2/6/11
Dear Jehovah God,
Israel is swallowed up; they are now among the nations like a vessel in which no one delights.
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Samaria will be held guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their little ones will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.
I am swallowed up. I am now among the nations like a vessel in which no one delights. I know that the king of Assyria has captured me and carried me away into exile to Assyria, and settled me in Halah and Habor, on the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
I am guilty, for I have rebelled against my god. I will fall by the sword, my little ones are dashed in pieces, and my pregnant women are ripped open.
Moreover, Jehovah will scatter me among all peoples, form one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there I shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which I and my fathers have not known.
Therefore, the anger of Jehovah burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book; and Jehovah uprooted us from our land in anger and in fury and in great wrath, and cast us into another land, as it is this day.
Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and put them in Halah, Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
“’Did the gods of those nations which my fathers have destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?’”
I am scattered among all the peoples. Here I am. Hinani. I am sorry I am here serving other gods, wood and stone, which I and my fathers have not known. I am sorry. I do not want to serve other gods. Please help me to turn only to You.
I know the anger of You burns against the land. You are bringing every curse which is written in this book and I am sorry You have to. I am sorry we make You angry. I know You uprooted us from the land in anger and in fury and in great wrath. I sorry that You had to. I am sorry You are in anger, in fury and in great wrath and that You had to cast us in another land because we have hurt You so much. I am so sorry.
I am sorry that You had the king of Assyria carry Israel away into exile to Assyria. You commanded him to do so because Israel made You angry.
I am sorry that You had to stir up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria. I am sorry that You had him carry Israel away, carry me away into exile because I have hurt You so much and made You angry. You had to made me go away from You.
Have the gods of those nations which my fathers have destroyed deliver me, even Gozan and haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar? No! they have not. I will not worship the gods of those nations. You alone, deliver me. You are Jehovah my God!
Behold, You are going to stir up the Medes against us, who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold.
A harsh vision has been shown to me; the treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, media; You have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.
I know You are going to stir up the Medes against me, and I will not be able to buy my way out of it. I deserve it.
I am sorry that the treacherous one still deals treacherously. I am sorry the destroyer still destroys. I am sorry that I am just like that. I know that I can confess You as my God and claim obedience to You but I am still treacherous and I still destroy. I want to change. I want to worship only You and be obedient. I want to be Yours. I do not want to hurt You anymore. I do not want to be in exile anymore but I know I have to be because I have not changed one bit. And I sill hurt You and make You angry. I am sorry. I am guilty. I feel guilty and I do not know how to change.
Please, enlighten me, change me, transform me. Open my heart and my mind to You. Take me. You are Jehovah my god and I am Your servant. Amen, Amen, & Amen.