Hello, dear friends!

As I study through the book of Hosea with my small group, it has been a constant reminder that we, here in 2024, are really no different from Israel in 700 B.C. Our idols might present themselves differently, but they are still idols that keep our eyes off of God and onto ourselves. This study has also been mirroring much of what I’m reading in the devotional book by Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies.

This particular phrase caught our collective attention this past week: “Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense…” (Hosea 7:11a). At first glance you must wonder what this reference means. Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit coming as a dove on Jesus after His baptism (John 1:32). It also admonishes believers to be gentle/innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

When you look into the behavior of doves, a new understanding opens up. They are social, but they get easily lost. They flap around aimlessly, looking for places to perch. They know where to find the places the other doves are hanging around, but they seem unsure if they want to stay.

Hosea is likening the behavior of Israel to doves. They want to be with the other Israelites, but they get easily lost in the world and all it’s attractions. Although they have a fine homeland, given to them by God, they don’t seem to want to perch there. They have His word, written on their hearts, but other things keep taking precedence. They know where to go for socializing (The Temple courts) but, gee, that mountain over yonder, with all that other stuff happening, it looks kind of appealing.

We, as believers, know where to hang around (church and church functions), we know what to base our life on (The Bible) and that this world is not our home and we should fix our eyes on heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1, Hebrews 12:1-2). But we have the problem of self, of sin, of wanting what we don’t need and shouldn’t look for.

As Tripp says in the devotional, we have Jesus, and the amazing grace that God pours out on us. Will we still stumble? On this side of eternity, yes. But, God…God and His mercy restores us again and again, and rescues us from the idol of “self.”

Don’t flap around like a silly dove; get grounded in GRACE and His word daily. Run back to Him when you stumble or fall and soak in some of that mercy before you get back on your feet to move forward again.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20, ESV

God Bless,

Barbara