Speak What God is Saying

 Scripture:

“The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God, yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Israel was far from God at this point in their history. Hosea gave them messages from God about their disobedience to Him and what their punishment would look like. Even in Israel’s worst times, God always had a prophet telling them the truth and speaking on God’s behalf. According to this verse, those prophets were watchmen, yet they faced traps from without and hostility from within God’s house.

Application:

The true prophetic voice is always difficult to hear. People don’t want to hear that they are far from God and need to turn to Him. People don’t want to hear that their sin has separated them from God and that punishment was coming to them. A person who speaks the true Word of God will face persecution. People will try to trap them and there will be hostile people in the house of God who have other opinions. We must remain strong in those times.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be strong and to represent You well. Let me speak Your words accurately and effectively. I want to know You more deeply and to say what You are saying. Show me things to come. Teach me when to preach, when to teach, when to prophecy, and when to listen. Give me the strength to endure when people don’t seem to want to hear what You are saying. More than anything, help me to speak what You are speaking at all times.

Yours Forever,

Jeff