1 When the words of my law came from Ephraim, he was lifted up in Israel; but when he did evil through the Baal, death overtook him. Ephraim was the powerful group then, when they spoke, the rest trembled and listened. They were looked upon as an example. Ephraim exalted themselves when they did that, and when they did this, they killed themselves. They self destructed by turning away from God. If you've ever talked to someone who was talking big and self destructing, you can see they have turned away from God. Nations and individuals die when they turn away from God and His word in the bible. When God and the bible is respected and loved, prosperity follows. When self exaltation occurs, so does death.
2 And now their sins are increased; they have made themselves a metal image, false gods from their silver, after their designs, all of them the work of the metal-workers; they say of them, Let them give offerings, let men give kisses to the oxen. If you study history and notice when a nation starts a downward trend, you can see a correlation between respecting God or not. God = growth, love, life; no God = death and destruction. When you turn away from God and make idols of silver or gold and worship them, it hurts God's feelings and makes Him angry. Part of the pagan worship services was human sacrifice (they offered their children to false idols, killed them), and they kissed stones and golden calves. The false idols never helped anyone. They only life changing thing in the world is the bible-God's word. Kissing is the ultimate sign of affection. You kiss your wife, your children, your friends. It shows you love and adore them.
3 So they ...... |
