WHEN BAALI BECOMES ISHI
"And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." (Hosea 2:16)

Devotion 1 of 13
INTRODUCTION
      The text we will be considering in this series affirms the triumph of grace over law. it is a prophecy of the time when man's relationship with God would be as wife to her husband, as compared to a slave to a master. This is a study of Law and grace, faith and works, obligation and love.

Under Christ, Compulsion by Law is a Contradiction
     Compulsion by Law is attractive to those that live at a distance from God. It allows them to retain corrupt hearts, yet be identified with a "form of  godliness" that "denies the power thereof" (2 Tim 3:5). This principle is seen in those under the first covenant. Israel boasted in its religious heritage, being confident that having the commandments of God was itself sufficient to qualify them for Divine blessing. Nothing could be further from the truth! They did not know that serving God out of a sense of obligation is not acceptable to Him. In fact, it is a contradiction of His "eternal purpose" in Christ Jesus.

     Prior to "the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2), compulsion was the appointed means of obtaining Divine approval. In Eden, Adam and Eve were motivated by Law: i.e., "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen 2:17). A single commandment became the means of maintaining life. It also became the means through which the curse would be incurred. It is not possible to have fewer laws--and yet that one command proved powerless to affect a  lasting relationship with the God that gave it.

     From Mount Sinai a "fiery law" (Deut 33:2) was issued. The Lord declared that life was dependent upon the efforts of the constituents of the covenant, not the character of the God of the covenant. Thus it is written, "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them" (Rom 10:5). 

     The Law placed the matter of salvation in the hands of men. In such a case, salvation was not received by men but was to be earned by them--and there is a vast difference between these two concepts! That arrangement was not effective for the Israelites, nor is it for us. It only confirmed their incapability of justifying themselves.
     
Law presumes recalcitrance
     Law, as a means to salvation, presumes recalcitrance in those to whom it is addressed. As the Spirit witnesses, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers" (1 Tim 1:9). To be sure, believers are not "without  law" (1 Cor 9:21), but Law is not the foundation upon which their salvation rests.
     
Given to Confirm Man's Condition
     The Law was given to confirm man's sinful and condemned state. It was never intended to be a way of obtaining eternal life. Thus it is written, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God"   (Rom 3:19). For this reason, the law resulted in wrath and indignation toward the very people to whom it was addressed; "Because the law worketh wrath . . . " (Rom 4:15). 

     This is another way of saying man did not have the ability to measure up to the expectations of the Law. How vital it is to see this reality!  This condition is expressed in a pungent poem. "Run, John, Run, the Law demands, but gives him neither feet nor hands Fly, John Fly, grace doth cry, then gives him wings to soar on high!" Blessed day, when an individual perceives this in the heart!
The Law, as a means to salvation, provides no resources, gives no strength, and extends no mercy. There is no grace in Law. Unless it finds flawless obedience, it can only measure your deficiencies, then issue the indictment, "CONDEMNED!" It offers life only in exchange for perfect compliance with the commandments, a condition found in no one but the Son of God. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, I know that I am powerless to keep Your holy and spiritual law on my own. I have tried and failed. I sense that it demands more of me than I am able to give, and unashamedly confess my need of a Savior. How I praise You for provided that most blessed Savior!

-- TOMORROW: PAUL'S EXPERIENCE --