#DailyDevotion The Word Of The LORD Came to Hosea
Hosea I The LORD’s Word that came to Hosea Beeri’s son, when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah and when Jeroboam, the son of Joash, was king of Israel.
We’re not really certain what fashion or form the Word of the LORD came to the prophets. Did they enter a state of ecstasy? Did they see a vision? Was it audible only in their heads or did they hear it outside of themselves? Inquiring minds want to know. What we do know is that is Word of God is our LORD Jesus Christ as identified by John 1, “1IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .14And the Word became flesh and lived among us for a time and we saw His glory, the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
This Word came to Hosea, Beeri’s son. Hosea is an interesting name. It means salvation. It’s the me word we sing “Hosanna.” There would only be salvation if the Israelites and the Judahites listened to his message and repented.
This ministry of Hosea is placed in history. It is not some myth or fairy tale. He preaches during the reign of four kings of Judah and one king of Israel. That should tell you something of the palace intrigues in Judah. It also tells you something of how the kings of Judah acted towards the LORD to be replaced by the LORD in quick succession, although Uzziah lasted a while. It seems Hosea preached towards the end of his reign. Hezekiah would be the only decent king for Judah during this time. Hosea would only, according to his book, prophesy to Judah a few times.
Jeroboam wasn’t actually a good king in the LORD’s eyes. Yet, for the sake of His people Israel, He blessed Jeroboam’s reign. He allowed Jeroboam to recover the land lost after Solomon’s reign. It was only for the sake of His people there the LORD blessed Jeroboam. We Christians might want to take note of this. The LORD blesses the world, our country, our states, our counties and cities for the sake of His people and those who would come to faith in the future. It’s not that our leaders are so great. It is God who is so great. Maybe our leaders should take note of this and truly seek His blessing.
Most of Hosea’s prophecy would be trying to call the Israelites to repentance. He preaches a lot of judgment. They continued in the first king Jeroboam’s sin, worshiping the golden calf in the south and in the north, treating them as if they were the LORD. They however, picked up worshiping the false gods of their neighbors as well. In the worship of these false gods the love of the neighbor would wax cold. They would cease to live according to the covenant the LORD made with them at Mt. Sinai.
The preaching of judgment wasn’t because it pleased the LORD to punish evil doers. It’s purpose is always to call people to repentance and faith. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Hosea would also preach the good news of the kingdom at times as well. He would preach the coming of the Messiah, the Word made flesh.
Perhaps as we read God’s word of judgment and salvation to these nations, we should examine our own hearts, our own nations actions, repent of our individual guilt and our nation’s guilt and pray the LORD would grant repentance both to us individually and to our nation as a whole.
Merciful God and Father, You have provided Your Word to us that we would repent of our sins and turn to Your only-begotten Son, the Word of God, for salvation. Grant us and also the people of our nation to turn from our own self-interest and to You for all good things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.