Nwsltr-072510-The Valley of Achor, find a door of Hope
“In the Valley of Achor or trouble, they would find a door of hope”
By the Watchman
Dana G Smith
keywords: L-RD, G-d, Achor, Hope, Jezreel, Israel, Ephraim, wilderness, believer, Jesus Christ
words: 3897

Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my G-d

The Valley of Achor: meaning ‘trouble’, they would find a ‘door of hope’.

Here in Hosea we find the L-rd G-d wooing, alluring Israel. Hosea speaks to both houses, that is, Israel the Northern Kingdom and Judah itself. The Northern Kingdom had gone away from the L-rd G-d and served other gods. Meanwhile Judah did not. Although the Northern Kingdom was carried away captive, Judah did not get invaded and carried away for some time after the Northern Kingdom.

In this passage we find that the Lord would come to her [Northern kingdom, Israel, Ephraim]  and speak comfortably to her. In this we find the mention of the Valley of Achor. In the midst of her own idolatries and whoredom, G-d is giving her hope. Achor here means trouble and it was in the valley of Achor where Achan and his family were stoned for their sins.  It means trouble.

5911 [`Akowr /aw·kore/] n m. From 5916; TWOT 1621a; GK 6574; Five occurrences; AV translates as “Achor” five times. 1 trouble, disturbance. 1a Achor—as the valley of trouble where Achan and his family were stoned.

Hosea 2:14  ¶Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
15  And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
16  And it shall be at that day, saith the L-RD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the L-RD.
21  And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the L-RD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
22  And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
23  And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my G-d.

Moreover, G-d is speaking to her in her sins and says I will bring her into the wilderness as in the day when she came out of Egypt. It was then that the L-rd G-d had delivered Israel from the Egyptians. It was at the deliverance of Israel where the “Passover Lamb” was instituted as a feast and commemoration to the day of deliverance. For they applied the blood of the Lamb and followed the Paschal observance. This would follow them all their lives. It was a type and foreshadow of Jesus Christ the Passover Lamb.

Revelation 5:6  ¶And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Israel though as we know from scripture did not enter into the promise land the first try. For out of the 12 spies sent into the land only Caleb and Joshua brought back a good report. Therefore, the L-rd G-d led them through the wilderness for their unbelief. It was to be a place of judgment for the unbelief of those of Israel.  The L-rd G-d would bring into the promised land Caleb, Joshua, and the children of those who had murmured against the L-rd G-d.

Numbers 14:29  Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
30  Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
31  But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
32  But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
33  And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredom’s, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness

Thus the ‘wilderness’ experience became known as a place of ‘trial, testing, and of judgment’. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness during which he was tested by the devil. Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness during which the judgment of G-d was completed against those who murmured against the L-rd. But for those who obeyed, it was a time when G-d revealed himself and provided for his own. The descendants of those who murmured along with Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Caleb, and Joshua, plus any others who were not caught up in that sin enjoyed a 40 year experience with the L-rd G-d. They became students and were taught of him, fed by him, and led by him.  It is at these times during the wilderness experience that we really find out about the provision of the L-rd. These times force us to put away all distractions and learn of him. Although we do work at that during other times, it is at the wilderness where he not only proves us and tests us, he reveals himself, his love, and his provision for our needs.

Deuteronomy 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the L-RD doth man live.
4  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
5  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the L-RD thy God chasteneth thee

Now this wilderness was a place where G-d humbled them, and even caused them to hunger. He was as a Father chastising his son or daughter. But in this he fed them with manna. A bread that they had never seen before. The lesson was that man does not live by ‘bread’ alone, that is by the physical things you may eat etc. Man lives, the lesson taught them, by every word that proceeds from G-ds mouth. During this even their raiment or clothes did not wear out. Their feet did not swell, even though they walked through the wilderness. In short, they learned the provision of this great G-d. The very L-rd who led them by fire at night and by cloud in the day.

Exodus 13:21  And the L-RD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

The literally moved from one place to another by the word of the L-rd. They were provided for by the word of the L-rd. When the Son of G-d was in the wilderness,he left us a valuable lesson. This lesson was strong and with power when he pointedly answered the devil in one temptation saying “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of G-d.” It is a lesson that many believers have trouble with. We don’t live by what we can do, earn, find, or manage to get by with. We literally live by “every word that comes from the mouth of G-d”. We do this, even if we do not fully recognize this fact. Even the unbeliever lives by the air they breathe, get warmed by the sun which shines, eats and gets full by the things which grow out of the earth. All these things are called into existence and held together by, “the Word of G-d”.  This is G-ds providence that will provide even for those who don’t believe in him. This is the goodness of G-d! When we enter as believers into the wilderness experience, we are then at that stage where G-d says, “okay, now you will learn what it means to “live by every word of G-d.”

Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

John 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

It is noteworthy here to understand how G-d loved Israel and how much he loves the church today. He loves all men, and commands them to repent. It was G-ds love for both the Jew and the Gentile that he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for all men. It is G-ds love that “commands all men to repent”. He commands us to do that so we won’t face his judgment against sin and death! When men and women do respond to his call, know this, ‘he will never leave them or forsake them’. He may test them, try them, take them into the wilderness, but you can rest your faith on the solid promise, that G-d the Father deals with us as his own children. Thank G-d for that. It is that same love and G-ds mercy that we see in the message Hosea was given for Israel. Even in the midst of their sins and struggle to survive, G-d loved them enough to send a warning and a way out. He loved them, hated their sins and provided for them in the end to be re-united in his blessing, if they would only repent and seek him with all their heart!

