In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Samaria, “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it has no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up”, and in chapter eight and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Israel is swallowed up” where we read,
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
The verse begins, “Israel is swallowed up:” Hosea began with the word, “Israel” whose name means “God prevails” and is “the name for the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob” “is swallowed up” which means “exists as engulfed, devoured and destroyed”. Hosea shared how the nation of “Israel” was engulfed and destroyed for foreign nations because of their worship of false idols.
The verse continues, “now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.” Hosea added the words, “now shall they be among the Gentiles” or “at this time will they, the nation of Israel exist in the midst and middle of the foreign and heathen nations” “as a vessel” which means “similar and in likeness to an article, implement, utensil and apparatus” “wherein is no pleasure” or “in which there exists not any delight, desire, longing, acceptability or purpose”. Hosea said the nation of “Israel” would at this time exist in the midst of foreign nations similar to instruments and utensils that are not desired and have no purpose.
When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God knew the diaspora and devastation experienced by “Israel”, and even though He reached out to them to worship and serve Him, they worshiped false gods and idols. Now their fate was to live among non-believing heathen nations, and they would be as useless utensils to God. God doesn't want us to have this future, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an ability to be used as a “vessel” of honor in His Kingdom and not discarded like a useless utensil.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says of Israel, “they are gone up to Assyria”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment