Once Too Often
July 29 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. Hosea 1:6 NASB
Compassion – There is no doubt that Israel deserved God’s anger. Israel sinned once too often. God just couldn’t tolerate that arrogant disregard for His honor. He decided to punish Israel and He warned them, “I will no longer have raham toward you.” The translation “compassion” isn’t quite strong enough. The word also means deep affection, tender mercy and unbreakable bond. God tells Israel that He is going to walk away. It’s over.
Are we any different than Israel? Can you stand before the Holy One and tell Him that you haven’t sinned once too often? Do you expect mercy?
I have discovered a disturbing pattern in life. It seems that just as I make great strides forward in my devotion for God, the yetzer ha’ra bolts for the door, dragging me into one more “too often” sin. I should not be surprised. The yetzer ha’ra is absolutely opposed to God’s will for me. But it doesn’t do any good for me to try to get rid of the yetzer ha’ra in my life. It is not some foreign substance or external enemy (although it often acts like that). The great enemy yetzer ha’ra is me! It is the motive power that gets me going, that propels me toward desires and provides the energy needed for me to change my world. Without it, I would not be human. But with it, I am in a battle to be human. Worst of all, when I fall from grace in these collapses into selfish fulfillment, the yetzer ha’ra is the first to remind me that I have sinned once too often and God will now take His leave. I deserve to be abandoned. I am unworthy of His grace.
Where is the way out? How can I rediscover that desire for Him, that desperate need to be with Him when I am the child of disobedience named lo-ruhamah? Perhaps I need to hear anew the insights of the rabbis. They teach me that I must continue to make a home with the yetzer ha’ra but I must domesticate its power so that all this energy fuels God’s will for me. How can I do that? First, by not trying to erase who I am but rather by discovering that God uses even my sin to prepare the way to Him. Secondly, by strengthening the inclination to good so that it can compete with my own worst enemy on an even playing field. To do that, I need help. I am very practiced at sin. I need practice at being a blessing for others. The more you provide me the opportunity to bless you, the stronger my desire to follow in God’s way becomes. Without you, I am doomed to myself.
And last, but certainly not least, I remember God’s self-definition in Exodus 34:6. The very first thing He says about Himself is that He is raham. That will never change. He runs toward me the moment I step toward Him. He sees my coming a long way off. I might have sinned against heaven and earth, but He will still give me a new name.
Topical Index: raham, Hosea 1:6, yetzer ha’ra, sin. Exodus 34:6
Ouch! His finger on my sore spot! Skip, how do you know my life?
I only recently discovered I desperately need my brothers who oppose me so much, to see the fruit of the spirit grow as well as to see that it isn’t even halfway yet…
Double ouch! Well said Skip! Thanks for shedding more light on this troublesome area for me.
Ouch cubed! 🙂
But please explain, Skip, why it appears here that God has come to the end of the line with Israel (and us), and yet we know that He says elswhere He will never forsake them. God doesn’t have fits of pique!
But we need to read on in the next chapter. G_d does give the new names, cleanses the adulteress and woos her with great tenderness again.
Hsa 2:14 ¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
Hsa 2:20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.
Donna – These are exactly the kind of verses I was referring to; but they don’t explain the apparent changing of His mind!
excerpt from the Pulpit commentary:
…the explanation is the connecting link between the enormity of our sins and the greatness of the Divine mercy; between the vileness of our iniquities and the deep riches of Divine grace.
Long previously God had said, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” The secret of such striking contrasts is that where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Egypt having been to Israel the house of bondage, the exodus from that land represents deliverance out of a servile, suffering condition. end.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
God’s Word still speaks sweetly to us and draws sinners out of the world of lonely, desolate wanderings, He draws men to His own heart which is gracious and loving.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Heb. 13: 8
Thank you. 🙂
No, He doesn’t. But the people needed to know how serious this is. As we see in the rest of Hosea, God never really gives them up, but all the evidence is against them and from our perspective there is no reason why He shouldn’t give them up, except of course, that He is God.
