Daily Devotions
It Is Written
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Text: Hosea 4:6
FROM THE JUDGES TO THE KINGS
The time when Israel was ruled by Judges was one of the darkest periods in the history of Ancient Israel. That period gave way to the monarchy. But under the first king, Israel did not fare much better. King Saul was not well-inclined to spiritual matters.
In the reign of king David, things were a little better. There were good prophets who assisted the king in matters of religion. But even though there was a greater consciousness of the need to worship God and to serve Him well, many wars had to be fought before peace came to the nation.
THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS
The monarchy ended after Solomon’s reign. The nation was split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was called Judah. God then began to send prophets who sought to call both Israel and Judah to return to God. There was some success initially, but in the passage of time, both nations began to reject the Lord and the Scriptures. Instead they turned to idolatry.
Hosea was a prophet whose words described the spiritual state of affairs of both kingdoms.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
Hosea 4:6
1. “Lack of knowledge”
a) This was obvious.
b) Israel had rejected the knowledge of God.
c) It had deliberately forgotten the law of their God.
2. Dire consequences
a) The nation was destroyed by their enemies.
b) They did not seek God for deliverance but instead relied on their idols.
c) These carved images could do nothing to help their devotees.
d) The consequences would affect the future generations.
3. “I also will reject you from being priest for Me”
a) In God’s original offer to His people, they would be “a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6).
b) They would be a holy nation to the Lord.
c) Being priests of God they would have a deep knowledge of God.
d) They would be servants of God.
e) But that would not happen because they had rejected God and His laws.
f) God rejected them as priests and had to raise up special servants called prophets to serve Him.
The lesson to be learned is obvious! How we must never reject the commandments of the Lord!