Princes Making Him Sick - Hosea 7:5

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim and Samaria, “they are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who cease from raising after he has kneaded the dough, until it be leavened”, and in chapter seven and verse five of Hosea, Hosea said, “in the day of our king the princes have made him sick” where we read,

In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; 

he stretched out his hand with scorners.

The verse begins, “In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine;” Hosea began with the words, “in the day of our king” or “within the division and period of time belonging to our, Hosea and the people of Ephraim and Samaria's, royal ruler and leaders” “the princes” which means “the youthful rulers, leaders, chieftains, officials, vassals and nobles” “have made him sick” or “have caused him, the king, weak, diseased, feeble and ill” “with bottles of wine” which means “by the use of poisonous, intoxicating and fermented fruit of the vine”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the youthful leaders corrupted the royal ruler and caused him to be weak, feeble and ill by the use of intoxicating, fermented fruit of the vine. 

The verse goes on to say, “he stretched out his hand with scorners.” Hosea continued with the words, “he stretched out his hand” or “he, the king, extended his physical hand of power, might and authority” “with scorners” which means “alongside people who talk arrogantly, deride and are doubtful”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God knew the royal ruler extended his “hand” of power and might alongside arrogant and deriding people. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Hosea how Jehovah God knew how the youthful leaders within Ephraim and Samaria corrupted their royal ruler by the use of intoxicating wine, and this caused the “king”to extend his “hand” of power and might toward people who were arrogant and deriding. In other words, they influenced the leader's judgment, and his ways were wicked. God knows the sinful behavior of every person, (See Romans 3:10; 3:23) and this is why He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and make us aware of people and rulers who are persuaded and influenced to participate and extend their power and might toward evil acts and deeds. 

Next time Hosea say, “they have made ready in their heart like an oven”, 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".