No Wine Offerings to the LORD - Hosea 9:4

In the book of Hosea, Hosea said of Israel, “they shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria”, and in chapter nine and verse four of Hosea, Hosea said, “they shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD” where we read,

They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him:

their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted:

for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

The verse begins, “They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him:” Hosea began with the words, “they shall not offer”  or “they, the people of Israel, will in no way or manner pour out libations of” “wine offerings” which means “fruit of the vine sacrifices”  “to the LORD” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “neither shall they” which means “no and not in any way will the wine offerings” “be pleasing unto him” or “exist as a pledge, security or having fellowship with him, Jehovah God”. Hosea said the people of “Israel” would not pour out libations of fruit of the vine sacrifices to Jehovah God because they would in no way exist as a pledge or fellowship with Him.

The verse goes on to say, “their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted:” Hosea continued with the words, “their sacrifices” or “their, the people of Israel's, slaughters and thank offerings” “shall be unto them” which means “will exist to them, the people of Israel” “as the bread of mourners” or “similar and in likeness to the food and grain belonging to people who are troubled, wicked, sorrowful and idolatrous”; “all that eat thereof” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone who consumes and devours the sacrifices” “shall be polluted” or “will exist as impure, unclean and defiled”. Hosea said the slaughters and offerings presented by the people of “Israel” would exist like the food and grain of troubled and idolatrous people, and everyone who devours them would exist as defiled and polluted. 

Finally the verse says, “for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.” Hosea ended this verse by saying, “for their bread” or “because, since and on account that their, the people of Israel's, food and grain” “for their soul” which means “on behalf of their, the people of Israel's, heart, mind, will, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and affections” “shall not come into the house” or “will in no way or manner enter into the dwelling place, habitation and abode” “of the LORD” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Hosea concluded this verse by declaring that the food belonging to the heart, mind and will of the people of “Israel” would in no way or fashion be allowed to enter the dwelling place of Jehovah God. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the people of Ephraim go through the religious practices of “wine offerings” and “sacrifices”, but their hearts are not into their worship. Rather than coming to God with all their “heart, mind, soul and strength” (See Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27), they were merely performing religious practices by rote. God wants us to come to Him whole-heartedly through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion and a desire to worship Him with all our “souls and minds” every day of our lives. 

Next time Hosea asks, “what will you do in the solemn day?”, 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".