Daily Devotions
Hosea
"I will chastise them"
Text: Hosea 7:12
THE CHASTISEMENT FROM THE LORD
Israel had been forewarned by numerous prophets that they would be chastised by the Lord for their wickedness and their idolatrous ways. The erring and stubborn nation refused to accept that they could not escape the judgment of God. They believed that if they had the right allies, they would be strong again.
“Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them;
I will bring them down like birds of the air;
I will chastise them
According to what their congregation has heard.”
Hosea 7:12
1. “Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them”
a) The imagery employed here was that of a skilled hunter.
b) Israel was like a bird trying to flee.
c) “Wherever they go”
i) To Egypt,
ii) To Assyria.
d) “I will spread My net on them”
i) Their so-called allies would betray them.
ii) They would be entrapped.
2. “I will bring them down like birds of the air”
a) Sometimes nets are raised to a high level.
b) Birds would fly into the net and be caught.
c) There were many ways in which a skilled hunter would be able to bring down the birds.
3. “I will chastise them according to what their congregation has heard”
a) The hand of chastisement of the Lord was first spoken of by the prophets of God.
b) The prophets had prophesied of how God would chastise the nation.
c) They would go from one congregation to another.
d) They would warn the people of how God would chastise the nation for their sinfulness.
e) The things that the prophets had spoken would come to pass as they were proclaimed.
i) That the idols would fail them.
ii) That their false prophets would deceive them.
iii) That their pride would be their downfall.
iv) That God would wound the nation as a lion would wound its prey.
Every word the prophets proclaimed would be fulfilled. The chastisement of the Lord would take place.