The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman

Scripture: The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God Hosea 9:7-8

Observation: The passage today speaks of the days of punishment to come upon Israel, when the days of reckoning are at hand. Whenever judgment is proclaimed upon Israel and the warning that basically says “time’s up”, it is a reminder for us in general that the Day of Judgment is likewise very close for the world. When Jesus began His ministry, He declared “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near”. How much more so this warning applies to us, in these last days when so many end time signs are being fulfilled before our eyes.

Why did Israel have to fear? Because her sins were so many. In Genesis, we see how God prophesied to Abraham that his fourth generation would come back and conquer the land when the sins of the Amorites had reached its full measure. By this we know that there once a measure of sin is reached for a particular nation, judgment will come. According to God’s grace and wisdom, this will vary from nation to nation, person to person. However, the warning for us is to beware greatly of treating sin lightly and blatantly continuing in a sin when we know it is wrong. Who knows whether we will have time to repent before our life is called of us?

God also mentioned in particular Israel’s hostility. A hostile person is someone who gets angry easily, who will not hesitate to quarrel and fight with others for little reason. How different is the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We must be careful not to become a hostile person, whether at work, in the car, or at home. Just as Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we too are to be a peaceful people, even in our dealings with the hostile.

The Scripture further mentions that in that time, the prophet was considered a fool and an inspired person a maniac. A prophet is one who brings messages from God, who teaches others according to God’s Word. In the end times, it is true that those who serve God will also be persecuted like the prophets of old. Yet Jesus tells us in the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The portion of Scripture that reads “the prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim” is especially interesting. This shows us that when we serve God, He is with us. We are not alone. God is with us. Just as God is the watchman, we are the watchman. Wherever we go, our place of work, our family, our Cell Group, our Church, we are akin to watchmen there. We do well to look out for those we have been called to, to pray for them, to intercede for them.

Application:- Recognize that God judges sin, and though He forgives those who repent and believe in His son, we must beware lest sin become so dominant in our lives that we completely lose sight of salvation. Examine our hearts to see if hostility has become present, perhaps due to bitterness, hurt or disappointment. Ask God to give us a new heart, a compassionate heart inspired by the Holy Spirit. Where some of us are persecuted because of our faith, do not lose heart, but remember the prophets as our encouragement. Know that God is with us, working together with us as we serve Him always.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You are just yet merciful. Turn my sins away from me I pray. Create in me a new heart that seeks Your Spirit and Your holiness. Forgive the times when I have been hostile. Let me exhibit more and more the fruit of Your Spirit, love, peace and gentleness. When I am persecuted, let me not be ashamed but I will continue to hope in You. Thank You that You are ever with me, and You will not leave me alone. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.