Study Desk

"This vision about the 2,300 evenings and mornings is true. But none of these things will happen for a long time, so keep this vision a secret."

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. "So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.

The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak.

And the man said to me, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

"Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters.

I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?"

When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, "Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods."

So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.

On that day I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky and the animals that scurry along the ground so they will not harm you. I will remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, so you can live unafraid in peace and safety.

So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.

So you will stumble in broad daylight, and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother.

"When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed. So the priests are glad when the people sin!

‘And what the priests do, the people also do.' So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds.

But why should I punish them for their prostitution and adultery? For your men are doing the same thing, sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes. O foolish people! You refuse to understand, so you will be destroyed.

Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. So should the Lord feed her like a lamb in a lush pasture?

So a mighty wind will sweep them away. Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame.

"The leaders of Judah have become like thieves. So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.

In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.