Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
Because he was determined to follow man's command.
Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim
And like rottenness to the house of Judah.
When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah his wound,
Then Ephraim went to Assyria
And sent to King Jareb.
But he is unable to heal you,
Or to cure you of your wound.
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away,
I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver.
I will go away and return to My place
Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
For your loyalty is like a morning cloud
And like the dew which goes away early.
Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,
And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
(Hosea 5:11-6:6)
Whew. Hosea is one crazy book.
ReplyDelete"And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, You are my people';
and he shall say, 'You are my God.'"
(2:23)
How cool is that?
Pretty awesome if I say so.
ReplyDelete... if I say so not-myself, that is.
ReplyDelete