Thursday, July 26: Hosea 14 - Wisdom or folly?.

The longing of God’s heart is always for His people to return to Him when they stray away. Always.

This chapter opens with yet another call to come home.  No matter where you have been, come home. Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips (1-2). And so the Lord’s invitation to come home continues. 

As I continued reading, with my heart full of joy because God’s heart is that we always return after we have strayed. I paused for a few extra moments on the closing verse of Hosea. Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

The wisdom God speaks about is not book learning or personal IQ.  The wisdom spoken of here is revealed by the way of the heart, by the choices we make. When we choose God and His way, we show ourselves to be wise, understanding that the ways of the LORD are right.

Folly, not used here but the regular antonym of wisdom in Proverbs, is choosing to live outside of, or opposed to the ways of the Lord.

Is your life characterized by wisdom or folly? Think about it…

Oh, Lord, may I have wisdom to follow Your ways and walk in Your light. That’s it, Lord.  That’s my prayer for today. Amen.