HOSEA 7
8 Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not;
gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not.
10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return
to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this.
11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense,
calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.12 As they go,
I will spread over them my net; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens;
I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.
13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me. – Hosea 7:8-13
HOSEA 7 ON SPEAKING LIES AGAINST GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ
One is expected to obey his will and commands
His servant is to abide in him and live his truth
He is to keep away from the corruption of the world
It is evil and wicked to speak lies against God
You are serving the enemy when you do so.
In this account, Hosea describes what evil things Ephraim has done against the Lord. In verse 8, they were illustrated as “mixing with the peoples.” God specifically told them not to intermarry from outside the covenant people and is what exactly what they did. Without them even noticing it, they began to worship the pagan idols that their partners practiced. They didn’t keep their hearts pure for the Lord. Hosea also mentioned their pride in verse 10, they did not seek God anymore. They went to Assyria, a pagan country for help instead of going to their covenant God. This stirred God’s jealousy and brought about destruction unless they repent and return back to the Lord.
REFLECTION
- How can a Christian lie against the Lord without them even noticing it?