Yep….we ‘have met the enemy – and it is ME’ … not some floaty apparition that I can not put my finger on – but a real life in the flesh blob…me. Sigh….
Now…if all of us would truly realize this fact of who He has made us .. and who He is… (and not just say it as words that simply fall off our lips with no ‘walk’ behind it) we would be able to embrace our fellow man, our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and realize….we are simply on our way to ‘becoming human’.
May it be so beginning with me….
This TW got me thinking a little about yetzer ha’ra, naturally. Is the yetzer ha’ra like fire? Do I need to learn to think of yetzer ha’ra in this regard somewhat, like a fire?
Fire can be so destructive, so powerful. It can burn hideously and viciously. It can incinerate thoroughly and completely.
On the other hand, tamed, controlled and directed fire can also do great good. It can power huge trains, move gigantic ocean liners, provide power for millions all depending on how fire is harnessed, contained, focused and directed, plus, a myriad of other marvelous feats when properly manipulated.
Can I look at my yetzer ha’ra as a gift designed to be learned, studied and mastered in such a way as to do great and mighty things for God? Shall I see it as my passions unguarded waiting for me to tame and ride them to blessings toward God and my fellow life travelers? Or is my yetzer ha’ra, untamed and unruledby me my own personalized ticket to hell on earth?
There are multitudes of fierce and mighty beasts that roam the earth. Haven’t we been charged with taking dominion over the earth and all within it? Have any of those awesome beasts that roam the earth not sensed and felt the dominion aspects of man in their regard? If our yetzer ha’ra is the beast that crouches at the door, they why am I succumbing to it, fearful of it so much of the time? Why am I not being the master of it continually ruling over it?
Has not Yeshua paved and then shown us the path by which and on which we can do this very thing, rule over the beast, the yetzer ha’ra, that once God created us with, declared it good in its place? He has given us the direction and power through Torah, his chesed, and his Ruach by walking as he walked.
Maybe we might not be able to walk completely as Yeshua did, without total lawlessness, but should we not strive towards that goal as if we could? If I love him, shouldn’t I demonstrate it by keeping his instructions? All of them? How can I say they have no claim on me, that each one applicable to me is what God demands of me. Isn’t being in oneness with his instructions evidence that his grace is tangible and alive in me?
My daughter, during her late teens became troubled and as a result created a vicious quality in her life. She rebelled and did terrible things. I can’t count the times I became livid with her. My blood boiled, my blood pressure rose dangerously. I was very angry with her. I was also hurt and wounded by her vile attitude and actions. I hate to admit it, but a few moments I wanted to simply wash my hands of her. Yet, even at her worst, I loved her. I ached for her heart to be close to mine once again. My face, mind, heart and soul were always pointed towards her even while she walked away from me. Finally, when she faced her travesty, she turned back toward me and her family. My heart leaped and I moved toward her. I don’t care how much destruction she produced, I could never not love her, even when she was at the height of her self destructive life. Any pain, penalty and punishment (not speaking about discipline here) that came her way was purely due to her own actions, not mine. All it would take to leave all that was for her to stop, turn from her ways and look to me (us, her family.) Then healing could begin.
I can’t describe that first ‘glance’ she showed of her repentance. Joy and gratefulness and love is what I felt. All I wanted was to help her, to love her, to heal her. I could only do that if and when she turned back toward me and allowed it. She did, eventually. The little troubled girl who shore she never wanted to have kids turned out to be one of the best, loving, and cheerful mothers I’ve seen in a long time. My heart leaps just now thinking of her as a mother.
It’s hard for me to picture God being less than the greatest I could ever hope to be as a parent. Walking away from him is hell. Self imposed. A needless loss to the tamable beast that crouches at the door, making a home with us waiting for us to domesticate it in to usefulness and purpose and glory to God.
The yetzer ha’ra. It’s there for us as a gift to tame and rule. A life lesson for each and every day in how to walk in the ways of Yeshua by domesticating our passions under the guidance and care of his word, Torah, as visually demonstrated in the earthly life of haMassiach.
