devotional post # 2124

Hosea 9:9-12

Hos 9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves like in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their violation; he will punish their mistakes.
Hos 9:10 Like grapes in the wilderness, that is how I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, that is how I saw your fathers. But then they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to that dishonorable thing, and became vulgar like the thing they loved.
Hos 9:11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird– no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
Hos 9:12 Even if they bring up children, I will deprive them till no man is left. Tragedy will also come to them when I back away from them!

sour grapes

The image of the rejected fruit tree or grave vine is used by several prophets in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 8:13; Micah 7:1). Jesus cursed a fig tree for a similar reason (Matthew 21; Mark 11). In Hosea’s description, the LORD talks about his initial love of Israel, as if he came upon them as a fruitful grapevine and fig tree in the wilderness. But then he saw that their idolatry turned them into something vulgar and disgusting, just like the other nations. The result: God chooses to back away and make them unfruitful.

LORD, remove from us the vulgarity that we have sought. Restore us to the refreshing fruitfulness that pleases you.