In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight”, and in chapter six and verse three of Hosea, Hosea said, “then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD” where we read,
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning;
and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
The verse begins, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning;” Hosea began with the words, “then shall we know” or “at that time will we, Hosea and the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah, perceive, find out, discern, discriminate, distinguish and recognize”, “if we follow on” which means “whether and in case we, Hosea and the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah, run after, pursue, and closely attend” “to know the LORD” or “to perceive, find out, discern, discriminate, distinguish and recognize Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”: “his going forth” which means “his, Jehovah God's, rising, departure and exit” “is prepared as the morning” or “exists as firm, stable, established, secure and enduring”. Hosea encouraged the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah to pursue knowing and discerning who Jehovah God is because His rising up is established similar to the dawn or early light of the day.
The verse continues, “and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea added the words, “and he shall come unto us” or “and he, Jehovah God, will be enumerated with, attain and bring us, Hosea and the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah, near” “as the rain” which means “similar and in likeness to the showers of rain”, “as the latter and former rain” or “similar to the spring showers of rain and the winter showers or rain” “unto the earth”which means “toward the country, territory, region and world”. Hosea said Jehovah God would bring him and the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah close to Him similar to the spring and winter showers of rain.
When we meditate upon Hosea words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God wants people to know Him (See John 17:3), and the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah were to “know” Him as well after they recognized their affliction and adversity. When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (See James 4:8), and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, we have the opportunity to to receive Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”. As we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and respond to us as we “come” close to Him.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God asks, “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto you?”, 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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