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Daily Devotions

Hosea

Hosea 
Day 
Day 84

"They did not cry out to Me with their heart"

Text: Hosea 7:14

AVERTING DISASTER

Israel could have averted disaster if only the nation had sought the Lord in humble prayer. The Lord has always responded positively if people would just seek Him with their whole heart.

“They did not cry out to Me with their heart
When they wailed upon their beds.
They assemble together for grain and new wine,
They rebel against Me.”
Hosea 7:14

1. “They did not cry out to Me with their heart”

a) God sees and evaluates hearts.

b) He does not merely listen to prayers from the lips.

c) What did God see?

i) He did not see heart-felt prayers.

ii) He saw insincerity.

iii) He saw hypocrisy.

d) Thus, God could not respond positively.

2. “When they wailed upon their beds”

a) Many things worried the nation.

b) There were many threats.

i) A failing economy

ii) Prevailing injustice

iii) Impending war

iv) No solution in sight

c) The sense of despair felt caused many to wail on their beds.

d) But wailing is not the same as seeking God with their heart.

3. “They assemble together for grain and new wine”

a) Worship always included time for fellowship among worshippers.

b) Worship should have God as the focus.

c) Instead the worshippers focused on the social aspect of “grain and new wine”.

4. “They rebel against Me”

a) This was true for God saw rebellion in the hearts of many in Israel.

b) Rebellion in the heart was like the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).