EGW WritingsHosea 7

The Review and Herald

February 5, 1914

RH February 5, 1914, par. 12

But by far the greater number of those who heard these invitations, refused to profit by them. So contrary to the evil desires of the impenitent were the words of one of God’s messengers, that the idolatrous priest at Bethel sent to the ruler in Israel, saying, “Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.” Amos 7:10. And through Hosea the Lord declared: “When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria.” Hosea 7:1. “The pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.” Verse 10.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 23—The Assyrian Captivity

PK 280.1

Of Ephraim the prophet testified, “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.” [The prophet Hosea often referred to Ephraim, a leader in apostasy among the tribes of Israel, as a symbol of the apostate nation.] “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good.” “Broken in judgment,” unable to discern the disastrous outcome of their evil course, the ten tribes were soon to be “wanderers among the nations.” Hosea 7:9; 8:3; 5:11; 9:17.

PK 280.2

Some of the leaders in Israel felt keenly their loss of prestige and wished that this might be regained. But instead of turning away from those practices which had brought weakness to the kingdom, they continued in iniquity, flattering themselves that when occasion arose, they would attain to the political power they desired by allying themselves with the heathen. “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian.” “Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” “They do make a covenant with the Assyrians.” Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 12:1.

PK 284.5

Through Hosea the Lord declared, “When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria.” “The pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek Him for all this.” Hosea 7:1, 10.

The Review and Herald

January 29, 1914

RH January 29, 1914, par. 3

Of the tribe of Ephraim, a leader in apostasy among the ten tribes, the Lord said: “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not.” “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good,” declared the prophet. Hosea 7:9; 8:3. “Broken in judgment” (Hosea 5:11), unable to discern the sure result of continued apostasy, the ten tribes were soon to be “wanderers among the nations.”

RH January 29, 1914, par. 4

There were in Israel those who realized that unless they strengthened their position politically, they would be unable to regain the prestige they had had among the nations. But instead of turning away from those practices which had brought weakness to the kingdom, they continued in iniquity, flattering themselves that when occasion arose, they would gain the power they needed by allying themselves with the heathen. “When Ephraim saw his sickness,” the prophet declared, “then went Ephraim to the Assyrian.” Hosea 5:13. “Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” Hosea 7:11. “They do make a covenant with the Assyrians.”

RH January 29, 1914, par. 15

Among all classes of society, shameless drunkenness prevailed. “In the day of our king,” declared Hosea, “the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine.” Hosea 7:5. “Wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11. Amos testified, “Ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink.” Among women as well as men there were those who invited others to unite with them in revelry, saying, “Bring, and let us drink.” Amos 4:1.

RH January 29, 1914, par. 16

The land was filled with violence. Gilead was “a city of them that work iniquity,” and was “polluted with blood.” Hosea 6:8. Through his messenger, the Lord testified against Israel: “They commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers.” Hosea 7:1-4.

Testimony for the Church — No. 27

Jeremiah.

T27 42.1

He entreated them to hear the words that he spoke. He cited them to the prophecies of Hosea, Habakuk, Zephaniah, and others whose messages of reproof and warning had been similar to his own. He referred them to events which had transpired in their history in fulfillment of the prophecies of retribution for unrepented sins. Sometimes, as in this case, men had arisen in opposition to the message of God, and predicted peace and prosperity, to quiet the fears of the people, and gain the favor of those in high places. But in every past instance the judgment of God had been visited upon Israel, as the true prophets had indicated. Said he “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him.” If Israel chose to run the risk, future developments would effectually decide which was the false prophet.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 82, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 82, 1895, par. 1

Sabbath, October 19, the gathering at the tent was larger than we expected, as in the forenoon meetings were held by our people in the different churches. Hereafter all will come to the ground on Sabbath and Sunday. In the forenoon Brother Corliss spoke from Hosea words that were full of instruction. I spoke in the afternoon from the fourth [chapter] of John: “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” [Verse 10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 50, 1892

7LtMs, Lt 50, 1892, par. 6

In sending men to foreign fields, let there be great caution used. Those who have been accepted as preachers in America, and have not been educated to watch for souls as they that must give an account, are not the men to enter new fields as missionaries. If there is any corner of the world where churches can be built up and kept in a prosperous condition by sermonizing, while they neglect personal labor, I have yet to learn this. Men who are accepted to preach and not to minister better not go into foreign countries. Better have one thorough shepherd who will care for the flock as a faithful shepherd should, than to have twenty sermonizers who will excuse themselves, saying, It is not in my line to visit; I can not visit the church in their families. Then let there not be a moment’s hesitation in telling them, We do not propose to accept you and give you credentials. You cannot labor. But educate yourself to do a shepherd’s work, to care for the sheep and lambs, and you will not be like Ephraim, “a cake unturned.” [Hosea 7:8.] You will give full proof of your ministry.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 106, 1902

17LtMs, Ms 106, 1902, par. 25

“Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people. Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not. ... Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. ... They do not return unto the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this. ... Woe unto them; for they have fled from me; destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me; though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. ... Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine evil against me. They return, but not to the Most High; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue; this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.” [Hosea 7:8-11, 13, 15, 16.]

Gospel Workers (1892/1893 ed.)

Consecration to the Work

GW92 35.1

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for him. But why is it that so many prayers are never answered? David says, “I cried unto Him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” [Psalm 66:17, 18.] By another prophet the Lord gives us the promise, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” [Jeremiah 29:13.] Again, he speaks of some who “have not cried unto me with their heart.” [Hosea 7:14.] Such petitions are prayers of form, lip-service only, which the Lord does not accept.

In Heavenly Places

Fervent Prayer, March 7

HP 73.2

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for him. But why is it that so many prayers are never answered? ... The Lord gives us the promise: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Again, He speaks of some who “have not cried unto me with their heart” (Hosea 7:14). Such petitions are prayers of form, lip service only, which the Lord does not accept....