Day 195-11

Hos 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

I have always enjoyed this verse...in my mind it balances how man *tries* to use works to be right with God, versus the internal regeneration that happens at the moment of justification, giving one the ability to truly offer mercy and to desire the knowledge of God.

desired - H2654 - A primitive root; properly to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively to be pleased with, desire.

Used 76 times in 72 verses - First used in Genesis 34:19 - of Shechem and the delight he had in Jacob's daughter.

Ezekiel 18:23 - Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, and live.

Ahhh...and a companion verse from Psalms:

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. (40:6)

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will.

mercy - H2617 - From H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opprobrium) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty.

• H2616 - A primitive root; properly perhaps to bow (the neck only (compare H2603) in courtesy to an equal), that is, to be kind; also (by euphemism (compare H1288), but rarely) to reprove.

sacrifice - H2077 - From H2076; properly a slaughter, that is, the flesh of an animal; by implication a sacrifice (the victim or the act).

• H2076 - A primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice).

knowledge - H1847 - From H3045; knowledge.

burnt offerings - H5930 - Feminine active participle of H5927; a step or (collectively stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke).

I was feeling slightly lazy...and did not research each of the words listed above.  **sigh** Prayers appreciated.

My thoughts on the next verse?  Dangerous!

2Ch 30:10  So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

Then I highlighted the tribes which DID decide to be obedient.

Asher

Manasseh

Zebulun

Ephraim

Issachar

Though some came without being properly purified (2 Chronicles 30:19), Hezekiah prayed "The good Lord pardon every one."

And...

And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.  (2 Chronicles 30:20)

healed - H7495 - A primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure.

Used of God healing Abimelech (after Abraham prayed); translated physicians (embalmed Jacob/Israel); when Elisha put salt in the water it was healed; and used in my life verse:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:14)