In the book of Hosea, Hosea asked Israel, “What will you do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles”, and in chapter nine and verse seven of Hosea, Hosea said, “the days of visitation are come” where we read,
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it:
the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of your iniquity, and the great hatred.
The verse begins, “The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it:” Hosea began with the words, “the days of visitation” or “the divisions and periods of time pertaining to oversight, care, charge and punishment” “are come” which means “light upon and enter”, “the days of recompense” or “the divisions and periods of time pertaining to requital, reward and retribution” “are come” which means “light upon and enter”; “Israel” whose name means “God prevails and is the name for the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob” “shall know it”which means “will learn, perceive, find out and discern that the days of recompense are come”. Hosea said the people of Israel will realize that the division of time has entered, and the period of time for retribution and punishment has arrived.
The verse continues, “the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of your iniquity, and the great hatred.” Hosea added the words, “the prophet is a fool” or “the spiritual spokesman and speaker exists as a quarrelsome, mocking and licentious person”, “the spiritual man” which means “the inspired male human being” “is mad” or “exists as insane or crazy”, “for the multitude” which means “on behalf of the numerous, abundant and great number” “of your iniquity” or “belonging to your, Israel's, perversity, depravity, guilt of punishment and mischief”, “and the great hatred”which means “and the many, abounding and numerous amounts of animosity and enmity”. Hosea shared how the people of Israel considered their “prophet and spiritual man” as mocking and insane because their perversities were so numerous.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea knew the time for the punishment and retribution for the nation of “Israel” had arrived. Because the wickedness and evil of the people of “Israel” was so abundant, they thought their spiritual leaders were foolish and crazy. In other words, not only had their time for punishment come, but they were so blind in their sinful behaviors that they were unable to hear and believe their spiritual leaders. God knew this, and He is well aware of people who have the same behavior today. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, 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 away from “punishment and retribution” that will be put upon every person who refuses and rejects God's offer.
Next time Hosea says, “the watchman of Ephraim was with my God”, 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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