Transcript
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[music]
Hello everyone. We've reached [music]
the ha of a hosa who prophesied during
the days of Isaiah, yodom, Ahaz, and
Yehiska, [music] kings of Yehuda, and
during the days of Yuravam, the king of
Israel after [music] many years in which
the kingdom of Israel was divided in
two. Hosa first rebukes [music] the
people for serving God with deceit and
falsehood. and he praises Yehuda for
their loyalty to God. [music]
At the same time, the prophet reminds us
of God's love for the Jewish [music]
people and his abundant mercy. In our
episode, God speaks to the Jewish nation
via the prophet Hosa. He tells us how
[music] much he loves us even when we
distance ourselves from him. The prophet
describes the [music] relationship
between God and the Jewish people as
that of a father to his children. God
looks upon his [music] people and sees
how they get confused again and again.
Sometimes they draw close to him.
Sometimes they run away. [music]
Sometimes they pray to him and ask for
help. But when things are good for them,
they forget. He calls to them. My people
wonder whether to return to me. [music]
Meaning their hearts are caught between
truth and falsehood, between repentance
and sin. They want to return, but they
[music] can't fully rise up. And even
so, God does not give up on them. He
says, "How [music] can I give up on my
nation? How can I hand you over, Israel?
Like a father looking at his child who
made mistakes, but just can't [music]
bring himself to punish him because his
heart is broken, God says that his heart
turns within him and his compassion
[music] is stirred. He cannot destroy
his people because he is not a man. He
is God and he is holy. His mercy is not
like human mercy. He says, "I will not
unleash my anger [music] for I am God
and not a man." That is even when they
deserve punishment, he restrains his
anger and his great mercy. Afterwards,
the prophet tells what [music] will
happen in the future. A day will come
when the Jewish people will once again
follow God. Like children who listen to
their father, he will roar like a lion,
but not out of anger, but rather it will
be [music] a call of love, and the
children, the Jewish people, will hear
his voice from afar, be moved, and
return home from all the places to which
they have wandered. from Egypt, from
Assyria, from all corners of the world.
They will come like doves returning to
their nests [music] and God will gather
them with love and bring them back to
their homes in peace. But after such
warm words, the prophet also describes
the sad reality of the Jewish nation and
especially the tribe of Ephraim. They
have strayed very far from the truth.
They chase after the wind, [music]
meaning they pursue empty things that
have no substance. They rely on
alliances with [music] other nations,
with Assyria and with Egypt. Instead of
trusting in God, instead of putting
their faith in God, they believe in
[music] their own strength and their
wealth. Even Yehuda, the tribe from the
south, is still closer to God, but
they're also in decline. [music]
Therefore, the prophet says that God
will contend with Yehuda. He l judged
them accordingly. Not merely [music] to
punish them, but to guide them back to
the right path. And then, Hosa reminds
us of our forefather Yakov. When he was
a baby in his mother's womb, he grabbed
his brother's [music] heel. Later, he
fought with the angel, cried and prayed,
and in the end, he prevailed and earned
the name Israel. This isn't just an old
story. It's [music] a reminder for
generations. Even when it's hard, even
when it seems there's no chance, a Jew
fights, prays, holds [music] on to
faith, and doesn't give up. Whoever
fights for their connection with God
merits closeness to him. And then comes
[music] the verse that sums up the
prophet's entire message. and you return
to your God. Keep kindness and justice
and always hope to your God.
This is essentially the [music] Jewish
path to a complete life. Return to God.
Treat people with kindness and justice
and always hope in him even when it's
dark. Even when you fall, even when it's
hard to understand, don't lose hope. But
the people continue on their way.
Ephereim boasts, "I have made it. I have
found wealth. I have done no wrong."
They are sure that money and success
prove they're doing fine. But God sees
beyond that. He knows that wealth
doesn't cover up flaws in character,
[music]
deceit, or a lack of justice.
He reminds them, "I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt. I am the one who
brought you to freedom. I am the one who
gave you everything you have. And I
[music] will yet return you to
simplicity and holiness. as in the days
of old, like the days when you were in
the desert, living intents, without
pride and without desire, but with a
pure and simple heart.
[music] God reminds them that he always
sent prophets, holy people who spoke his
words, who warned and guided the Jewish
nation. He spoke through them, [music]
trying again and again to awaken the
hearts of the people. But many did not
want to listen.
They offered sacrifices in the wrong
places at Gilgal and Gilad and built
altars on every corner. Outwardly, it
seemed [music] like they were serving
God. But in reality, they did it without
meaning, without [music] true intention
and heart. God says, "I have mercy on
you. I will not destroy you. I will
[music] bring you back home." This is a
lesson in faith and great love. Because
even [music] when a Jew falls, even when
he gets confused, even when he thinks he
has [music] strayed too far, God waits
for him. He does not close the door like
a compassionate father. He only [music]
wants us to lift our heads and return to
him because there is nothing in the
world that can sever the bond between
God and the Jewish people.
