Eating Up the Sin of My People - Hosea 4:8

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of the priests in the nation of Israel, “as they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame”, and in chapter four and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea said, “they eat up the sin of my people” where we read,

They eat up the sin of my people,

and they set their heart on their iniquity.

The verse begins, “They eat up the sin of my people, ...” Hosea began with the words, “they eat up the sin” or “they, the priests with the nation of Israel, consume and devour the missing of the mark, error, wrong and uncleanness” “of my people” which means “belonging to my, Jehovah God's, human beings both male and female”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the priests within the nation of Israel consumed the errors and wrongs of His “people”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and they set their heart on their iniquity.” Hosea continued with the words, “and they set their heart” or “and they, the priests within the nation of Israel, lifted up, supported, carried and sustained their souls, minds, wills, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and affections” “on their iniquity” which means “upon their, the people in the nation of Israel's, perversity, depravity and guilt”. Hosea shared how the priests within the nation of Israel supported and sustained their own souls, minds and wills upon the depravity and perversity of the people. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how God exposed the manner of the priests within the nation of Israel who consumed the wrong and uncleanness of the people, and they sustained their souls with the depravity and perversity of the people. This was not God's desire. He wants His ministers to bring the message of His gospel (Good News) to people everywhere. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to serve Him in a righteous way and never to follow the example of these unrighteous priests in the nation of Israel. 

Next time Hosea says, “and there shall be, like people, like priest”, 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".