Asking Counsel at Their Stocks - Hosea 4:12

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart”, and in chapter four and verse twelve of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “my people ask counsel at their stocks” where we read,

My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them:

for the spirit of whoredoms has caused them to err,

and they have gone a whoring from under their god.

The verse begins, “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them:” Hosea began with the words, “my people ask counsel” or “my, Jehovah God's human beings both male and female inquire, borrow, beg, request, pray for and desire consultation and advice” “at their stocks” which means “from their wooden idols or pieces of wood”, “and their staff” or “and their, the people's, wand, rod or stick” “declares unto them” which means “utters, proclaims and speaks to Jehovah God's people”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said His “people” were seeking counsel from wooden idols, and their rods and sticks spoke to them. 

The verse continues, “for the spirit of whoredoms has caused them to err, ...” Hosea added the words, “for the spirit of whoredoms” or “because, since and on account that the vivacity, animation and vigor belonging to adultery, fornication and prostitution” “has caused them to err” which means “has made them, Jehovah God's people, to wander, go astray, stagger and be mislead”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the vigor of idolatrous adultery and prostitution made His people to wander and be mislead. 

Finally the verse says, “and they have gone a whoring from under their God.” Hosea ended this verse by saying, “and they have gone a whoring” or “and they, Jehovah God's people, have committed fornication, prostitution and adultery” “from under their god” which means “beneath their, Jehovah God's people's, divine rulers, leaders and judges”. Hosea said Jehovah God's people were performing their adulterous acts beneath their divine leaders and rulers.

When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we discover how Jehovah God was aware that His “people” were seeking advice from their false wooden gods, and this caused them not only to be mislead, but also to commit adultery and fornication within the presence of their gods. This was not God's desire. God wants to be first in our lives, (See Matthew 6:33) and when we seek His Kingdom and righteous ways, we will have all other things added to us. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and as we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to seek counsel from His Holy Spirit and not be mislead by any other “god” that may be available to us. 

Next time Hosea says, “they sacrifice on the tops of the mountains”, 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".