12/5/10
Dear Jehovah God,
Gilead is a city of wrongdoers, tracked with bloody footprints. Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely, they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, yes, their altars are like the stone heaps beside the furrows of the field.
Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, they have become altars of sinning for him.
Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, the more altars he made; the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars. Their heart is faithless; now they must bear their guilt. You will break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
I shall not take the name of You my God in vain, for You will not leave him or her unpunished who takes Your name in vain. Does that mean we are to never use Your name? do I take Your name in vain?
We speak mere words; with worthless oaths we make covenants; and judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
I have plowed wickedness, I have reaped injustice, I have eaten the fruit of lies. Because I have trusted in my way, in my numerous warriors.
Ephraim surrounds You with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against You, even against the Holy One who is faithful.
And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
And as raiders wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem; surely, they have committed crime.
I shall not steal. When You would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for I deal falsely; the thief enters in, bandits raid outside.
I shall not commit adultery. We are all adulterers like an oven heated by the baker, who creases to stir up the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
Gilead is a city of wrongdoers, tracked with bloody footprints
Ephraim has provoked to bitter anger; so, his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him, and bring back his reproach to him.
You are Omniscient. You know everything and understand all things. You are also Sovereign and in complete control. You are doing Your foreknown plan. Amen, Amen, and Amen.