“As indeed He says in Hosea: ‘I will call those who were not My people, “My people,” and her who was not beloved, “Beloved,”’ and, ‘In the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called “sons of the living God.”’” Romans 9:25-26
Paul cites the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1:8ff.), whose son was named Lo-ammi (not my people), to point out that idolatrous Israel was not God’s people. But God also promised through Hosea that He would make people who were not His people be called His people and the children of the living God through faith in the promised Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ.
O LORD God, we were born into this world not your people and in rebellion against You. We thank You for graciously making us Your beloved children by revealing to us Your gift of forgiveness and life through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
“For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36
Those who find the wisdom revealed in God’s Word find life and obtain the favor of the LORD. They see their own sinfulness and guilt before God and look in faith to the perfect righteousness and the innocent sufferings and death of Jesus Christ for pardon and forgiveness, and thus obtain God’s grace and mercy. But those who turn away from this wisdom harm their own souls and choose to continue in the way of death.
Grant that I hear Your Word, O LORD, and be made “wise unto salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15) and obtain life rather than death and damnation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:19
Only by the gracious working of God’s Spirit through His Word can we be turned back to the LORD God and comforted in His mercy. With the Old Testament believers, we pray that God would graciously revive us and turn us from our sinful ways back to Him so that He might be gracious to us, forgive our sins, and give us life and eternal salvation.
“Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“What shall we say then? The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith, but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain the law of righteousness. Why not? Because they did not seek it by faith, but by the works of the law. For they stumbled over the stumbling stone.” Romans 9:30-32
Many people outside Israel, who formerly did not have the Scriptures, heard the Gospel and attained righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Many in Israel, who had the Scriptures, failed to attain righteousness because they sought to be righteous by their works under the law rather than through faith in Christ Jesus, who kept the law for them and then atoned for their sins by His death on the cross.
Grant that I despair of my own righteousness under the law and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross that I might be counted righteous and acceptable in Your sight, O God. Amen.
“What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He previously prepared for glory, even us, whom He has called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?” Romans 9:22-24
Some would fault God for their own unbelief, but who are we to fault God when He finally hardens those who continually reject the truth of His Word and the work of His Spirit? And, how thankful we can be when God, by the Holy Spirit’s working through the Word, graciously brings us, undeserving sinners, to repent of our sins and place our faith in the atoning sacrifice of God’s Son, Christ Jesus!
Thank you, merciful Holy Spirit, for patiently enduring my sinfulness and working through Your Word to bring me to repent and place my faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
