Read: Hosea 6:1-9:17; 3 John 1:1-14; Psalm 126:1-6:Proverbs 29:12-14
These words of Hosea came at the end of their punishment and Hosea was pleading that Israel acknowledge finally, that her punishment was for her sin. God wanted to now have mercy and restoration, but was not able to because of their continued sin. It was not ritual acts that God was after, but love and obedience.
In 6:8, Gilead is mentioned as being a city polluted with blood. Gilead was a city of refuge where men ran for safety. But in 2 Kings 15:25, Pekah conspired against Pekahiah and killed him and took his place as ruler. Also, the priest would kill people coming to the city before they got there further obstructing justice and God’s commands.
Samaria was Israel’s capital. Four kings were murdered and usurped. The sins of Samaria and Ephraim where the priests were were keeping their nation from being restored by God. They had not repented and returned to the Lord after all they gone through.
Hosea rebuked them for their calf. According to JFB, Jeroboam, during his sojourn in Egypt, had seen Apis worshipped at Memphis, and Mnevis at Heliopolis, in the form of an ox; this, and the temple cherubim, gave him the inspiration for the calves set up at Dan and Beth-el. All Israel was to worship these calves which were an abomination to God.
So, instead of God being able to forgive and restore, He would have to send judgment. It is God’s nature to forgive and have mercy but he will judge when pushed to the limit.
John was having to do some correcting himself. There was a man who was head of an ultra-Pauline party that was anti-Jewish named Diotrephes. He was self-centered and wanted the attention John was getting to he stirred up the people against John who only taught about love. John had tried to unify the Jewish and Gentile believers with love. He admonished them to imitate God’s goodness and not man’s sins.
Lord, restore us by your unfailing love.
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