In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared concerning his wife Gomer, “I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley. And I said unto her, you shall abide for me many days; you shall not play the harlot, and you shall not be for another man: so will I also be for you”, and in chapter three and verse four of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the children of Israel will abide many days without a king” where we read,
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince,
and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
The verse begins, “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, ...” Hosea began with the words, “for the children of Israel” or “because, since and on account the offspring and descendants of Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “shall abide many days” which means “will sit, remain, live and continue numerous and an abundant number of periods and divisions of time” “without a king” or “not having a royal ruler or leader”, “and without a prince” or “and not having a youthful ruler, leader, chief, captain, vassal or noble”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God declared that the nation of“Israel” would live and remain for a great number of time periods not having a royal ruler or youthful captain or noble.
The verse continues, “... and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:”Hosea added the words, “and without a sacrifice” or “and not having a covenant, slaughter, annual or thank offering”, “and without an image” which means “and not having a pillar, mastaba, stump or idol”, “and without an ephod” or “and not having a priestly garment, shoulder-cape, mantle or outer garment”, “and without teraphim” which means “and not having a family idol or household shrine to worship”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the nation of Israel would be without their “sacrifices” of worship, “idols”, priestly garments and household shrines.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God reclaimed the nation of Israel to Himself. No longer would they have their royal rulers, worship implements, idols or priestly garments and shrines to lead them in worship. God alone would be their source, and this is just the way He wants it to be. God loves the nation of Israel, and He loves all the people in the world. He proved His love toward us when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and place within us a passion to love and worship Him and no other distractions that are available to us.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “afterward shall the children of Israel return”, 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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