I’ll work on being brief tomorrow. 🙂
Michael C,
It seems were saying the same thing today! I like the “fire” analogy”. 🙂
EXCELLENT! What great connections to the Genesis account. THANK YOU.
Thank YOU, Skip!
You are the one who took us on a tour of the garden looking at it differently than we ever had before.
Thank you for gently jarring us to open our eyes to see without a veil covering our seeing properly.
Michael C,
I appreciate your long postings, thanks for sharing from your heart. Shalom!
Thanks, Ester. It’s certainly a joy to share nuggets of wisdom that others have shared with me.
I’ve enjoyed the many I’ve found in here.
What a blessing.
Skip,
This reminded me of a teaching I recently heard by Dr. Hollisa Alewine. Beast and man were created on day 6 (in that order). This is why the number of a beast is also the number of man. Rather simple really. We each have a choice to make each day: will we act like the beast (yetzer hara) and display his image? Or will we choose to act like a man (human) created in God’s image?
The beast (yetzer hara) was created first. Dr. Alewine refers to this part of us as a “bundle of appetites”. It is what drives us to eat, sleep, procreate, and expand our territory. It is a needful part of our existence. But it must be mastered by the “younger” man created in YHWH’s image. And so we see this principle of the older serving the younger throughout the Torah. (For example: Esau and Jacob)
Your words today remind me that like Cain, I must master this enemy within. And allow the younger to rule my walk. It seems that most things that distract me from hitting that mark of obedience really do come from my “beastly” desires to eat, sleep, procreate, and expand my territory. It’s very humbling to think that when all the water boils out of the pot, I sin because I have allowed this animal-like nature to rule instead of my younger “man”.
I pray that the Creator helps us to find the delicate balance between these 2 natures. For when the beast or yetzer hara is ruled by the younger “man”, these desires serve us instead of us serving them.
K,
I like your explanation. It makes sense to me. Thanks.
Amen and amen. Todah rabbah, K, and to you too, Skip. I can completely relate in so many ways! The insight of the older serving the younger is especially profound. This is part of what the rabbis call the shiv’im paniym la’torah – the seventy faces to the Torah. One can study Torah continually, year by year for at least 70 years and learn something new every time around. Baruch ha’Shem YHVH.
Rodney down in Australia, & the rest of you, please forgive me for jumping in this & not on the subject, BUT, your family especially your MUM, (mother) and of course with her is your father, what is going on with them? PLEASE LET US KNOW., I PRAY OFTEN FOR ALL OF YOU.
I have so much to say, but so far never time to write coherently about it. But in due season, I plan to write on old age, death, the body of Christ, and what we have experienced in the last eight or ten months. However; I must never pass up the opportunity to speak for THE FAITHFULNESS OF OUR GOD, HIS SON, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- USING HIS WILLING PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CENTRAL TX town! WHAT A GLORIOUS CREATOR WE HAVE–AWESOME –NO WORDS ARE ADEQUATE TO DESCRIBE ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US. MAY HIS LOVE BE RECIEVED BY EACH OF US. LaVaye Billings
Love your post and I love Dr. Alewine – what a gifted teacher!
Shalom
At the risk of clouding this insightful TW with another metaphor, imagine the headlights on your automobile. They are called headlamps. Drivers are encouraged to clean them often so that the light coming from them is not obscured. A rain storm, crossing a ford, driving through a mud puddle will dirty the lens. Routine, everyday driving is all it takes sometimes to block the light. Actually, the light is not diminished, it is the lens through which the light shines that is obscured. The light inside the lamp is just as bright and the connection to the source is just as secure. A simple cleaning restores the observable beam as if nothing had happened. A thorough washing once again lights the way.
