbacks which seem to be GOD's punishment are, in fact, what GOD considers the most suitable ways to teach us [see Hebrews 12:7; 2 Maccabees 6:16; Wisdom 11:23].)

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The Goodness And The Greatness Of GOD

"Sing to HIM, sing HIS praise, proclaim all HIS wondrous deeds.

Glory in HIS holy name; let those who seek YAHWEH rejoice.

Look to YAHWEH and be strong; seek HIS face always.

Remember HIS wonderful works, HIS miracles and HIS judgments,

you descendants of HIS servant Abraham, you sons of Jacob, HIS chosen ones!

HE is YAHWEH our GOD; HIS judgments reach the whole world."

- Psalm 105:2-7

(The psalmist summarizes in this one psalm the goodness and the greatness of GOD, as he knew it from the Old Testament.  He connects with his past to seek GOD's presence and praise HIM.  We do not live in isolation from our material environment nor do we from our historical past, and the historical books of the Scriptures, like the Creation, provide material for praise.  We are the people whom GOD has redeemed, but in redeeming us, GOD was keeping the promise which HE made 'to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his seed.'

When praying with this psalm, we can unite our history to the history of salvation and remember that, while the covenant is as mandate, it is also the Word of GOD and therefore it is an eternal and holy covenant.  If we are unfaithful, GOD is still faithful.)

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With Their Silver And Gold They Fashioned Idols To Their Own Ruin

"Without MY approval they set up kings and without MY blessing appointed leaders.  With their silver and gold they fashioned idols to their own ruin.

To ME, Samaria, your calf is loathsome; and MY anger blazes against you.  How long will you remain defiled?  The calf is yours, Israel, a craftsman has made it; it is not GOD and will be broken into pieces.  As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind.  Stalk without flower, it will never yield flower, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

Israel lived apart as a wild donkey, but he was eaten up.  Now, they are among pagans, as a worthless object.  Ephraim went to Assyria with gifts.  Now, they have been given up to the nations; and I shall gather them.  For, in no time, they have been left with no prophets, or kings, or leaders.

Ephraim built many altars; but his altars made him more guilty.  I wrote out for him the numerous precepts of MY law; but they look on them as coming from foreigners.

They offer sacrifices to ME because they are those who eat the meat; but YAHWEH does not accept their sacrifices, for HE is mindful of their sin and remembers their wickedness.  They will return to Egypt." - Hosea 8:4-13 

(The prophet is like a guard [see Ezekiel 3:17].  Hosea condemns the kings who do not come from GOD since they were self-appointed: only David's sons in the south were the chosen ones of GOD.  Moreover, they were never concerned about representing GOD before the people, nor about fulfilling HIS designs.

Then we have the condemnation of the golden calves placed in Bethel to honor YAHWEH [see 1 Kings 12:28].

External practices and sacred banquets following the sacrifice do not make GOD forget their sin.

Hosea looks at Israel's past.  You will return to Egypt, namely, you will be captive again.) 

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I Will Espouse You In Faithfulness; And You Will Come To Know YAHWEH

"So I AM going to allure her,

lead her once more into the desert,

where I can speak to her tenderly.

Then I will give back her vineyards,

make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.

There, she will answer ME, as in her youth,

as when she came out of the land of Egypt.

On that day, YAHWEH says,

you will call ME my husband,

and never again: my Baal.

I will take the names of Baals from her lips

and no longer will they be invoked.

That day, on her behalf, I will make a Covenant

with beasts of the field and birds of the air,

with creatures creeping upon the ground.

I will wipe out the sword and war in the land;

I will make people rest safe and secure.

You will be MY spouse forever,

betrothed in justice and integrity;

we will be united in love and tenderness.

I will espouse you in faithfulness; 

and you will come to know YAHWEH."

- Hosea 2:16-22

(So I AM going to allure her, lead her once more into the desert, where I can speak to her tenderly.  YAHWEH is going to deprive Israel of everything so they will again be poor as they were in the desert in the days of Moses.  Thus they will know that everything comes from GOD and will put their trust in HIM.  I was better off then than now.  This is what the prodigal son will also say in Luke 15:17.

She will no longer call ME my LORD.  Here Hosea uses the word my Baal.  In Hebrew, Baal means Lord.  This was the name given to the Canaanite gods, but the Israelites also honored YAHWEH with this title.  However, YAHWEH does not want to be a "Baal" among many, but "The" only husband.

That day on her behalf I will make a Covenant with beasts of the field.  After the trials, Hosea foresees a happy period when YAHWEH would give the land back to HIS renewed people.  There will be no more hostile forces from nature, no more wars.  I will make people rest safe and secure.

You will be MY spouse forever.  GOD is offering HIS people a new Covenant, a new alliance with HIM: Not a new religion with different commandments, but rather a personal relationship born of a purified and renewed heart [Jeremiah 31:31].

John refers to this union "in enduring love" in John 1:17: JESUS is the one who brought it to humankind.)

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Your KING Comes, Riding On A Donkey

"Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem!

For your KING is coming, just and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of the donkey.

No more chariots in Ephraim,

no more horses in Jerusalem,

for HE will do away with them.

The warrior's bow shall be broken when HE dictates peace to the nations.

HE will reign from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth."

