“E phraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept,” Hosea 5:11, NKJV. How much sorrow might have been avoided if Ephraim had simply trusted in his God! But, alas, he trusted in man—nor was he deceived, nor bribed into it, but he willingly walked by human precept. How vile, how low, to reject the counsel of the almighty God and joyfully embrace the empty philosophies of the world! To exchange glory and wisdom for shame and folly! And yet, is there anyone among us who is not guilty of the same? Alas, for Ephraim is no more wicked than we. Therefore, the LORD says: “I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me,” (Hosea 5:15). When we eat the fruits of our folly, will we then repent? When we are “oppressed and broken in judgment”? Even “in our affliction,” it is by God’s grace alone that we “acknowledge our offense.” And then, what horror! What r