Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

July 4: 2Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

Scripture: Hosea (NIV) 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife…
3 …and she bore him a son.
4 And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu…”
6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel…”
8 When she had weaned NO Mercy, she conceived and bore a son…
9 And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”
10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea…And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

Observation: The Word of the LORD through Hosea started with his marriage and continued through the birth of three children. The fullness of the message that started with judgment, and progressed to judgment without mercy, then to rejection by God, ended with restoration to a place of favor as God’s children. It took over 27 months of pregnancy and weaning before the message was complete.

Application: God’s word to Sharon and I about blessing our home with a child was fulfilled in about 1 month. God’s word that he was going to send us back to where I came from was partially fulfilled in 12 months (to Bayview Chapel in Hawaii), but then totally fulfilled by his further word and direction 168 months later (to Kansas)! I must be patient to wait on the Lord for the fullness of His word AND the fulfillment of His word!

Prayer: Lord, in my life You have proved yourself FAITHFUL! Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!