Hosea, 14
9. What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when I hear him and watch over him? I am like an evergreen cypress, you owe your fruitfulness to me.
9. What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when I hear him and watch over him? I am like an evergreen cypress, you owe your fruitfulness to me.
Hosea chapter 14 is an invitation to repentance and restoration of the relationship between God and the people of Israel. It is a call for them to return to the Lord and recognize their dependence on them, not idols or other gods. The verses selected below are related to the main theme of the chapter, repentance and the search for God.
Psalm 51:17: "pleasant sacrifices to you are the broken spirit; heart comprised and contrite, thou shalt not despise him, O God." This verse emphasizes that true repentance is what pleases God, more than any sacrifice or offering we can offer.
Isaiah 55:6-7: "Seek the Lord as long as one can find, invoke Him as near. Leave the wicked to his way, and the evil man his thoughts; turn to the Lord, who shall be sympathetic to him; For our God, because he is rich in forgiving. " This verse reinforces the central message of Hosea Chapter 14, which is the search for God and the repentance of our sins.
Jeremiah 31:18-19: "Certainly I heard Efraim lamenting: You have punished me, and I was punished as a bull not yet domesticated; make me come back to come back, because you are the Lord, my God. I turned down, I regretted; and after I understood, I hit my thigh; I am embarrassed and confused, because I supported the reproach of my youth. " This verse shows Ephraim's genuine repentance (one of the names given to Israel) and the desire to return to the Lord.
Luke 15:11-32: The parable of the prodigal son is a living example of repentance and reconciliation. The youngest son wasted his inheritance and ends up living in extreme poverty until he decides to return to his father's house. He recognizes his mistakes, asks for forgiveness and is received with joy by his father. This parable illustrates God's love for his people and his willingness to forgive those who truly repent.
Revelation 2:4-5: "But I have against you that you left your first love. Remember, therefore, where you have fallen, and repent, and practice the first works; and if not, I soon turned to you , and I will remove your lamp from your place, if you do not repent. " This verse highlights the importance of continuous repentance and the constant search for God, so that we do not lose our first love and our communion with Him.
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