Turn to the LORD - Hosea 14:2

In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “O Israel, return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity”, and in chapter fourteen and verse two of Hosea, Hosea said, “turn to the LORD” where we read,

Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity,

and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

The verse begins, “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, ...” Hosea began with the words, “take with you words” or “fetch, lay hold of and seize beside and alongside you, Israel, speeches, utterances and decrees”, “and turn to the LORD” which means “and return and come back to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”: “say unto him” or “utter, declare and proclaim to him, Jehovah God” “take away all iniquity” which means “remove and displace each, every, the whole and everyone of the perversities, depravities, guilt and consequences of or punishment for errors and wrongs”. Hosea exhorted the people of “Israel” to use utterances and declarations to return to Jehovah God, and call upon Him to remove every perversity and depravity from them.

The verse goes on to say, “... and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea continued with the words, “and receive us graciously” or “and take, fetch, lay hold of and seize us, Israel, in a good, pleasant and agreeable manner” “so will we render” which means “that we, the people of Israel make peace, recompense and reward with” “the calves of our lips” or “the fruit and offspring belonging to our, the people of Israel's, lips used for speaking”. Hosea shared how the people of “Israel” were also to ask Jehovah God to lay hold of them in a good and agreeable manner, and they would offer to Him the fruit of the praise of their lips. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea encouraged the people of “Israel” to use their speech to make confessions and return to Jehovah God. They were to appeal to Jehovah God to “forgive and pardon” their sins and to accept them in a pleasant manner. This would give them cause to offer unto Jehovah God praise and honor that He is due. God wants all of us to humble ourselves, repent of our sins and to believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to bring our confessions to Him and always be willing to be “received” by Him and to give Him praise. 

Next time Hosea says, “Asshur will not save us”, 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".

O Israel, Return Unto the LORD - Hosea 14:1

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up”, and in chapter fourteen and verse one of Hosea, Hosea said, “O Israel, return unto the LORD your God” where we read,

O Israel, return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity.

The verse begins, “O Israel, return unto the LORD your God;” Hosea began with the word, “O Israel” or “O Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants and nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “return unto the LORD” which means “turn and be brought back to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “your God” or “your, Israel's, Supreme Deity and True God”. Hosea called upon the people of “Israel”to turn back to Jehovah God who is their Supreme Deity. 

The verse continues, “for you have fallen by your iniquity.” Hosea added the words, “for you have fallen” or “because, since and on account that you, Israel, have stumbled, staggered and tottered toward weakness and ruin” “by your iniquity” which means “through the means of your, Israel's, perversity, depravity, guilt and consequences for punishment”. Hosea said the reason “Israel” should turn back to Jehovah God is because they stumbled toward weakness and ruin through the means of their depravity and perversity. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea called upon the people of “Israel” to go back to their relationship with Jehovah God. They were suffering the consequences of their errors and wrongs, and their apostasy from Jehovah God made them stumble toward ruin. This was not God's desire for them. God wanted a personal intimate relationship with “Israel”, and He desires the same for every person today. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will be with us and passionately lead us to always turn to Him.

Next time Hosea says, “turn to the LORD”, 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". 

Samaria Shall Become Desolate - Hosea 13:16

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels”, and in chapter thirteen and verse sixteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Samaria shall become desolate” where we read,

Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: 

they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

The verse begins, “Samaria shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God:” Hosea began with the word, “Samaria” whose name means “watch mountain and was the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam” “shall become desolate” which means “will exist as offended, wronged, trespassed and injured”; “for she has rebelled” or “because, since and on account that she, Samaria, has been contentious, refractory and disobedient” “against her God” which means “in opposition to her, Samaria's, Supreme Deity and True God”. Hosea shared how “Samaria” was to be injured because the people of “Samaria” were contentious and in opposition to their Supreme Deity. 

The verse goes on to say, “they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.” Hosea continued with the words, “they shall fall” or “they, the people of Samaria, will be cast down, fail and be knocked out” “by the sword” which means “through the means of the knife, cutting instrument, axe, dagger or mattock”: “their infants” or “their, the people of Samaria's, sucklings, young children and babies” “shall be dashed in pieces” which means “will be slaughtered and thrown down to the ground”, “and their women with child” or “and their, the people of Samaria's, pregnant female human beings” “shall be ripped up” which means “will be split, cleaved, divided, broken through and torn apart”. Hosea shared how the people of “Samaria” would be cast down through the means of a cutting instrument, their babies and little children would be slaughtered and their pregnant women would be torn apart. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the people of “Samaria” in the northern part of “Israel” would suffer for their apostasy from Jehovah God. They were to be injured by their obsolesce, the “sword”would come upon them, their babies and infants would be slaughtered and their pregnant women would be torn apart. These are horrific consequences for rebelling against God, and this is not His desire for any of us. God wants to save us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and resurrected from the dead three days later so we can live with Him forever. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit who shall lead us into all truth and keep us by His mighty power so we never face the consequences for abandoning Him and His ways. 

