Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1870
Ways: commandments, journey, manner, distance, road
From the Hebrew word 'derek' (pronounced deh'-rek). This word 'ways' has a few definitions, but in this Hosea 14:9 the translation is "commandments".
Hosea 14 is a call to Israel, to God's people to repent: to repent of their idolatry, their faithlessness (apostasy); to confess their wrongs to Him and to return to Him. It is a call to remember that their blessing lies with God; it is God who makes us fruitful, but only when we are faithful to Him.
HIS WAYS ARE JUST
Justice of God
Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He."
Revelation 15:3 "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!"
HIS WAY IS PERFECT
Perfect: Sound, wholesome, having integrity; without blemish or defect
Genesis 17:1; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; Psalm 19:7
Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." It is a call, a commandment, to be people of integrity. People of integrity have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Perfect: Entirely in accord with Truth and Fact
Job 1:1; Deuteronomy 10:12
Joshua 24:14
"Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and Truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."
HIS WAY IS RIGHTEOUS
Psalm 145:17 "The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works."
HIS WAYS ARE EVERLASTING
Everlasting: of long duration, from antiquity to futurity, from ancient times to times not yet, continually existent
Habakkuk 3:6 "He stood, and measured the earth: He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting."
Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
HIS WAY IS STRENGTH TO THE UPRIGHT
Proverbs 21:15; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 1:6
Proverbs 10:29 "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity."
Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
HIS WAYS ARE TAUGHT
Micah 4:2 "And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
THE LORD SHOWS US HIS WAY
Psalm 25:8 "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way."
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am The Way and The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
HIS WAYS ARE TO BE WALKED IN
Walk In: Live in, be obedient to, follow after
Isaiah 30:21 "And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is The Way. Walk in it.”
2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it."
To understand His ways is to know His ways AND be obedient to His Way. Many will say they knew Him, but because they refused to obey Him, He will know they are lying.
Matthew 7:22, 23; Matthew 25:41; Luke 13:25, 27.
The born again believer not only pursues understanding but follows the blueprint of obedience and blessing which The Lord has laid out for those who love Him.
I do not want to know everything about The Lord now. Knowledge is responsibility. Knowing what little I do know of The Lord Jesus Christ, I know that He saved this wretched sinner from everlasting death and brought me into everlasting life. So, I, too, encourage you to get into His Word, follow His Way and obey His will for your life.
Let us walk the walk and talk the talk: in the Love of God, in the Way of The Lord.
Understand - Jeremy Camp
The Worth of Knowing You - Austin Bratton
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus - Lydia Walker
Simple Pursuit - New Wine
