READING FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2026: HOSEA 2, MATTHEW 12, PSALM 9:1-12                         HOSEA 2 God uses the first seven verses of this chapter to recount His past overwhelming love for His people, figuratively speaking His wife, while enduring their continual pursuit of other gods, figuratively speaking other lovers.  He says if she doesn’t change her behavior, He will be forced to strip her naked, put her to death, and take no pity on her children. He says Israel has stated their intention to pursue other lovers/gods because they believe they have provided material security. God mercifully responds that He will obstruct her foolish way with thorns.  These are the severe mercies of God that we may not enjoy but keep us from pursuing evil. Eventually Israel will understand that God is the better husband after all and return to Him. 

Starting with verse eight God reemphasizes that His people were oblivious to the fact that the wealth she offered to false gods was originally provided to her by God. Once again God states He will remove this material support, which she misused. Those false gods/lovers who look ap- pealing will not rescue Israel when they go through this discipline. May we not be under any illusion that the world’s non-Biblical philosophies will provide for us in our times of need or sorrow. God’s punishment or discipline mentioned in verse 13 is actually His mercy to us in that it causes us to understand the futility of going a different way than He has revealed to us.   

Starting with verse 14 we learn of God’s continuing pursuit of His people, including us. He doesn’t force us to believe in Him. We can’t pass a law to make others become Christians. The NIV translation says God “allures” us and speaks “tenderly” to us. Similarly, the New Testament directs us to speak the truth in love. What was once the Valley of Achor (i.e., trouble), will become a door of hope. All the remaining verses speak to a time of marital bliss where past unfaithfulness will be forgotten. In fact, all conflicts will be abolished (vs. 18). 

That this good future is meant to include His people at Yorktown Methodist Church and all Christians is confirmed by Paul quoting vs. 23: “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God” (Rom 9:25-26). 

MATTHEW 12 The chapter begins with Pharisees denouncing Jesus’s disciples for munching on heads of grain as they walked through the fields on the Sabbath. There was no law prohibiting this on the Sabbath, but there was one permitting this in general (Deut.23:25). Jesus responded by giving two Old Testament examples, one involving David and one a temple priest, that might be considered legally questionable if one were focused on trying to trump up violations. In both cases they were blameless. Even though His disciples broke no law, Jesus used this opportunity to reveal His lordship over and fulfillment of the law. He also 

READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2026 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 12, PSALM 9:1-12            addressed the Pharisees’ underlying problem of trying to earn righteousness by piling on needless, even harmful rules: “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). Let’s not equate manmade rules and tradition with God’s Word! Jesus went on to show His compassion on that Sabbath day by healing a man with a withered hand. As the Pharisees plotted how to destroy Jesus, He continued to heal all who came to Him. Jesus told those He healed not to make Him known. He connected this request with an extended reference from Isaiah. This reference seems related to his trial before Pilate (no quarrelling) and the result of His resurrection (hope for the Gentiles). Thus, Jesus might have considered excessive news about his healings as hindering His main mission: the cross. The controversy about Jesus casting out demons by the Spirit gave Him another opportunity to declare the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus then said anyone not gathering with Him scatters. Finally, He connected this scattering with speaking against the Spirit, which is termed unpardonable sin. How might one be guilty of Kingdom scattering or Holy Spirit opposition? Certainly, by rejecting Jesus. 

Quick thoughts for the rest of the chapter:

• Jesus stated that our words reveal our heart and warns that we will be accountable for our words at the final judgment. (Thus, seek a purer heart from which our words will naturally flow.)
• Jesus refused to give the scribes signs to validate His claims other than the upcoming resurrection. (For those still in doubt about the reality and importance of the resurrection, read 1 Cor. 15). 
• Jesus said Jonah and Solomon point to Him, the greater Jonah and greater Solomon. 
• Finally, Jesus said His biological family is not necessarily his genuine family. Rather it is those who do God’s will. His family did not initially believe in Him (Mark 3:21).                                                                                                

PSALM 9:1-12 David begins the Psalm committing to give joyful thanks and praise both in word and in song. What a great idea to commit to doing this regardless of our feelings, circumstances, or even available time. Can we do the same? Likely David was busy, too. Before analyzing the rest of this particular Psalm, let’s review some interpretative principles that apply to those of us on this side of Jesus’s life, resurrection, and indwelling of the Holy Spirt. These principles are necessary for a whole class of Psalms known as Imprecatory Psalms:

• Remember that in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raised the behavioral standards from the Old Testament: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:43-44). 
• We still battle against evil, but not directed against any person or people. Hear Paul: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).            

With this in mind, for verses 3-6, words like “enemies,” “wicked,” “nations,” and “cities” can refer to spiritual temptations or sins that keep challenging us. Here are some examples: anger, inappropriate sexual thoughts, jealousy, laziness, hopelessness, food obsessions, or even Satan. If the names of persons negatively still come to mind, take Jesus’s suggestion to pray for them. Finally, here is one suggestion for verse 12 where it says, “declare His deeds.” Be bold. Post on Facebook, send a text, or write an email to someone, sharing a great attribute of God, a blessing from God, or even something from today’s Bible reading.