Daily Devotions
Hosea
"The LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land"
Text: Hosea 4:1
A SERIOUS CHARGE
The state of affairs in Israel had taken a serious tumble. No one seemed brave enough to confront the problems that the nation was facing. Hosea, as the prophet of God had to proclaim this word from the LORD.
“Hear the word of the LORD,
You children of Israel,
For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land:
‘There is no truth or mercy
Or knowledge of God in the land.'”
Hosea 4:1
1. “Hear the word of the LORD”
a) This was a word that came from the LORD God Himself.
b) The situation in the land had grown so serious the problem must be addressed forthrightly.
2. “You children of Israel”
a) This term was used from days of antiquity.
b) This was the most frequently used phrase in the book of Exodus (Exodus 1:7; 2:25 etc.).
c) But the people who wore this name did not bring honour to it.
3. “For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land”
a) The original “inhabitants of the land” were called Canaanites.
b) There were many tribes that made up the Canaanites (Perizzites, Jebusites, etc.).
c) The children of Israel were meant to live out their faith in the LORD in their Promised Land.
d) But they had failed to live up to all that God had commanded them through Moses (Cf. Deuteronomy).
e) Instead the LORD had to lay a charge against the children of Israel.
4. The charge
a) The charge is made up of three related portions.
b) Thus, it is spoken as “a charge”.
c) Each word could be a serious charge in itself.
5. The three words:
a) There is no truth.
b) There is no mercy.
c) There is no knowledge of God in the land.
THE FAILURE OF THE LEADERS
The rulers had failed miserably. These were the designated groups God had given to Israel. These would include the kings, the priests and the Levites, and the prophets God had raised up along the way!