Gone Up to Assyria - Hosea 8:9

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure”, and in chapter eight and verse nine of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Israel, “they are gone up to Assyria” where we read,

For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim has hired lovers.

The verse begins, “For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself:” Hosea began with the words, “for they are gone up”  or “because, since and on account they, the nation of Israel, ascend, climb and depart” “to Assyria” which means “toward Assyria whose name means a step and was the name for the people of Assyria”, “a wild ass” or “the onager in the sense of a running wild donkey” “alone by himself” which means “withdrawn, isolated and separated to it's own self”. Hosea shared how the people of “Israel” departed to “Assyria” like an isolated wild running donkey. 

The verse goes on to say, “Ephraim has hired lovers.” Hosea continued with the word, “Ephraim” or “whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom, even so and indeed” “has hired lovers” which means “has been induced with amorous favors from mercenary inducements or a harlot”. Hosea shared how “Ephraim”, also known as “Israel” was induced with amorous favors from spiritual harlots. 

When we consider Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God knew the people in Israel departed to the foreign nation of “Assyria”. They were like a “wild running donkey” that was isolated, and “Ephraim” induced amorous favors from spiritual harlots. God's desire was to have a personal relationship with the people of Israel, and they forsook Him. He wants the same with us. 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 as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us in constant fellowship with Him so we do not act like “wild running donkeys” that seek “foreign people, gods and spiritual harlots” to bring satisfaction to our souls. 

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says of Israel, “though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them”, 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".