In the book of Hosea, Hosea said of Israel, “They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springs up as hemlock in the furrows of the field”, and in chapter ten and verse five of Hosea, Hosea said, “the inhabitants of Samaria shall fear” where we read,
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven:
for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
The verse begins, “The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven:” Hosea began with the words, “the inhabitants of Samaria” or “the neighbors, residents and fellow-citizens belonging to Samaria whose name means watch mountain and was the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam” “shall fear” which means “will tremble, be anxious and afraid” “because of the calves” or “since and on account of the heifers and nearly grown cows” “of Bethaven” which means “belonging to the city east of Bethel whose name means house of vanity”. Hosea said the people within the area of “Samaria” would tremble and be afraid on account of what would happen to their calf idols located in “Bethaven”.
The verse goes on to say, “for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof,” Hosea continued with the words, “for the people thereof” or “certainly, especially and surely the human beings whether male or female within the nation, people group, compatriots and countrymen” “shall mourn over it” which means “will lament and bewail on account and on behalf of what would happen to their calves”, “and the priests thereof” or “and the idolatrous spiritual leaders within the nation” “that rejoice on it” which means “who exulted, were glad and joyful on the calves”, “for the glory thereof” or “because, since and on account that the honor, splendor and reverence within the calves”. Hosea shared how the “people and the priests” would be sorrowful over the loss of their calves in which the spiritual leaders exulted the honor and splendor within them.
Finally the verse says, “because it is departed from it.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “because it is departed” or “since and on account that it, the glory of the idolatrous calves, was uncovered, removed and exiled” “from it” which means “separate and apart from the calves”. Hosea ended this verse by saying since the honor and splendor of the calves were removed, the “people and the priests” were sorrowful.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea shared the judgment that would come upon the people who worshiped idolatrous calves in the area of “Samaria”, and when they are removed from “Bethaven”, the “people and their priests” who exulted them and their splendor would lament. God does not want people to worship any other god than Him, (See Exodus 20:3), and He is the only True God who sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Any other god is unable to forgive our sins and grant us everlasting life, and when we submit to Jesus, He will remove all other “idols” that are honored and glorified among people and priests so we are not carried away with them or the “glory” within them.
Next time Hosea says, “Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed”, 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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