- Zechariah 9:9-10

(Announcing a humble Messiah.  When HE solemnly enter Jerusalem, JESUS will fulfill this prophecy literally [see Matthew 21:5].)

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"Nations Seeking GOD"

"On that day, I shall restore the fallen hut of David and wall up its breaches, and raise its ruined walls; and so build it as in days of old.

They shall conquer the remnant of Edom, and the neighboring nations, upon which MY name has been called.  Thus says YAHWEH, the one who will do this.

YAHWEH says also, 'The days are coming when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes overtake the sower.  The mountains shall drip sweet wine and all the hills shall melt.

I shall bring back the exiles of MY people Israel; they will rebuild the desolate cities and dwell in them.  They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will have orchards and eat their fruit.  I shall plant them in their own country and they shall never again be rooted up from the land which I have given them,' says YAHWEH your GOD." - Amos 9:11-15 

(In this text--written after the exile of Israel--we have the promise of the future reuniting of the kingdoms, Israel and Judah, into a single people of GOD.  The apostle James will refer to this promise, to show that GOD wills to extend the salvation earned by JESUS to all the nations, and not only to Israel [see Acts 15:16].  Notice that James quotes this text in a different form from what it is here.  This is due to the fact that the apostles were using the Greek translation of the Scriptures, which many times changed the meaning, not to be unfaithful to the primitive text but rather because, in the course of time, the Jews had a better understanding of the will of GOD.  For example, here Amos is speaking about Israel "conquering the nations" which, at the time, seemed to be a great favor from GOD.  The Jews who later translated the Scriptures into other languages spoke of the "nations seeking GOD" because, in the meantime, the prophets had meditated deeply on GOD's plan.)

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You Are Of The Household Of GOD

"Now, you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of GOD.  You are the house, whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is CHRIST JESUS.  In HIM, the whole structure is joined together, and rises, to be a holy temple, in the LORD.  In HIM, you, too, are being built, to become the spiritual Sanctuary of GOD." - Ephesians 2:19-22 

(You are of the household of GOD.  In biblical language this means: to belong to GOD's family.  From there, Paul moves on to another image: you are the household, namely, the true Temple of GOD.  The community of believers form the Temple, or better, is being transformed into the Temple of GOD.

This imposing vision of the Church and our unity in the Church will perhaps astonish many Christians of today who are usually more aware of their responsibilities towards the world than towards our antiquated Church.  Yet, of what Spirit shall we be bearers, and shall we do this work if we are not supported by a community?  Solidarity with those who share our options and our culture cannot replace participation in the Christian community.  There are probably many things in the Christian community we are not happy with.  However, it would be a bad sign if we were unable to recognize in it the truth that is missing in our non-Christian friends, and without which we would lose our reason for living.)

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Which Is Easier To Say: 'Your Sins Are Forgiven' Or 'Stand Up And Walk'?

"JESUS got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to HIS hometown.  Here, they brought to HIM a paralyzed man, lying on a bed.  JESUS saw their faith and said to the paralytic, 'Courage, MY son!  Your sins are forgiven.'

Some teachers of the law said within themselves, 'This man insults GOD.'  JESUS was aware of what they were thinking; and said, 'Why have you such evil thoughts?  Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?  But that you may know, that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,' HE said to the paralyzed man, 'Stand up!  Take your stretcher and go home!'  The man got up, and went home.

When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe, and praised GOD for giving such power to human beings." - Matthew 9:1-8 

(They praised GOD for giving such power to human beings.  This formula is rather clumsy.  The crowd is astonished to see how GOD's saving power is manifest among people, and through a man, JESUS.  Matthew has no wish to separate the Church from CHRIST: every Christian community received the gifts of GOD for healing and reconciliation.  It is known that the ministers of the Church have special authority to pardon, but the grace of GOD also flows in many other very different channels [1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11].  When we establish relations of mercy and trust, and accept fraternal correction humbly, when there is mutual forgiveness between spouses, CHRIST is the one who forgives and pardons, and what is forgiven among us on earth, is forgiven in heaven [Matthew 18:18].)

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The Demoniacs And The Pigs

"When JESUS reached Gadara, on the other side, HE was met by two men, possessed by devils, who came out from the tombs.  They were so fierce that no one dared to pass that way.  They cried out, 'Son of GOD, leave us alone!  Have YOU come here to torment us before the time?'

Some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding.  So the demons begged HIM, 'If YOU drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.'  JESUS ordered them, 'Go!'  So the demons left the men and went into the pigs.  The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and was drowned.

The men in charge of the pigs ran off to the town, where they told the whole story; and also what had happened to the men possessed with the demons.  The whole town went out to meet JESUS; and when they saw HIM, they begged HIM to leave their region." - Matthew 8:28-34 

(JESUS overcame the raging sea and disembarking on the pagan shore of the lake HE confronts the demon.  It is to say that the possessed has partnership with death and with impurity to which it is attached [Numbers 19:11]; but no one, absolutely no one is able to master him.  This adversary, however, bows low recognizing the superiority of JESUS, Son of GOD the Most High, who forces HIM to reveal HIS name.  JESUS will free this possessed man: the demon, author of every "impurity" is sent to his own kingdom.  Pigs are in fact, in Jewish tradition, a type of impure animal, and the sea into which they cast themselves is the symbol of the empire of evil.)

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