A Heart Like an Oven - Hosea 7:6

In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners”, and in chapter seven and verse six of Hosea, Hosea said, “they have made ready in their heart like an oven” where we read,

For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait:

their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

The verse begins, “For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait:” Hosea began with the words, “for they have made ready their heart” or “because, since and on account that they, the people of Ephraim and Samaria, have prepared, brought and produced their soul, mind, will, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and affections” “like an oven” which means “similar and in likeness to a furnace, fire-pot or stove”,  “whiles they lie in wait”or “during the time they, the people of Ephraim and Samaria, blaze with intrigue”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God knew the souls and minds of the people of Ephraim and Samaria were prepared similar to a heated stove during the time they were living in intrigue. 

The verse continues, “their baker sleeps all the night; in the morning it burns as a flaming fire.” Hosea added the words, “their baker sleeps” or “their, the people of Ephraim and Samaria's, cook or one who bakes pastries and foods, slumbers and is asleep” “all the night” which means “throughout the entire nighttime”; “in the morning” or “within the break of day, sunrise or dawn” “it burns as a flaming fire” which means “it, the oven, consumes and kindles similar and in likeness to burning fiery fire”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God knew the “baker” slumbered throughout the nighttime and was similar to a burning fiery fire very early in the morning. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how God knew the wicked activities and the preparation for those activities of the people of Ephraim and Samaria. Similar to a “stove” that was kept burning for the preparation of food, these people were not only intrigued but also ready to commit their evil. God was aware of their wickedness, but He continued to pursue a personal relationship with them. In the same way God sent His Son Jesus into the sin filled world to die on the cross for the errors, mistakes and wrongs of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us separated from the burning preparation and intrigue that accompanies the works of evil. 

Next time Hosea says, “they are all hot as an oven”, 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".