In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how his son Jezreel was to tell his brother and sister to declare how “their mother has played the harlot: she that conceived them has done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink. Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths”, and in chapter two and verse seven of Hosea, Hosea said, “she shall follow after her lovers” where we read,
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them;
and she shall seek them, but shall not find them:
then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband;
for then was it better with me than now.
The verse begins, “And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them;” Hosea began with the words, “and she shall follow after her lovers” or “and she, Gomer like the nation of Israel, will pursue and run after her, Gomer and the nation of Israel's, human companions and idols, “but she shall not overtake them” which means “however, moreover, nonetheless and notwithstanding she, Gomer and the nation of Israel, will in no way or manner reach, take hold of, attain or secure them, Gomer and the nation of Israel's lovers”. Hosea said his wife Gomer as the nation of Israel would pursue their human companions and idols, however they would not reach them.
The verse continues, “and she shall seek them, but shall not find them:” Hosea added the words, “and she shall seek them” or “and she, Gomer and the nation of Israel, will desire, exact and search for them, the human lovers and idols”, “but shall not find them” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover will in no way attain or acquire them, their human lovers and idols”. Hosea shared how his wife Gomer would search for her lovers even as the nation of Israel searches for their idols, however neither of them would attain them.
The verse goes on to say, “then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband;” Hosea continued with the words, “then shall she say” or “at that time will she, Gomer and the nation of Israel, utter, declare and proclaim” “I will go”which means “I, Gomer and the nation of Israel, shall depart, proceed and walk” “and return to my first husband” or “and go back and be restored to my, Gomer and the nation of Israel's, primary and foremost male wedded spouse”. Hosea referred to how his wife Gomer as the nation of Israel purposed to go back to their “primary” spouse and God.
Finally the verse says, “for then was it better with me than now.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “for then was it better with me” or “because, since and on account that at that time conditions were more pleasant, agreeable and excellent” “than now” which means “compared to the current time or period”. Hosea ended this verse by sharing the conclusion that would be made by his wife Gomer and the nation of Israel that their conditions were more pleasant when they were with them rather than their current situation.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea concluded that his wife Gomer and the nation of Israel would not be satisfied as they pursued their lovers and idols, so they would decide their lives were much more pleasant when they were with their primary “husband”. God will allow people to pursue vain and empty passions and idols so they discover their need for Him. He loves us, and He knows what is best for our lives. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and fill us with His satisfaction that no other pursuit or gain shall ever fulfill.
Next time Hosea says, “she did not know that I gave her corn”, 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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