The Daily Office for September 29, 2012
Scripture Readings
Old Testament
Psalm
New Testament
Gospel
Reflection
We know from the opening of Hosea that the word of the LORD came to the prophet, which means it's a prophecy that originated with the Lord and pre-existed in His mind. At a point of time in history it came and was delivered to Hosea for his transmission to the nation Israel. The prophecy, then, is authentic and has the power and authority of God as its basis. In dealing with the words of this prophecy, one is not dealing with the words of man, but rather with the very words of God.
The name Hosea occurs in several forms in the Bible, including Joshua and Jesus. It means salvation, or Jehovah saves. It is interesting to note that the prophet bore the name later given to our Saviour who was the epitome of the tenderness, compassion, and love that Hosea so graphically foreshadowed.
Collect for the Day
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and mortals in a wonderful order: grant that as your holy angels always serve you in heaven, so, at your command, they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.