From the mountain the LORD says, “If you obey my commandments and hear my voice, then you will be My treasured possession.” From the hillside He says, “You are the light of the world…” In both occasions the “you” is plural. Is there a personal aspect? Yes; but only in the context of community. In my metaphor you and I – individually – are not the lens. You and I, and the host of all believers together make up the one lens that the LORD has chosen to shine His light to the whole earth. The whole of the lens is comprised of millions of cells. When each cell is clean and whole, then the light inside shines brighter to the outside. Even when many cells are dirty, the light is not extinguished. My sin does impact the observable light; but never the Source from which the light emanates. Take King David for example. More than the personal impact of his sin, David’s greater remorse was how his sin gave opportunity to God’s enemies to blaspheme His Name.
In terms of learning to manage and discipline my yetzar ha’ra I am coming to understand that while my struggle is not unique among believers, my recovery is more about preserving the integrity of the light than about my personal welfare. Motivation can be an essential element in maintaining momentum, and being reminded that I am a part of a lens that is much bigger than me creates – for me – a sense of accountability. It’s not enough to be a part if a community. One must be committed to the community and realize the community is counting on them. It’s called solidarity.
Roderick,
We need to hear more from you.
Please.
My treasured possession is the unity of believers as they work together (doing chesed) expanding the light…John 1:1-9…light, John 17:1-10, unified action. As the community becomes unity it lights the way…Great article Roderick!
Rodney,
Thanks for that lesson and pointer toward the Hebrew language studies.
With all the emphasis on the inspiration of Scripture, I wonder how many Christians realize the Hebrew Tanakh has in the text: 1-enlarged letters, 2-smaller than normal size letters, 3-raised letters, 4-unexpected dagesh’s, 5-broken vav’s, 6-rotated and upside down nun’s, and 6-letters with extra points.
His written word cannot be changed or fixed or corrected. All these little ditties have to be dealt with somehow. Why, in this whole chapter, is THIS letter larger than all the others? Or why is THIS letter smaller than all the others? Was the scribe drunk when he wrote this nun rotated or upside down? What to do? How to explain?
It’s nice and easy and cozy to sit in the comfort of an English or other language translation. You don’t have to wrestle with all the myriad of intricacies and deep mysteries of the original language. With an English translation all we have to do is put all our eggs in the basket of the people that translated how THEY thought it should say, sometimes with only ONE English word representing a concept that must be understood so deep and so wide that a decade of learning will suffice as an introduction in efforts to understand it.
I just can’t lean back and relax in that frailty of understanding anymore. I need the seventy faces of the Torah ever before me. I’m constantly tilling ground in search of new understanding of Torah.
You simply can’t understand about Yeshua’s “follow me” invitation or someone grabbing the corner of his clothes without knowing the Hebrew language and Hebrew world and Hebrew culture. It is mandatory. Anything less in regards to attempting to decipher his words apart from these principles is just irresponsible and lacking in a major way, no matter how sweet and tender you cloth it.
Skip and others go a long way in helping me do that! Thank you.
“The word also means deep affection, tender mercy and unbreakable bond.”
This is the same bond and tender love we have towards our kids. How can we ever not forgive them?
Just like what Michael C posted above, we seek and hope their eyes be opened to their faults, and ‘come home’ to the racham love none other can give except from a parent/s.
(I love this song-Come Home, by Jonathan Settel)
On the other hand I seek if I was in any way not as understanding and caring as I ought to be expressing in difficult times.
I am one when overwhelmed, or hurt, goes blank in my mind, not knowing what to do in that situation, and I withdraw into my ‘closet’. Hopefully I have learned to be more communicative, more expressive these days, than to be overcomed by emotions.
“I need practice at being a blessing for others. The more you provide me the opportunity to bless you, the stronger my desire to follow in God’s way becomes.” Amein.
I have found this to be absolutely TRUE! As I help, bless, guide others, I get doubly blessed and strengthened, also “by your pupils you’ll be taught” as well. They put you on alert all the time as you know they will be watching you.
“He runs toward me the moment I step toward Him. He sees my coming a long way off. I might have sinned against heaven and earth, but He will still give me a new name.”
