1When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. 2And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. 3They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. 4They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me. 8Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 10And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. 11Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. 15Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
-Hosea 7 (KJV)
We've been talking about sin for quite some time now. As I was finishing up my daily devotions before bed, I prayed and asked God to show me what message He had for His people who read this blog. He led me to this chapter in the book of Hosea. Not one I would have turned to on my own, that's for sure. Yet, the words were clear. We need God, we need His forgiveness, yet we look to others and chase things instead of God. Let's look at this chapter.
Verse 1 says, "When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without." We see here that God was ready to heal Israel. Israel was sick with sin, they were not living as God wanted them to live, they were following false gods and idols. God says, "When I would have healed Isreal," this signals that something is amiss. He wanted to heal them, yet they were not ready for His healing.Continuing in verse 1 we read, " then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood ." Ephraim was the northern kingdom of Israel, and Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. Look at the descriptions here: iniquity and wickedness and falsehood. Iniquity is another word for sin. Sin is found there, and where there is sin, there is wickedness and wickedness leads to lies. Their sins were many, but God would have healed them. All Israel had to do was repent of their sins, and God would heal them.
Verse 10 says, "And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this." They had too much pride, they didn't want to admit their mistakes. God was ready to heal them of their sickness, but their pride got in their way. We read, "and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek Him for all this." Their pride kept them from the healing of God for their sins, wickedness and lies. Verse 11 says, "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria." God is saying that they are running everywhere to get help, but they fail to come to Him. What is our application for today? Let me tell you.
God is ready to forgive you for your sins and heal you from your sins. But, all too often, we don't want to admit what we've done. We let our pride get in the way. We care more about what others think, and will think if we go to the altar. We then chase after "things" that give a temporary feeling of healing, only to come face to face with sin again. We must put aside our pride and receive the healing that only God can provide. Are you ready to quit chasing things, and start living for God? Are you ready to put away your pride and receive His forgiveness? Think About It.
Verse 10 says, "And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this." They had too much pride, they didn't want to admit their mistakes. God was ready to heal them of their sickness, but their pride got in their way. We read, "and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek Him for all this." Their pride kept them from the healing of God for their sins, wickedness and lies. Verse 11 says, "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria." God is saying that they are running everywhere to get help, but they fail to come to Him. What is our application for today? Let me tell you.
God is ready to forgive you for your sins and heal you from your sins. But, all too often, we don't want to admit what we've done. We let our pride get in the way. We care more about what others think, and will think if we go to the altar. We then chase after "things" that give a temporary feeling of healing, only to come face to face with sin again. We must put aside our pride and receive the healing that only God can provide. Are you ready to quit chasing things, and start living for God? Are you ready to put away your pride and receive His forgiveness? Think About It.
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