In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said to the nation of Israel, “the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days”, and in chapter four and verse one of Hosea, Hosea said, “hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel” where we read,
Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel:
for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,
because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
The verse begins, “Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel:” Hosea began with the words, “hear the word” or “listen to, perceive, understand and give heed to the utterance, speech, declaration and proclamation” “of the LORD”which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “you children of Israel” or “you offspring and descendants belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Hosea called upon the offspring and descendants of “Israel” to listen and take heed to Jehovah God's utterance.
The verse continues, “for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,” Hosea added the words, “for the LORD” or “because, since and on account that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “has a controversy” which means “holds, owns and possesses a strife, dispute, quarrel and case at law” “with the inhabitants” or “accompanying the people who sit in place, are caused to set and remain” “of the land” which means “belonging to the country, territory, region and district”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God possessed a quarrel and case of law with the people who abide and remain within the territory of Israel.
Finally the verse says, “because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “because there is no truth” or “since and on account that there does not exist any firmness, faithfulness, reliability, sureness and continuance”, “nor mercy” which means “no and not any goodness, kindness and faithfulness”, “nor knowledge of God” or “no and not any perception, skill, discernment, wisdom and understanding belonging to the Supreme Deity and True God” “in the land” which means “within the country, territory, region and district”. Hosea ended this verse by sharing the reason Jehovah God has a “controversy” with the people of Israel which is on account that there does not exist any reliability, sureness, goodness, kindness or perception of Him within their country.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God was now going to contend with the nation of Israel over their lack in qualities that He desired to be within them. God loves the nation of Israel, and because they were to be the world's example of His love, He not only paid the price to bring them back into a personal relationship with Him and apart from their idolatrous ways, but He also begin to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:9) God does the same with everyone who believe and trusts in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He wants to forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and cleanse us from unrighteous ways and habits that are not in keeping with His commands and instruction for living.
Next time Hosea shares about, “swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery”, 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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