In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said concerning Ephraim, “Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me”, and in chapter seven and verse fourteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “they have not cried unto me with their heart” where we read,
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds:
they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
The verse begins, “And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds:” Hosea began with the words, “and they have not cried unto me” or “and they, the people of Ephraim, have in no way or manner called out for help to me, Jehovah God” “with their heart” which means “by the use of their, the people of Ephraim's, soul, mind, will, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and passions”, “when they howled” or “at the time and moment they, the people of Ephraim, made a boisterous yell or wailing tone” “upon their beds” which means “on their, the people of Ephraim's, couch, bier or place for lying down”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the people of “Ephraim” did not call loudly to Him within their souls and minds at the time they were boisterously wailing on their places of lying down.
The verse continues, “they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.” Hosea added the words, “they assemble themselves” or “they, the people of Ephraim, sojourned, dwelt, remained and abided their own selves” “for corn” which means “on behalf of wheat or grain” “and wine” or “and fermented fruit of the vine”, “and they rebel”which means “and they, the people of Ephraim, turn aside, depart and continue in avoidance” “against me” or “in opposition to me, Jehovah God”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” gathered together to obtain wheat, grain and fermented fruit of the vine while they continued to avoid and turn aside from Jehovah God.
When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how God was aware of the rebellion of the people of “Ephraim” even when they were so troubled that they “boisterously wailed” upon their “beds”. Rather than call out to the Almighty Jehovah God, they gathered themselves together to receive “corn and wine” from idolatrous foreigners. God wants to provide for us. God loves us, and when we are in difficult situations, He wants us to call upon Him. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit so we will always be prompted to cry out to Him when we have difficulties and needs. (See Philippians 4:19)
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God tells what happens, “though I have bound and strengthened their arms”, 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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