O, GOD!
Hosea 13:14 I 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.
It is amazing, the foreshadowing of His coming; the introduction of salvation; the declaration of love; the proclamation of deliverance; the hope of the condemned; the gospel foretold, tucked away in nooks and crannies of the Old Testament for Christ’s early and latter day believers!
Can you imagine the suffering of godly people in a day their government denies God, promotes temples of idolatry, endorses the slaughter of innocents, justifies perversion, legislates abomination, and leaves their borders defenseless? Israel had completely turned from God and unto worship of their prosperity and abundance. How could a nation fall so far from God? How could a nation, chosen, protected, and blessed by God have turned so far from His counsel? O, God, how the hearts of God’s people must have been burdened and breaking with each further step Israel took away from God! O, God, how your heart must have ached at the rejection of your people!
O, God, when will a people follow you willingly? When will a nation be founded with God’s guidance and direction? O, God, how long will you wait to bring peace on Earth?
In such a time, how could the destruction of the grave and plagues on death not be a great hope? When the world has turned it’s sword of wickedness on God’s people and stabs the blade into each heart one bit further every day; O, God, what hope Hosea proclaims! Who fears the sword when the grave can't destroy? Where is death’s victory when Christ arose, and raises the dead? O, blessed be God for the plague of resurrection which defangs the bite and venom of death; the plague of faith which nullifies the fear of death; the plague of Christ who holds the keys against torment and destruction!
O, God, when will a people and each person individually, find the truth and follow in love that which Love provides?
There is Love, O, God, in God the Son, as He was tormented on that infamous and glorious day to pay the ransom of the grave! There is Love, O, God, in God the Son, as He rose victorious from a ransomed grave to redeem us from the finality of death! Could there have been any other to win the battle of the grave? O, God, thanks for the champion of our soul! Could any other defeat death and open the door to life everlasting? O, God, thanks for the door that death can’t keep shut from everlasting life in Christ!
People will do as they will. Society will do as it will. Nations will do as they will. The world will do as it will. O, God, you have done, already, as your will and none can stand against it!
O, God, these days are as days gone by. We are a people of burdened hearts. We were a nation founded on God’s guidance and direction. We have turned away.
O, God, where is our hope?
The people may turn aside, the nation may deny its birthright, the government may embrace corruption and wickedness, but there is still some salt in the earth to sting the infection, arrest the rottenness, and cause a great thirst. O, God, may your people rise to the occasion and as you plagued death, so also with your power, may we be plagues against the world’s way! Satan may be an influence, but people make the choice to follow one master or another. There will come a day when all people and peoples will bow down and recognize only one master. O, God, have mercy!
History seems written to be repeated. History’s scripts are followed time and again without error.
O, God, there was a nation chosen by God and it turned away! At that distant time, was there any nation left to light the way? Is it any wonder after this extinguishing light that Christ came?
O, God, there is a nation that chose God and is turning away! Will there be any other to light the way? Is it any wonder in these waning days Christ will come again?
O, God, delay not! May we seek your face and proclaim the gospel! Who knows the day of rapture? Will it be a day of silence? When every voice which knows the gospel and keeps silent, will that be the day? When every voice which proclaims the gospel is silenced, will that be the day? When every ear which can hear the gospel turns away, will that be the day? When a nation of God’s grace uses grace as a license to be wicked, will that be the day?
Our eyes witness her fall. They flood with overflowing tears. O, God, is this judgment! Must we witness the fall we did not prevent? Must we witness the fall too far gone to affect? O, God, with many deaths and death not feared she raised her head above the nations of the world! As Christ’s example on the cross of Calvary, so too, she raised blood stained hands to the world and said, “Come!” Her hands weren’t raised in anger, but in love, not for prosperity, but to welcome the oppressed, inviting the like-minded and free. Who is she without the gospel of Christ? Is it any wonder we fear to fight when we fear the death of free men?
O, God, who is free without Christ?
Galatians 4:29-31, 5:1 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
