As An Oven Heated By the Baker - Hosea 7:4

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim and Samaria, “they make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies”, and in chapter seven and verse four of Hosea, Hosea says, “they are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker” where we read,

They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, 

who cease from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

The verse begins, “They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, ...” Hosea began with the words, “they are all adulterers” or “they, the people of Ephraim and Samaria, exist each, every, the whole and everyone as violators of wedlock and idolatrous worship”, “as an oven heated” which means “similar and in likeness to a burning, consuming and kindled furnace, fire-pot or stove” “by the baker” or “through the means of the person who cooks or bakes”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said every one of the idolatrous people in Ephraim and Samaria existed similar to a burning and consuming fire.

The verse continues, “... who cease from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.” Hosea added the words, “who cease from raising” or “that rest, desist, put an end to and exterminate the rousing and lifting up” “after he has kneaded the dough” which means “following the time he, the baker, manipulates, massages and rubs down flour dough”, “until it be leavened” or “till the time when it, the flour dough, exists as sour and fermented”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God considered the people of “Ephraim and Samaria” to be similar to the “baker” who keeps their oven hot during the time they are manipulating the flour dough. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God was well aware of the spiritual adultery committed by “Ephraim and Samaria”. They were continually involved in their wicked practices and became like fermented flour dough that was ready to be put in the “hot oven” they prepared for it. God wanted the people to be in a personal relationship with Him, and all other gods would do nothing other than bring destruction to them. God loves us and wants an intimate personal relationship with us as well. He sent His Son Jesus into the world 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 keep us separated from corrupt spiritual adultery that abandons Jehovah God and His ways.

Next time Hosea says, “in the day of our king the princes have made him sick”, 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".