In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “Israel has cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off”, and in chapter eight and verse five of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off” where we read,
Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off; my anger is kindled against them:
how long will it be before they attain to innocency?
The verse begins, “Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off; my anger is kindled against them:” Hosea began with the words, “your calf” or “your, Samaria's, bull-calf or bullock”, “O Samaria” which means “O 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”, “has cast you off” or “has rejected, spurned, emitted a stench and become odious”; “my anger” which means “my, Jehovah God's, wrath that wrinkles the nostrils and nose of the face” “is kindled against them” or “exists as hot, furious and incensed in opposition to Samaria”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God recognized that the “calf” idol within “Samaria” rejected and spurned them, and His furious wrath was raised in opposition to them.
The verse goes on to say, “how long will it be before they attain to innocency?” Hosea continued with the words, “how long will it be” or “for what length of time shall exist” “before they attain” which means “in advance and prior to when they, the people of Samaria, prevail, overcome and have power and ability” “to innocency” or “toward freedom from guilt, cleanness, clearness and punishment”? Hosea shared how Jehovah God questioned the length of time that would pass in advance of the people of “Samaria” prevailing and having the power to be free from guilt and clean.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God began to question not only “Samaria's” willingness to worship “idols” and experience His wrath, but also the length of time they would endure these things before they came to Him to receive cleanness and freedom from their guilt. God asks the same today. How long will it take people to realize He provides salvation and freedom from guilt and shame to every person who yields to His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind? When we humble ourselves, repent of our sinful ways and believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from all idolatry and wrongs to separate us from His wrath and make us righteous before His eyes. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:9)
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “for from Israel was it also”, 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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