THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
HOSEA
CHAPTER
9
1. Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other nations do; for you have played the whore, departing from your God. You have loved a prostitute's pay on all threshing floors.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 1)
Oh God, the same warning can be applied to us Christians. Today You would tell us not to be satisfied and or overjoyed with the discoveries in science and other spheres of life. For even though we are making great progress, in the scientific world, on a spiritual level we are becoming more atheist than ever before and this is something that we are not to be proud of.
2. Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them. 3. They shall not remain in the land of the LORD, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and in Assyria they shall eat unclean food.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 3)
Oh God, the world can only satisfy what is human and material. It can never satisfy our spiritual needs. This is an area that we take for granted, at our own cost, for in fact all that is material will come to an end but, all that is spiritual will remain forever. If we neglect this area we will find ourselves in a state of Egypt, meaning sorrow and pain.
4. They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the LORD, and their sacrifices shall not please him Such sacrifices shall be like mourners' bread all who eat of it shall be defiled: for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the LORD.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 4)
Oh God, when we come to receive You during communion we need to be prepared to receive Your holy presence, for if we are in deep sin at the time we cannot benefit from the power of Your presence. Even though You love us it will be like driving a new Ferrari into a garage filled with the waste and droppings of pigs and horses.
5. What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the festival of the LORD?
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 5)
How will we stand before You oh God on the day of judgement if we have wasted our lent time on earth instead of using our time to do good works on behalf of others in need?
6. For even if they escape destruction, Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 6)
Oh God, we can never escape Your justice. Even though we may manage to live a corrupt life on earth at the expense of other innocent people, there will come the time when we will have to face the consequences of our actions.
7. The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel cries "The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad!"
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 7)
Indeed oh God the days of punishment are in fast progress. People who believe in You are being ridiculed because of the message of Your truth that they are proclaiming. People who have a close relationship with You and were being of help to others by holding prayer meetings are being persecuted of which one that I am familiar with has been forced to stop such meetings by a competent authority, but has not provided a solution for the welfare of such faithful, whose spiritual life is at risk if they generalize that all people who have made Your experience during apparitions are phonies and not accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.
8. The prophet is a sentinel for my God over Ephraim, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his God. 9. They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity he will punish their sins.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God even though we willfully give up our lives to a life sin You still watch over us and spoil our plans so that we will not harm ourselves or others by means of our crooked plans. Oh God because You love us so much You face the dilemma of every parent. Although You love us so much You cannot turn a blind eye to our acts of disobedience. This means that we still have to experience the negative consequences of our sins, by which we will grow and mature in the process. I thank You, God, for the way that You choose to deal with us humans.
10. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors. But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 10)
Oh God before we ever had set our eyes and minds on You, before we had even been created You already knew us. We were already in Your plan for our salvation. Time and time again throughout our lives You communicated with us either directly or by means of Your Gospel or Bible or by means of tribulations, but our hearts were set on the world and we did not respond to You. However, You never gave up on us.
11. Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird-no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 11)
Oh God, it is only from You that we receive our strengths our talents and skills our life, however without You, nothing makes sense or is of value. Without You we end up living in a state of death and confusion.
12. Even if they bring up children. I will bereave them until no one is left Woe to them indeed when I depart from them!
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 12)
And woes it is to me and many others oh God my Father! If You had to leave my side for even a second my soul would surely perish for I am still weak on all levels. May it never be oh God that You depart from me and the whole world, for we would surely be in a state of bereavement.
13. I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 13)
Oh God, I can only just understand Your feelings on seeing Ephraim degenerating in such a way. You have known us even before we were born. You have been following us since we made our first step and uttered our first exclamation and now You maybe see us deep in sin, hooked on cocaine, or maybe even see us in a wrecked car over cliff's edge in an act of suicide! You who felt sorry to have had to spare Your only son for our redemption and was overjoyed to accept Him risen and in glory, will one day also feel the same emotion when we meet You in heaven. (I hope!)
14. Give them, O LORD what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 14)
As in the case of the prophet Hosea, I also ask, 'what shall we pray for?' However You gave us the answer to this question. We are to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit and it will be given to us. Amen.
15. Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their officials are rebels.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 15)
Every form of evil has a beginning oh God. A situation where we said 'Yes' to evil and no to 'You'. Since then if this action became a pattern as in masturbation that can even become a compulsion or lives will change completely for the goodness of God cannot be present at the same time as evil, therefore, in order to allow You my God in our lives, we are to say goodbye to evil. Oh God even though, we do sinful acts You still love us and have love and compassion for us, however, You cannot turn a deaf ear, or a blind eye on our sins as if they did not exist.
16. Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb. 17. Because they have not listened to him my God will reject them; they shall become wanderers among the nations.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verses 16 to 17)
Oh God, I understand that You want to have the first place in our lives and that You do not accept any other competition. As a parent myself, I realize how painful it is to have disobedient children, who although receive Your comfort and love, still decide to go against Your will.
Oh, Father, I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh, Father, I would like to pray for all parents, especially those who are facing a tidal wave of stress due to the disobedience of their children and many other issues. I pray for the parents of those youths who are addicted to drugs, a life of crime and other issues that Satan uses to test and harm us before You. I also pray for the youths themselves for it could be that their behaviour is a reflection of the challenging times that they are facing and are not coping with. I pray for Your blessing, love and protection oh God. May Your blessings flow on to all the families of the world.
2. Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them. 3. They shall not remain in the land of the LORD, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and in Assyria they shall eat unclean food.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 3)
Oh God, the world can only satisfy what is human and material. It can never satisfy our spiritual needs. This is an area that we take for granted, at our own cost, for in fact all that is material will come to an end but, all that is spiritual will remain forever. If we neglect this area we will find ourselves in a state of Egypt, meaning sorrow and pain.
4. They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the LORD, and their sacrifices shall not please him Such sacrifices shall be like mourners' bread all who eat of it shall be defiled: for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the LORD.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 4)
Oh God, when we come to receive You during communion we need to be prepared to receive Your holy presence, for if we are in deep sin at the time we cannot benefit from the power of Your presence. Even though You love us it will be like driving a new Ferrari into a garage filled with the waste and droppings of pigs and horses.
5. What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the festival of the LORD?
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 5)
How will we stand before You oh God on the day of judgement if we have wasted our lent time on earth instead of using our time to do good works on behalf of others in need?
6. For even if they escape destruction, Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 6)
Oh God, we can never escape Your justice. Even though we may manage to live a corrupt life on earth at the expense of other innocent people, there will come the time when we will have to face the consequences of our actions.
7. The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel cries "The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad!"
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 7)
Indeed oh God the days of punishment are in fast progress. People who believe in You are being ridiculed because of the message of Your truth that they are proclaiming. People who have a close relationship with You and were being of help to others by holding prayer meetings are being persecuted of which one that I am familiar with has been forced to stop such meetings by a competent authority, but has not provided a solution for the welfare of such faithful, whose spiritual life is at risk if they generalize that all people who have made Your experience during apparitions are phonies and not accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.
8. The prophet is a sentinel for my God over Ephraim, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his God. 9. They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity he will punish their sins.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God even though we willfully give up our lives to a life sin You still watch over us and spoil our plans so that we will not harm ourselves or others by means of our crooked plans. Oh God because You love us so much You face the dilemma of every parent. Although You love us so much You cannot turn a blind eye to our acts of disobedience. This means that we still have to experience the negative consequences of our sins, by which we will grow and mature in the process. I thank You, God, for the way that You choose to deal with us humans.
10. Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors. But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 10)
Oh God before we ever had set our eyes and minds on You, before we had even been created You already knew us. We were already in Your plan for our salvation. Time and time again throughout our lives You communicated with us either directly or by means of Your Gospel or Bible or by means of tribulations, but our hearts were set on the world and we did not respond to You. However, You never gave up on us.
11. Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird-no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 11)
Oh God, it is only from You that we receive our strengths our talents and skills our life, however without You, nothing makes sense or is of value. Without You we end up living in a state of death and confusion.
12. Even if they bring up children. I will bereave them until no one is left Woe to them indeed when I depart from them!
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 12)
And woes it is to me and many others oh God my Father! If You had to leave my side for even a second my soul would surely perish for I am still weak on all levels. May it never be oh God that You depart from me and the whole world, for we would surely be in a state of bereavement.
13. I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 13)
Oh God, I can only just understand Your feelings on seeing Ephraim degenerating in such a way. You have known us even before we were born. You have been following us since we made our first step and uttered our first exclamation and now You maybe see us deep in sin, hooked on cocaine, or maybe even see us in a wrecked car over cliff's edge in an act of suicide! You who felt sorry to have had to spare Your only son for our redemption and was overjoyed to accept Him risen and in glory, will one day also feel the same emotion when we meet You in heaven. (I hope!)
14. Give them, O LORD what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 14)
As in the case of the prophet Hosea, I also ask, 'what shall we pray for?' However You gave us the answer to this question. We are to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit and it will be given to us. Amen.
15. Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their officials are rebels.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verse 15)
Every form of evil has a beginning oh God. A situation where we said 'Yes' to evil and no to 'You'. Since then if this action became a pattern as in masturbation that can even become a compulsion or lives will change completely for the goodness of God cannot be present at the same time as evil, therefore, in order to allow You my God in our lives, we are to say goodbye to evil. Oh God even though, we do sinful acts You still love us and have love and compassion for us, however, You cannot turn a deaf ear, or a blind eye on our sins as if they did not exist.
16. Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb. 17. Because they have not listened to him my God will reject them; they shall become wanderers among the nations.
(Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 9 verses 16 to 17)
Oh God, I understand that You want to have the first place in our lives and that You do not accept any other competition. As a parent myself, I realize how painful it is to have disobedient children, who although receive Your comfort and love, still decide to go against Your will.
Oh, Father, I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh, Father, I would like to pray for all parents, especially those who are facing a tidal wave of stress due to the disobedience of their children and many other issues. I pray for the parents of those youths who are addicted to drugs, a life of crime and other issues that Satan uses to test and harm us before You. I also pray for the youths themselves for it could be that their behaviour is a reflection of the challenging times that they are facing and are not coping with. I pray for Your blessing, love and protection oh God. May Your blessings flow on to all the families of the world.
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