Choose to Follow – The Presidential Prayer Team

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things: whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right. – Hosea 14:9

The prophet Hosea lived a life of disappointment because of a wife who was unfaithful to him. The Lord used this adulterous woman to symbolize Ephraim (Israel’s northern kingdom) and its lack of devotion to God. Ephraim had forgotten its Maker (Hosea 8:14). Its people regarded God’s laws as strange (8:12), and worshipped Baal and other idols (4:17). They stumbled by day and night because they had rejected the knowledge of God (4:5-6).

This sinful nation would be punished, but God declared that even with all of this, His love would heal their apostasy and He would look after them (14:4, 8). Ephraim had shown that they preferred their own ways to God’s, and it was to their ruin. The remnant of the righteous, however, would be humbly obedient, as they understood that “the ways of the Lord are right” (Hosea 14:9).

The righteous person is wise, understanding the ways of the Lord because he is a student of His Word. He understands that God is trustworthy, holy, just, merciful, faultless, righteous, powerful, and loving. God’s ways are designed to guide and govern His followers on the best path. The wise person will understand this. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (Psalm 111:10). Wisdom is a practical thing. With it comes discernment, the ability to identify right from wrong, truth from falsehood.

Those who prefer their own paths will stumble. Seek the Lord and ask Him to strengthen you to be faithful. Pray for those in leadership in the U.S. who seek God, and intercede on behalf of those who do not know Him. Choose to follow God’s Word and His ways, for they are right.

Today’s Verse: 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 upright walk in them,
    but transgressors stumble in them.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Deuteronomy 30:11-19

¹¹“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. ¹²It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹⁴But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

¹⁵“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. ¹⁶If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. ¹⁷But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, ¹⁸I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,