Proverbs 7 warns a young man of the foolishness of following his desires because it only leads to death. Hosea is a book about redeeming the foolish person from death, set within the context of a lover chasing after his adulterous and wayward spouse. Hosea is filled with the longing of a scorned lover while Proverbs 7 gives the perspective of a rebellious prostitute enticing the foolish. We are guilty of being both the prostitute and we are guilty of being the foolish young man. The imagery is a mingling of lustful desire and violence against others and the result is death. In Hosea, God pleads with us not to be a rebellious prostitute and not to be led away by foolishness into the grave. Dispight the pleading God knows what we are capable of and he has set in motion our rescue. In spite our lustful treachery the Lord snatches us from the grave, destroys the lies that we follow and makes us part of the new creation, a resurrection community that is raise to new life in Christ. Meditate on this as you prepare for Sunday…
We are gathered in the name of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The Author of Life – Deuteronomy 33:26-29
“There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”
Exodus 15
Hans Plum, 1888005
Who among the gods is like you, Oh Lord?
Who is like you, Majestic in holiness?
Awesome in glory and working your wonders
Who among the gods is like you, Oh Lord?
I will sing to the Lord for he is highly exalted
The Lord is my strength and my song
I will sing to the Lord for he is highly exalted
He has become my salvation
There is none like You! There is none like You!
Desire Gives Birth to Sin—Proverbs 7:21-27
With much seductive speech she (foolish desire) persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Rock of Ages
Public Domain / Augustus Montague Toplady CCLI#1888005
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure
Not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling;
naked come to thee for dress, helpless look to thee for grace;
foul I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyelids close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Sin Grows into Death—Confession
Father, we have followed our desires into a life that is full of death. We have been filled with hatred, anger, lust, condemnation and angst and it has filled us with guilt and shame. Open up our graves! Pull us out of this life of death, which we crave. Give us true life, the resurrection life, which Jesus began on that first Sunday of the new creation, for the glory of the Father, to the praise of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Death is Defeated!—Isaiah 25:8-9
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
This Is Our God
2001 worshiptogether.com songs Chris Tomlin sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI) CCLI#1888005
A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm. This is our God.
He will wipe away your tears and return your wasted years. This is our God.
So call upon his name, He is mighty to save. This is our God.
This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
This is the One we have waited for
Jesus Lord and Savior. This is our God
A Father to the orphan a healer to the broken. This is our God
He brings peace to our madness and comfort in our sadness. This is our God
So call upon his name, He is mighty to save. This is our God.
A fountain for the thirsty a lover for the lonely. This our God
He brings glory to the humble and crowns for the faithful. This is our God
So call upon his name, He is mighty to save. This is our God.
Our’s is the Victory – 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
1
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Behold Our God
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Praise Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Stephen Altrogge
Who has held the oceans in His hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice
All creation rises to rejoice
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come, let us adore Him
Behold our King—nothing can compare
Come, let us adore Him
Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of His words?
Who can teach the One who knows all things?
Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?
Who has felt the nails upon His hands?
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal, humbled to the grave
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign
You will reign forever!
(Let Your glory fill the earth)
Joyful Song of Sending
O Love that Will Not Let Me Go
©1997 Christopher Miner Music. Words: George Matheson. Music: Christopher Miner.
O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
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