Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 07 December 2010

G'day, said in my second-best Aussie accent.    Yes, it's dark out and a bit late to be saying anything but "good evening' or "good night" but whatever.
No snow on the ground, none expected tonight.  Later in the coming week, possibly or probably.  Whatever.

Well, brother-in-law came over today.  And there is a bathtub in our 2nd bathroom.  Caulked and sealed and all.  Not usable yet, no drain yet.  He's planning to come over tomorrow afternoon and crawl into the well named crawl space underneath, and connect the drain.  So at least one more day of the sink/sponge baths.  Getting just a bit old, but it is what it is, and I've certainly done it before and been glad for the opportunity.  So, Lord willing, by this time tomorrow we should at least be able to do a soak. Still have to install the surround panels, etc. and, come the retirement check in another week or two, buy a tension rod to hang a shower curtain and buy the curtain as well.  So perhaps a bit of progress to note.  It'd be nice.

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Today, the completion of the book of Hosea.  This has not been light reading, not the sort of thing that the name it and claim it preachers like to use as a text.  This has been full of judgment and warning, judgment that came to pass and was pretty awful.  All of it over practices and attitudes that seem all too familiar. 

Hosea 13

1When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

2And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

5I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

7Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

8I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

9O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

10I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

11I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

13The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

15Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

16Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Hosea 14

1O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.