Hosea 2: 16  And it shall be at that day, saith the L-RD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

In the verses above we find Hosea saying prophetically Israel would call the L-rd “Ishi”. “Ishi” means my husband. It is a prophecy that G-d would again take Israel as his own. She would no longer call the L-rd “Baali”, which means my master! In other words, Israel would not serve him as a slave to her master. She would not be a harlot to other gods. They would put away the names of the Baal’s from her mouth and the Northern Kingdom would no longer remember them. Instead, she would come to love the L-rd, follow him, and with her heart fall in love with their G-d, as they once had done in the beginning. It would be a relationship of ‘husband and wife’, a union between the G-d who loves them and now the redeemed people who had come to love this G-d. This union is a type of Christ and the church. Baal’s, here means lord. It refers to the chief male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanite’s. In short, they would put away all idols and other gods to serve the living and true L-rd G-d. It is the same thing the L-rd says to the church today.  He will take away the names of the idols and gods you are serving and they shall no more be remembered. He shall take you into the wilderness. It is put this way by Peter ‘judgment must begin at the house of G-d’.

1 Peter 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of G-d: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of G-d?

Hosea goes even further in this and actually relates what is the truth of the ‘millennial reign of Christ’.  These will be a people who will be wed to the L-rd forever. Hosea says the L-RD will ‘betroth thee unto me in righteousness, in judgment, in lovingness, and in mercies.’

Hosea 2:18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the L-RD.
21  And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the L-RD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
22  And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
23  And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my G-d.

When speaking of ‘mercies’, it was prophesied by Isaiah in chapter 55 and verse 3. With it is a plea to “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” This same scripture is quoted in Acts chapter 13 and verse 34 saying “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.”

This is a place prepared for those who have responded to the call of G-d, and have accepted and believed on the ‘sure mercies of David’. Paul was the one giving the sermon on the ‘sure mercies of David’ that day and before he mentioned these mercies he told the listeners that “we declare unto you the glad tidings”. This was the promise made to the fathers. He goes on to say that G-d hath “raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

Acts 13:32  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33  G-d hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Paul started out this whole sermon by giving them the history lesson of what had occurred not too long ago in Jerusalem. In this he speaks of the David the son of Jesse of whom G-d raised up of his seed unto Israel a Savior, Jesus. The sermon then goes on to explain what occurred, that was his death, and then the fact that G-d raised him from the dead. That this fact was witnessed by many people over many days became proven and Paul told them flatly about it.

Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will

Acts 13:23  Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
24  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
28  And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30  But God raised him from the dead:
31  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

Although Hosea speaks to Israel during a time of idolatry and whoredom, it speaks to us today. For in this book by this prophet we find a G-d who in spite of the sins of Israel still loved them and thus worked to bring them to himself. Even so today, when it looks like the church and the world have gone into darkness, there still awaits a G-d, who like during the time of Hosea and the Northern Kingdom says, through the Valley of Achor [trouble], you shall find hope.  This G-d will move to bring her into this valley, which is actually a place of hope. It is a place of judgment yes, but of relationship to this G-d and our Father through Jesus Christ. It is a place where we will find a covenant of hope and a place of nurture amidst the wilderness of the end times.

Hosea 2:14  ¶Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
15  And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
16  And it shall be at that day, saith the L-RD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

But this wilderness will require faith, hope, and love for this G-d, who through his Son has provided for us, salvation and deliverance in his name.  It is a place where in faithfulness we shall know the L-RD. Hosea says of this prophetically, “I will hear” saith the L-RD, “I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.” Here Jezreel means ‘G-d Sows’. It will be time of refreshing, replenishing, and restoration. It will be sown in the earth, and here this G-d will have mercy on her that has not obtained mercy, and to them which were not my people, thou art my people, and they shall say, thou art my G-d. This speaks of those who were alienated from their G-d, separated and without hope or mercy. People who were not his people, but now they would be his people. People who now could say, you are my L-RD and my G-d.  It is the L-rd who sowed his ‘only begotten Son’ so that through his death, those who believe in him may live! It is the Son who gave his life, sowing his life in death so you may be raised from the dead as he was.

Hosea 2: 20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the L-RD.
21  And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the L-RD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
22  And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
23  And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my G-d.

I could write a lot on these verses, especially in relation to the fullness and the types. Corn is abundance, the abundance of the millennium and the kingdom of G-d. The wine is the new wine, the type of the blood of Christ shed for our sins.  The Oil is the Holy Spirit which was given to us. It represents as well the true fullness of the Holy Spirit we shall personally experience in the millennial reign of Christ. It is true we will be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Abundance, growth, joy, and the new age, will be so great, that you will be able to hear the blessing of G-d causing everything to be renewed and in its fullness there will be no curse. For the former things are passed away. Can you say, Hallelujah and Praise G-d for this, our future?

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of G-d, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 21:4  And G-d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our L-rd, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

In the Valley of Achor, or trouble, there is:

The Door of HOPE!

Jesus Said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and go in and out and find pasture”

John 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Prepare your hearts, keep the faith, and ready thyself for the times ahead!