Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of Hosea
by Max Frazier, Jr

THE CASE AGAINST ISRAEL: THE PENALTY: Hosea 9

Verse 17 proclaims, My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations. Rejection: That word brings fear to us, doesn't it? We hesitate to buy things which have been rejected by an inspector. We feel more secure in knowing that our favorite eating place has passed all the tests, that it has not been rejected.

Rejection: It brings back haunting memories from childhood. You know how you felt when you were the last one picked to play on a team. No one wanted you, and the team that got you really did not want to have you. And probably the worst memory of all was that feeling which came when you were not invited to that party where all of you friends attended.

Rejection: You remember working so diligently writing those letters of application for positions of employment. You prayed as you wrote. And then you waited. You remember how you felt when you went to the mailbox and opened that long awaited letter, only to read: Dear Max, Thank you for your interest in the position. However....and your heart sank. You had been rejected.

No matter how difficult those rejections were, there is one which is yet worse: Being rejected by God. What will it be like to stand before God and hear him say, "Depart from Me, for I never knew you." You are rejected by God. He does not want you in His kingdom. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25 that such a scene of rejection will occur. And what a sad day it will be.

How can we keep from being rejected by God? It can only come as we acknowledge our sinful nature and receive Jesus Christ into our lives as Savior and Lord. And then we must continue to submit ourselves in obedience to God.

But, I see another truth mentioned in verse 8: The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim. Hosea tells us that the prophet is the watchman for the people. Now the purpose for a watchman is to warn the people of coming dangers. A watchman, in order to be effective, must be knowledgeable of what is true and what is false. He must be alert to half-truths and the deceptive practices of the enemy. As long as the watchman remains true to his calling, there is comfort. But when the watchman becomes negligent, then dangers lurk.

God has raised up pastors and Christian leaders today to be watchmen for the Church. How they need our prayers that they be constantly alert for the subtle attacks of Satan and warn us enthusiastically so that our testimony is not compromised.

Why not take a few moments, right now, to first thank God that He has accepted you into His family because of the sacrificial death of Christ. And then, pray for your pastor that God would keep him alert as His watchman. I know your pastor will appreciate it very much.

Further Thoughts from Hosea 9

KEY WORDS: Unfaithful; Prostitute; Love; Loved

KEY VERSE: Verse 17 presents the reason for the punishment of Israel, as well as the severity of it.

PURPOSE STATEMENT: Hosea continues to proclaim the severity of the upcoming judgment upon Israel. The people will not be able to escape it.

OUTLINE: PUNISHMENT UPON ISRAEL

I. Israel will not escape punishment - verses 1-4

II. Israel is deep into sin - verses 5-9

III. Punishment to be carried out even upon the children - verses 10-14

IV. Israel to be punished for disobedience - verses 15-17

Hosea 8 Return to the Table of Contents Hosea 10