In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon”, and in chapter fourteen and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea said, “Ephraim shall say, what have I to do any more with idols?” where we read,
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him:
I am like a green fir tree. From me is your fruit found.
The verse begins, “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him:”Hosea began with the words, “Ephraim shall say” or “Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom will utter, declare and proclaim”, “what have I to do any more with idols” which means “whatsoever and whatever have I, Ephraim, to do at all with idolatrous images”? “I have heard him” or “I, Ephraim, have responded, answered and testified to Jehovah God”, “and observed him” which means “and seen, beheld and regarded him, Jehovah God”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” will question what they would do with idolatrous images because they had “heard” and seen Jehovah God.
The verse goes on to say, “ I am like a green fir tree. From me is your fruit found.” Hosea continued with the words, “I am like a green fir tree” or “I, Jehovah God, exist similar and in likeness to a luxuriant, fresh and flourishing cypress, juniper or pine tree”. “From me” which means “on account of, on the side of and because of me, Ephraim” “is your fruit found” or “is your, Jehovah God's, produce, bough, offspring and progeny discovered, attained, secured and detected”. Hosea shared how Ephraim would declare themselves to be similar to a luxuriant cypress tree who was the source of Jehovah God's produce and progeny. (See Luke 13:6-9; Romans 6:22; 7:4; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:22)
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea declared that “Ephraim” would no longer look to or rely upon their “false images” as their god because they beheld Jehovah God instead. Anyone who seeks to discover God will find that He loves them enough to send His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Not only is He our provision and protection, but He will forgive the sins and grant everlasting life to every person who humbles themselves, repents of their sins and puts their faith and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord”. Afterward they shall bear “fruit” for Him all their lives because they have realized One true glance of Jehovah God and His Son Jesus will turns them away from their idols and toward Him for all eternity. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Next time Hosea asks, “who is wise, and he shall understand these things?”, 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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