In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not”, and in chapter seven and verse ten of Hosea, Hosea said, “the pride of Israel testifies to his face”where we read,
And the pride of Israel testifies to his face:
and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
The verse begins, “And the pride of Israel testifies to his face:” Hosea began with the words, “and the pride” or “the exaltation, majesty and arrogance” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “testifies to his face” or “responds, speaks and bears witness toward their front, countenance and presence”. Hosea shared how the arrogance within “Israel” bore witness against them.
The verse continues, “and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.” Hosea added the words, “and they do not return” or “and they, the nation of Israel, in no way or manner turn back, restore or reinstate themselves” “to the LORD” which means “toward Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “their God” or “their, the nation of Israel's, Supreme Deity and True God”, “nor seek him for all this” which means “no and not in any way do the people of Israel exact, search for, require or desire him, Jehovah God, in the whole, any, each and the totality pertaining to finding Him”. Hosea shared how the people within the nation of Israel did not come back to Jehovah God, and they in no way or manner desired Him.
When we meditate upon Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God knew the arrogance that was within the nation of Israel. Their lives demonstrated their exaltation of themselves, and they did not go back to nor search for their relationship with Him. God has an open invitation to everyone to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and ask Him to come into our lives, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to “return” to Him and “seek” Him with all our hearts, souls and minds in this life and in the eternal life to come.
Next time Hosea says, “Ephraim also is like a silly dove”, 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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