In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died”, and in chapter thirteen and verse two of Hosea, Hosea shared how the people of Ephraim, “sin more and more” where we read,
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver,
and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen:
they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
The verse begins, “And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, ...” Hosea began with the words, “and now they sin” or “and at this time they, the people of Ephraim, miss the mark, go wrong, incur guilt and trespass” “more and more” which means “again and again, to an increased degree and consecutively”, “and have made them” or “and have formed, fashioned, accomplished and produced to themselves” “molten images of their silver”which means “poured and cast melted silver metal gods”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” continued to increase in their sinful behavior by fashioning and producing false gods made with their silver metal.
The verse continues, “... and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen:” Hosea added the words, “and idols” or “and idolatrous images” “according to their own understanding” which means “in keeping with their, the people of Ephraim's intelligence, skill, insight, discretion and reason”, “all of it” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the idolatrous images” “the work of the craftsmen” which means “the deeds, acts, labors and undertakings belonging to the skillful artisans or engravers”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” referred to the “false god images” which were in keeping with their intelligence and insight and fashioned and formed by their skilled artisans.
Finally the verse says, “they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.” Hoses concluded this verse with the word, “they say of them” or “the people of Ephraim utter, declare and proclaim concerning their false god idols”, “Let the men that sacrifice” which means “allow and permit the people both male and female who slaughter and kill for worship” “kiss the calves” or “put their lips together to touch gently the nearly grown bull-calves or steers”. Hosea ended this verse by sharing how “Ephraim” told their people to allow anyone who makes slaughters for worship to put their lips together and touch them to the “fashioned” bull-calves.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the people of “Ephraim” increased in their continuance of trespasses and wrongs. They began to use their “silver metal” to have their artisans form and fashion false god idols that they worshiped with slaughters and “kissing” their “bull-calf” images. Can we even imagine how this appeared to Jehovah God who gave them everything they owned including the silver metal they used to apostate themselves from God? God loves the people of “Ephraim or Israel”, and He loves every person in the world. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from the idolatrous behavior of “Ephraim” and anyone else who worships false gods instead of Jehovah God.
Next time Hosea says, “they shall be as the morning cloud”, 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