Two Questions

S – Hosea 14:9

 

‘Who is wise? He will realise 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.’

 

O – These are two significant questions asked; who is wise? Who is discerning? True understanding takes us to the ‘green pine tree’ where fruitfulness comes from. Even though the ways of the Lord are right, there is the choice to walk in them or to be rebellious where it will cause a stumbling. It reveals how blinding rebellion can make the perceptions of people in what decisions they make in choices or in what they regard as important or otherwise. It is always sobering to realise these entreaties were directed to the people of God. The very ones who had experienced the deliverance and who saw His power. Yet there is the distraction away to other powers and idols rather than toward the source of blessing. Rebellion in opting to make their own choices and discern their own wisdom had caused a stumbling. It seems this rebellion had blunted and blurred both the need and desire for repentance.

 

A – I can walk a path that will either bring a blessing or result in stumbling. Stumbling is never intentional; one never sets out or plans to stumble. However I see the challenge to ask myself these two questions everyday. Do I want to have right wisdom and correct discernment? If so then I need to settle that the ways of the Lord are right – they are non negotiable or just an option along side of many others. How I can look to other places and sources outside of the Lord’s ways. It seems though that if I try to walk in the ways of the Lord with any rebellion or disobedience in my heart then I too will stumble. I can only walk this path to blessing with a clear conviction that it is right and there is no other way to walk.

 

P – Lord I ask for your wisdom and discernment to stay on the right path. – I want to be quick to repent so that the path I walk in you will be the one of blessing and not one where I stumble.