This brought tears….
Reminded me of the beautiful prodigal son parable.
How could anyone from this verse, ever presume that ABBA’s precious Yisrael will be forsaken or rejected!!!! They need to seek forgiveness!
The Man in the Mirror ♩2 SELF
~We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ~
According to Biblical instruction: ~ You are (now) dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God ~
(Colossians 3.3)
“We have met the enemy, and he is us!” (Pogo)
The “yetzer hara” has an identity. It it “self.” I am/you are – our own worst enemy.
EGO – Edge God Out
Maybe John could help us to understand:
~ Beloved, (that’s us!) if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ~
(1 John 3.21)
Herein lies “the rub!”
“If our heart does not condemn us!”
Yes, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart!
So.. let’s get right down to the real “nitty-gritty!
– Is your heart (Carl) right with God? –
Right here. Right now. Today and in this hour- Is your heart (Carl) right with God?
Is there nothing between my soul and the Savior?
Only one thing separates between God and man! (and what is that one thing?)
Carl, (I am speaking to my soul!)- yes, “talkin’ to my “self!” May I?
What “happened” to Adam and Eve in the garden? Did they disobey the clear instructions of their Creator? Yes, for disobedience is sin. (everytime).
What “happened” to David, right after the prophet Nathan told him, – “you are that man!” David’s “heart” instantly (thank God!) condemned him. The arrow had found it’s mark and he was convicted of his sin. David recognized and realized, convicted and condemned by the guilty conscience within his own breast,
– “I” (David) have sinned..-
Why did David “feel” guilty? Could it possibly be because he WAS guilty? Did David transgress the law?
We hhe guilty of adultery and guilty of the blood of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah?
As in the garden, “DId God say?” “You shall not commit adultery” and “you shall not kill?-”
(just in case we have forgotten)
Not only did He say it, – the words were written on tablets of stone!
No one, (no not one) may be saved, until he (or she) is first “lost.” Step #1 for any man, woman or child is the realization and recognition and “ownership” of this: “I (too) have sinned.”
As simple as I know how to say- we provide the “sinner,”- and God provides the Savior. Yes, Abraham.. (with 20/20 hindsight, we know) ~ God will provide Himself the Lamb ~
No one, -not one man will ever know the joy of sins forgiven, until the confession is made unto our ABBA-Father, – “I have sinned..” We ALL must find our own “selves” in the place of the son who also one blessed day, one happy day- “came to himself” and said to his own “self”- “what am I doing here?” I will go home to my Father!
First, the conviction of sin. (His part). Second, the confession of sin. (our part)
What? Who me? Who is it among us that would dare say- “I have never sinned!” or as our (sinless) Savior said: ~ Which of you convinces me of sin? ~ Friends, I have to agree (upon a very close examination), I (too) ~ find no fault in Him! ~ but as for the man in the mirror- well.. – that’s another story!
Next, (His part)- the cleansing and covering of sin- (for He has said) ~ Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer ~ (Hebrews 10.17) and ~ if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! ~ This (to me- another “chief” among sinners, (move over Paul) is worth of many double-back flips and is grounds for a man to shout Hallelujah, (or if you prefer.. a very prim and proper, and most “respectable” amen!)
~ Oh, what joy (this is what “blessed” is folks!) for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight ~ (Romans 4.7)
“Relationship restored” -and ~ sin no longer has dominion/authority over you! ~ for we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! ~ (and.. loves us still, today!)
And when did He stop loving us? – Never!
~ Bless the LORD, O my soul..- and all that is within me- bless His Holy Name!! ~
O magnify the LORD with me,
Ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath
Now in His Name rejoice.
For Love’s blest revelation,
For rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation,
To Him give thanks.
Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thee,
May all the people praise Thy Name
Forever and forevermore.
O praise Him for His holiness,
His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood
Which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us;
From depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us.
To Him give thanks.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Had I a thousand tongues to sing,
The half could ne’er be told
Of love so rich, so full and free,
Of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never,
Peace flowing as a river
From God, our glorious Giver.
