Royalty and Ruin

Hosea’s Gracious Appeals

The transgressors were given many opportunities to repent. In their hour of deepest apostasy God gave them a message of forgiveness and hope. “O Israel,” He declared, “you are destroyed, but your help is from Me. I will be your King; where is any other, that he may save you?” Hosea 13:9, 10. “Come, and let us return to the Lord,” the prophet pleaded, “for He has torn, but He will heal us. ... Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3. RR 106.1

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,” the Lord declared. “‘I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily. ... Those who dwell under His shadow shall return.’ ... For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Hosea 14:4-9. RR 106.2

“Seek Me,” the Lord invited, “and live.” “So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:4, 14, 15. RR 106.3

The words of God’s messengers were so contrary to the people’s evil desires that the idolatrous priest at Bethel sent a message to the ruler in Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.” Amos 7:10. RR 106.4

The evils that overspread the land had become incurable, and God pronounced the dread sentence on Israel: “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.” “The days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come. Israel knows!” Hosea 4:17; 9:7. The ten tribes of Israel were now to reap the harvest of the apostasy that had begun when Jeroboam set up the strange altars at Bethel and at Dan. God’s message was: “All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, who say, The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.” Amos 9:10. RR 106.5

“The houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end.” “Israel shall surely be led away captive from his own land.” “Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” Amos 3:15; 7:17; 4:12. RR 106.6