In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of the nation of Israel, “I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name”, and in chapter two and verse eighteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field” where we read,
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.
The verse begins, “And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, ...” Hosea began with the words, “and in that day” or “and within that period and division of time” “will I make a covenant for them” which means “shall I, Jehovah God, form and cause an alliance, pledge, treaty and league on behalf of them, the nation of Israel” “with the beasts of the field” or “alongside the fresh, flowing, lively and active wild animals belonging to the land or plain”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God promised to “make” a treaty with the wild animals within the land.
The verse continues, “... and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground:” Hosea added the words, “and with the fowls of heaven” or “and alongside the flying creatures, birds and insects belonging to the visible sky”, “and with the creeping things” which means “and alongside the gliding organisms and things” “of the ground” or “belonging to the land, earth substance, territory and country”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God would also include the flying creatures of the sky and the gliding organisms of the earth in His “covenant”.
The verse goes on to say, “and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, ...” Hosea continued with the words, “and I will break the bow” which means “and I, Jehovah God, shall destroy, crush and wreck the bowman's arch” “and the sword” or “and the knife, tool for cutting, axe, dagger, mattock and sharp implement” “and the battle” which means “and the war and fight” “out of the earth” or “separate and apart from the land, territory, district and region”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would crush the archer's bow, the sharp cutting instrument and the fighting from the land in which Israel dwelt.
Finally the verse says, “... and will make them to lie down safely.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “and will make them” which means “and shall cause them, the nation of Israel” “to lie down safely” or “to rest, relax and lodge in a secure and confident manner”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God would cause the nation of Israel to rest and relax in a secure and confident manner.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God would intimately involve Himself in the lives of the nation of Israel by addressing the beasts, fowls, bow, sword and battle they would encounter. God wanted His people to be “safe”, and only He could provide for them. God wants to “save” us as well, and because we have sin in our lives that will lead us to eternal separation from Him, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide for us in a manner that will cause us to “rest” both in this life and in the life to come.
Next time Hosea says, “and I will betroth you unto me for ever”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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