In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you”, and in chapter ten and verse thirteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “you have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity” where we read,
You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies:
because you did trust in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
The verse begins, “You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies:” Hosea began with the words, “you have plowed wickedness” or “you, the people of Israel, have engraved, cut in and fabricated wrong, iniquity and evil”, “you have reaped iniquity” which means “you, people of Israel, have harvested and gathered in injustice, unrighteousness and perverseness”; “you have eaten” or “you, people of Israel, have consumed and devoured” “the fruit of lies” which means “the offspring and produce belonging to deception, leanness, hypocrisy and failure”. Hosea shared how the people of Israel fabricated evil and iniquity, and they harvested injustice and perverseness. They also consumed the produce of deception and hypocrisy.
The verse continues, “because you did trust in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.” Hosea added the words, “because you did trust” or “since and on account that you, people of Israel, had confidence, security and hope” “in your way” which means “within your, the people of Israel's, path, journey, manner and course of life”, “in the multitude” or “within the abundance, greatness and excellence” “of your mighty men” which means “pertaining to your, the people of Israel's, strong, brave and valiant male human beings or warriors”. Hosea shared how the people of Israel put their faith and confidence within their manner and course of life and within their strong and valiant “men”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the people of Israel were harvesting the evil and wrong they planted within their lives, and they trusted in their “way” of doing things and their excellent valiant warriors rather than Jehovah God's provision and protection. Their hope and faith was misplaced, and now they were to harvest the difficulties and troubles that are associated with them. God loves us, and He has our best interest in mind. He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His “way” and an ability to have faith and trust in Him in everything we do.
Next time Hosea says, “a tumult shall arise among your 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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