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NASB | Hosea 11:8 ¶ How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hosea 11:8 ¶ How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within Me; All My compassions are kindled together [for My nation of Israel]. [Deut 29:23] |
Subject: explain anthropomorphism |
Bible Note: Quoted from your statement: A. W. Tozer wrote, "Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear. The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough, and the history of the Church confirms it. So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God." My response: Although I can agree with some of what Mr. Tozer is trying to say, we can't underestimate the power and persistence of our God. Instead of comparing the church to a "fruit" subject to rot, we must see the True Lord's church as being a diamond in the ruff. That diamond as described in the NT was perfect and all we can do is hope to imitate that standard as closely as possible. It is up to each generation of God's children to "rediscover, reform or restore," do whatever is necessary to keep the church pure and undefiled from the influence of the world. Sometimes that takes a great deal of introspection on an individual basis as well as a congregational basis. We should all ocassionally look at our traditions and recognize them for what they are and decide to take ownership of them, improve or discard them. We should all ocassionally discuss and confirm that we are doing those things that are commanded of God's family to make certain that we're not disqualified like Paul prayed about himself. We should see this as a refining process, again like that of a lump of coal into a diamond. We can never hope to actually reach perfection but we MUST do our best to try. Thus we draw closer and closer to God as He draws us toward that goal. I do hope I'm clear on this deep and complicated subject. Blessings to you. Country Girl |