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Hosea say, “O Israel, return unto the LORD your God”, 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".

Though Ephraim is Fruitful - Hosea 13:15

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fifteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said what would happen, “though he be fruitful among his brethren” where we read,

Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, 

the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness,

and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: 

he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

The verse begins, “Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, ...” Hosea began with the words, “though he be fruitful” or “even if and whether he, Ephraim, bears fruit” “among his brethren” which means “in the midst and middle of his, Ephraim's, relatives, kinship and kindred”, “an east wind shall come” or “a breeze of air from an eastward direction will enter and come in”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said even if the people of “Ephraim” bear “fruit” in the midst of their kindred a breeze from an easterly direction will arise. 

The verse goes on to say, “the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness,” Hosea continued with the words, “the wind of the LORD” or “the breeze or blast of air belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “shall come up” which means “will enter and come in” “from the wilderness” or “separate and apart from the uninhabited land, open field and desert place”. Hosea shared how the breeze of Jehovah God would arise from the desert place. 

The verse continues, “and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up:” Hosea added the words, “and his spring” or “and his, Ephraim's, flowing fountain, source of life, joy and purification” “shall become dry” which means “will be disconcerted, ashamed and disappointed”, “and his fountain” or “and his, Ephraim's, spring or well” “shall be dried up” which means “will disappear and exist as wasted, desolate and in ruins”. Hosea shared how the breeze from Jehovah God would disappoint and waste away Ephraim's fountains and wells. 

Finally the verse says, “he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.” Hosea ended this verse with the words, “he shall spoil” or “he, Jehovah God, will rob and plunder” “the treasure” which means “the storehouse, treasury, cellar, garner and depository” “of all pleasant vessels” or “pertaining to each, every, the whole and everyone of Ephraim's desirable and precious implements, utensils, furniture and receptacles”. Hosea concluded this verse by referring to how Jehovah God would plunder the treasury and depository of every one of Ephraim's precious implements and utensils. 

When we consider Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God would involve Himself in the lives of the people of “Ephraim” even if they were productive or “fruitful” in the midst of their kindred. God would cause a blast of air to arise from the desert place which would make their fountains and wells be destroyed, and every one of their depositories for precious utensils would be plundered as well. God's desire was to have a personal relationship with the people of “Ephraim”, but they refused and forgot about Him. God wants a relationship with us as well, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to make this possible. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and assure us that whatever we do in His name shall be preserved and not plundered or blown away. 

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “Samaria shall become desolate”, 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".

Ransomed From the Grave - Hosea 13:14

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fourteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave” where we read,

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: 

O death, I will be your plagues;

O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes.

The verse begins, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death:” Hosea began with the words, “I will ransom them” or “I, Jehovah God, shall redeem, rescue and deliver them, the people of Ephraim” “from the power of the grave” which means “separate and apart from the hand, strength and portion belonging to sheol, the underworld, hell and the pit”; “I will redeem them” or “I, Jehovah God, shall avenge, act as a kinsman-redeemer and deliver them, the people of Ephraim” “from death” which means “separate and apart from the realm of the dead, pestilence and pain”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would rescue and deliver “Ephraim” from the strength of the underworld and the realm of the dead. 

The verse continues, “O death, I will be your plagues;” Hosea added the words, “O death” or “O pestilence, pain and realm of the dead”, “I will be your plagues” which means “I, Jehovah God, shall exist as your, death's, pestilence, murrain and cattle-disease”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God vowed to be the realm of death's pestilence and murrain.

Finally the verse says, “O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes.” Hosea ended this verse with the words, “O grave” or “O sheol, the underworld, hell and the pit”, “I will be your destruction” which means “I, Jehovah God, shall exist as your, the grave's, extermination”; “repentance shall be hid from my eyes” or “ruefulness, desistance and sorrow will exist as concealed and kept secret separate and apart from my, Jehovah God's, vision and sight”. Hosea concluded this verse by sharing how Jehovah God would also be the extermination of the underworld and hell, and desistance, sorrow and pity would be concealed from His vision and site.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God was going to rescue the people of “Ephraim” from the strength of the realm of the dead and the underworld, and He would take vengeance upon “death and the grave” and would not have pity upon them. God considers “death” as the last enemy He shall destroy, (See 1 Corinthians 15:26) and Paul the apostle asked, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (See 1 Corinthians 15:56). God wants to save every person from eternal “death” and separation from Him, and He made this possible by His Son Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us to understand and receive His power over “death, hell and the grave”. (See Revelation 1:18)

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says what will happen, “though he be fruitful among his brethren”, 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".