Hosea 7:9 (KJV) We Must Give Account to God

Hosea 7:9 (KJV)
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

God addresses two issues concerning Ephraim:[1]

• Compromise had weakened them
• The end was nearing them

The thing about each of these is that they did not realize it.

Like Samson, whose lust had left him powerless, but he did not know it, Ephraim’s relationships with pagans, pagan religion, and reliance on pagan strength, had drained them of the power of God. Samson thought he would rise up and defeat his enemies as he always had. He wist not that his power was gone[2]. The same was true of Israel.

Day after day they continued on as they always had. Day after day they believed themselves to be safe, to be in good hands, to have God, if you will, forever at their disposal. In reality, each passing day left them with fewer days to survive. Day by day a new gray hair came on, here and there, a little at a time, slowly, imperceptibly. They could not see or refused to acknowledge, that their time was drawing to a close.

Now learn a lesson. 

• Though we may ignore God’s Word and keep up relations with worldliness. 
• Though we may think we have gotten away with our disobedience and 
• Though we may believe we can continue in our disobedient course “forever”

Day by day, just as our body wears out a little bit at a time, so does the liberty and the grace of God. Those acts of disobedience drain us of the blessings of God and our cup of iniquity fills. Our strength grows less, and our days grow fewer until one day, sooner than any of us might expect, we must give an account to God.

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[1]In this case, a reference to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

[2]Judges 16:20 (KJV)
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

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Hosea 7:9 (KJV) We Must Give Account to God

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