To Him give thanks.
~ Of David. A maskil. Blessed (what joy!) is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered ~ (Psalm 32.1)
David knew this “blessedness,” this happy state of being.. – Do we?
Sin is the cause of ALL misery.
There are three ways it is viewed in Scripture:
sin – transgression – iniquity
Each has its own special remedy, or manner of removal.
The “transgression” is “lifted up,” “taken away,”
The “sin” is “covered, …. hidden”
The “iniquity” is “not imputed”
This covers it all — and is the complete remission or forgiveness.
Our works of righteousness are all fifthly, our excuses are to narrow to cover, we have no formula for lifting the rap sheet condemning us.
O, what to do?!
Shall we run to the law? No, for the law condemns us.
Run to the waiting arms of Jesus, He spread them on the cross and they are open still to all who will come.
Sin, so vile, so stinking nasty, was transferred from the sinner to Christ, really and judicially, just as the sins of the people of Israel were put upon the scapegoat, and was bore far away by him, nobody knows where he ran off to, sight of him was lost from those who stood and watched with squinted eyes, both guilt and punishment, and taken away, finished, and made an end of; and by the application of his blood and sacrifice it is taken away from the sinner’s conscience; it is caused to pass from him, and is carried away, as far as the east is from the west; it is so lifted off from him as to give him ease and peace, no worry that it can ever return to accuse him anymore — such a one is happy; he has peace, comfort, calmness, and serenity. He now can appear before God serve him without fear; there will never be found an indictment against him anymore –there is now, therefore, no condemnation to anyone found in Christ Jesus.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Christ’s blood was spilled across all the lines of accusation written against us
He is the mercy seat, the covering of all that the law had against us and shields us from the wrath and righteous judgment of it.
Then we are covered with the fragrant, beautiful, clean, perfect robe of Christ’s righteousness, all our sins are covered from the eye of Divine Justice; but not from the His omniscience, — He sees and corrects those who belong to Him, as a Father corrects a son he loves. O praise Him for His love!
http://youtu.be/brVIlXlJRkQ
It’s hard to image that sin is the cause of all misery when the book of Job stands opposed to this declaration. If God calls Job righteous, are you claiming he was in sin.
I’m not claiming Job was in sin. I could have got my point across better tho.
No, God did say Job was blameless and that’s good enough for me, and yet he sure was in misery.
I do not sit with Jobs ‘friends’.
A far better way to say what I meant would have been this world was perfect without sin and in perfection there is no misery. Even a headache,– nobody would have had one in a world without sin.
Storms? no, blight on crops? no, death? no, fleas on the cat? no, etc. to me that equals all misery is because of sin (coming into the world)
Even when I have to pick out a certain dress for something, and its aggravating and tiresome,
I blame Eve. (partly joking–partly not)
In the end, Job repented. Why I wondered, since God said he was blameless.
In his suffering, Job had charged God with acting unjustly.
Job repented of that capacity within himself, as brought forth in his trial, of being at odds with God. He may not have believed beforehand that he was capable of arguing with and questioning God’s goodness and justice and wisdom. But the crucible brings all to the surface, and in his trial, he said things about God that an enemy would say.
Job was surprised to discover that about himself.
With that realization came repentance, not so much of what he had done, but of what he WAS—a being capable of becoming an enemy of God. In the end, he abhorred himself for that capacity in himself to believe anything bad about God.
That is an important realization for anyone. By the end of the account, Job had made a conscious decision to live by faith in God’s goodness, and not question it anymore.
God is good. Amen.
My wife and I had a Jewish one friend one time. While she was not a practicing Jew, she did share much with us concerning her perspective on life as an Israeli Jew. She told us about her temper, and that she looked at her temper as a team of strong horses, horses which needed to be reined in and instructed to work together to run at her command. She never referred to yetzer ha’ra, but she knew what she was talking about.
Did Yeshua not sin? is this because He walked in the “LAW” perfectly?