THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
HOSEA
CHAPTER
8
1. Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 1)
Everybody be aware that we are God's beloved people, even though we are sinners! God is still protecting us from our sinful selves and from others because he loves us.
2. Israel cries to me, "M|y God, we-Israel-know you!" 3. Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 2 to 3)
Oh God when our time comes and we all appear before You we are all in for a big surprise, for although we all proclaim to love and believe in You the way that we live, our values beliefs and decisions may all not always reflect the spirit of that faith that we believe in that is in You.
4. They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 4)
Israel oh God took matters into their own hands without including or referring to You in the daily transactions of life. They behaved according to their heart's desire and went against the source of life that is You.
5. Your calf is rejected, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6. For it is from Israel, an artisan made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God I understand how angry You must feel especially when we place our trust in the world and all it has to offer instead of in You and Your ways. As You said many create idols, such as money, pop starts, football players and even worse even parish priests with a very pleasant character may become idols. Once the people are attracted to the idol, the focus is totally shifted and focused.It is displaced from the 'Creator' to the 'created'. If we had to ask certain people why they attend to a particular mass they might say because that person is the priest and I like him. The question to be considered is are parishioners attending to make an experience of You my God, or to listen to a good homely or joke from that priest, or monk, whatever is the case!
7. For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, foreigners would devour it.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea chapter 8 verse 7)
If we sow good seed of the good deeds we do, we will benefits from the works related to the acts of good that we had done, however if we commit negative acts, we will reap the sour and negative fruits of our sinful acts which might end up in pain anguish and calamity.
8. Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the nations as a useless vessel. 9. For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God we are also swallowed up. We are surrounded by elements of the world that do their best to make us go against You and in favour of the world. We are also like the wild ass wandering in a no man's land of the world, the prey of the popular evil spirits who are all the time harassing us in order that we do not reach our destination that of being with Your forever.
10. Though they bargain with the nations, I will now gather them up. They shall soon writhe under the burden of kings and princes.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 10)
Even though we join forces with the negative forces of the world and find our security in it, that same alliance can one day work against us, for it may be the same source that deprives us of our salvation and may even lead to the destruction of our souls.
11. When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin, they became to him altars for sinning.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 11)
Oh God as You are aware of, when the practice that is applied on a one time basis becomes an addiction that the user cannot live without this becomes a direct source of both physical and psychological pleasure. Therefore we are to be watchdogs over ourselves, so that when we observe that a habitual pattern is being created we take immediate action to bring it to an end.
12. Though I write for him the multitude of my instructions, they are regarded as a strange thing. 13. Though they offer choice sacrifices, though they eat flesh, the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. 14. Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his strongholds.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God my Father You have given an uncountable quantity of teachings, a set of clear commandments, dogmas, encyclicals and ecumenical councils, however there are still among us those who still are not convinced regarding their faith. Further more among us Roman Catholics who attend for adoration, spiritual exercises, communion there are still among us who do not really know who You are in their lives.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I pray that we no longer remain children in our faith. I pray that we take You at Your Word and place our trust in You. I also pray that You have mercy on us, for we do not merit heaven but the torments of hell Amen.
2. Israel cries to me, "M|y God, we-Israel-know you!" 3. Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 2 to 3)
Oh God when our time comes and we all appear before You we are all in for a big surprise, for although we all proclaim to love and believe in You the way that we live, our values beliefs and decisions may all not always reflect the spirit of that faith that we believe in that is in You.
4. They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 4)
Israel oh God took matters into their own hands without including or referring to You in the daily transactions of life. They behaved according to their heart's desire and went against the source of life that is You.
5. Your calf is rejected, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6. For it is from Israel, an artisan made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God I understand how angry You must feel especially when we place our trust in the world and all it has to offer instead of in You and Your ways. As You said many create idols, such as money, pop starts, football players and even worse even parish priests with a very pleasant character may become idols. Once the people are attracted to the idol, the focus is totally shifted and focused.It is displaced from the 'Creator' to the 'created'. If we had to ask certain people why they attend to a particular mass they might say because that person is the priest and I like him. The question to be considered is are parishioners attending to make an experience of You my God, or to listen to a good homely or joke from that priest, or monk, whatever is the case!
7. For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, foreigners would devour it.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea chapter 8 verse 7)
If we sow good seed of the good deeds we do, we will benefits from the works related to the acts of good that we had done, however if we commit negative acts, we will reap the sour and negative fruits of our sinful acts which might end up in pain anguish and calamity.
8. Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the nations as a useless vessel. 9. For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God we are also swallowed up. We are surrounded by elements of the world that do their best to make us go against You and in favour of the world. We are also like the wild ass wandering in a no man's land of the world, the prey of the popular evil spirits who are all the time harassing us in order that we do not reach our destination that of being with Your forever.
10. Though they bargain with the nations, I will now gather them up. They shall soon writhe under the burden of kings and princes.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 10)
Even though we join forces with the negative forces of the world and find our security in it, that same alliance can one day work against us, for it may be the same source that deprives us of our salvation and may even lead to the destruction of our souls.
11. When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin, they became to him altars for sinning.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verse 11)
Oh God as You are aware of, when the practice that is applied on a one time basis becomes an addiction that the user cannot live without this becomes a direct source of both physical and psychological pleasure. Therefore we are to be watchdogs over ourselves, so that when we observe that a habitual pattern is being created we take immediate action to bring it to an end.
12. Though I write for him the multitude of my instructions, they are regarded as a strange thing. 13. Though they offer choice sacrifices, though they eat flesh, the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. 14. Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his strongholds.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 8 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God my Father You have given an uncountable quantity of teachings, a set of clear commandments, dogmas, encyclicals and ecumenical councils, however there are still among us those who still are not convinced regarding their faith. Further more among us Roman Catholics who attend for adoration, spiritual exercises, communion there are still among us who do not really know who You are in their lives.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God I pray that we no longer remain children in our faith. I pray that we take You at Your Word and place our trust in You. I also pray that You have mercy on us, for we do not merit heaven but the torments of hell Amen.
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