August 10, 2025 - Hosea 7-10

Several days ago, I quoted Daniel as he prayed:  “O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his prayers for mercy . . .” (Daniel 9:3,4,16,17).”  And I commented, “In troubled times (I suppose every generation finds itself living in troubled times; thus, the universality of this counsel.), what must we do?  We turn our faces to the Lord!”  The people to whom Hosea preached, though, refused to turn their faces to the Lord.  They trusted not only in their idols and sticks of wood (yesterday’s musing) but also trusted in their political and military alliances to protect them:  “The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him, for all this.  Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria” (7:10-11).  Always, there are many who go their own ways, who trust in the wrong things, and who refuse to turn to God.  Yet, the promise remains:  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” (Isaiah 45:22)

My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

take all my guilt away;

O let me from this day

be wholly Thine.

When ends life’s transient dream,

when death’s cold, sullen stream

shall o’er me roll,

blest Savior, then in love,

fear and distrust remove;

O bear me safe above,

a ransomed soul.   -- Ray Palmer (1830)