GOD’S JUDGEMENT OF HIS PEOPLE
Hosea 5:1-15
Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me.” (15)
chapter 5
1. "Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
2. The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
3. I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4. "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD.
5. Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
6. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.
7. They are unfaithful to the LORD; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour their fields.
8. "Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven; lead on, Benjamin.
9. Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10. Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
11. Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.
12. I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.
13. "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.
14. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
15. Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face - in their misery they will earnestly seek me."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. God favored the people of Israel. He raised them with the hope that they would become a Kingdom of Priests. He long endured their shortcomings. But they brought the judgment upon themselves. First, they became proud and acted as if they did not know God. They refused to acknowledge God and gave themselves into idolatry.
2. Then the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah started fighting against each other, making them prone to foreign attack. Israel still stubbornly refused to turn to God and instead reached out to the king of Assyria for help. Not only was the king of Assyria unable to save Israel, he would take advantage of them. And this time, God would not come to a quick rescue. Instead, he would quietly wait, like a lion in their lair, waiting for them to repent their sin and seek him sincerely. This time, simple crying out of misery would not work. They would need to come to know their God, his faithfulness, and mercy, and reach out to him based on their knowledge of him.
3. Are you praying for God to help you today? Are you ready to spend time with him, meditate on his words, and pray based on his will? God loves you, and he wants you to get to know him so you can share in a love relationship with him.
Prayer: Father, I come to you in my humility. Please come to me and guide me according to your will.
One Word: God’s judgment and discipline