In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said concerning the nation of Israel, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing that you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children”, and in chapter four and verse seven of Hosea, Hosea said, “as they were increased, so they sinned against me” where we read,
As they were increased, so they sinned against me:
therefore will I change their glory into shame.
The verse begins, “As they were increased, so they sinned against me:” Hosea began with the words, “as they were increased” or “during the time when the priests of the nation of Israel became great, many and numerous”, “so they sinned against me” which means “even thus they, the priests of the nation of Israel, missed the mark, were wrong, incurred guilt and were unclean in opposition to me, Jehovah God”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said during the time the priests of the nation of Israel became great in number, they missed the mark and were unclean in opposition to Him.
The verse continues, “therefore will I change their glory into shame.” Hosea added the words, “therefore will I change”or “then, wherefore and these things being so I, Jehovah God, shall even so and indeed exchange, remove and dispose”, “their glory into shame” which means “the honor, abundance, riches, splendor and reputation of priests of the nation of Israel, into disgrace, dishonor, ignominy and pudenda”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would exchange the honor and splendor of the priest of the nation of Israel into dishonor and disgrace.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Hosea how Jehovah God was to involve Himself the in the affairs of the priests within the nation of Israel. They did not perform as He desired, and yet, they increased in number. When they multiplied, they became farther and farther away from His truth and law. Although they received honor and respect from the people of Israel, they would no longer because God would “change” their status from “glory” to “shame”. God wants a strong, righteous and holy relationship with everyone, and this is only possible when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross as our personal “Savior and Lord”. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from all unrighteousness so our end will not be like these priests of Israel who wandered far away from Him. (See 1 John 1:9)
Next time Hosea says, “they eat up the sin of my people”, 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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