Connect
Stream
Hosea was called to predict the destruction of Israel as he prophesied during the reigns of Israel’s last seven kings (northern kingdom)
This passage is an extraction of a larger portion of judgment warnings with a retrospective tone; a review of past situations.
Israel was privileged to have sown righteousness and reap faithful love; instead, they had planted evil and have continually experienced the harvest of troubles.
The prophets had warned of wars and invasion overtaking them but they ignored the warning and presumed the strength of their military will outmarch the invasion threat.
The story of Beth Arbel’s destruction was an appropriate reminder of the sort of thing God was about to do to northern Israel’s top worship center, Bethel.
The king of Israel will be destroyed and the nation subjugated by its enemies. This is because of the idolatry of the people and their faithlessness toward God.
The church in Macedonia had done great because Paul had boasted to them of the Corinthian church's generosity, now the Corinthian church must not underperform
Paul urged the Corinthian church to finish the arrangements of the promised generous gift in support of the Jerusalem church.
He sent Titus with two church delegates to supervise the collections before his arrival so that he will not be disappointed when he arrives
Paul did not make demands according to his apostolic authority; instead, he gave them enough time to prepare their minds, as he urged them.
He reminded them that the proportion of harvest is determined by the quantity sowed
Hence, giving should be cheerfully done; it should not seem like a painful loss or be done under compulsion due to some exerted pressure
Friends, whosoever gives generously will reap both the spiritual grace and material prosperity that the Lord provides