Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.”
Proverbs 1:7 comes to mind as I read this chapter: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I’ve long struggled with this idea of “fear of the LORD,” but I have come to equate it with reverence—understanding the LORD’s place in our lives—as opposed to terror of the LORD.
Hosea 4:6 “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me….”
In this chapter, Israel seems to have no fear, no reverence for God and His place in our lives. That lack of understanding, lack of knowledge is directly responsible for their destruction. God wants to protect them like a shepherd guards his sheep, but the Israelites act like stubborn heifers instead.
Hosea 4:14 “…O foolish people! You refuse to understand, so you will be destroyed.”
Lord, Thank You for the ability to sit with You each morning, to study Your word, to draw closer to You. Thank You that my thirst to know You more grows stronger every day. Help me, Lord, to always understand Your place in my life, to reverence You, to glorify You, to know You more. Draw me closer. Amen.
Hosea 4:16 The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
Have a blessed day.