THE PROPHET
Hosea 1:1
"The word of the LORD that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel."
Hosea, whose name is derived from the same Hebrew word as Joshua and Jesus, was a prophet who had a long ministry. The Bible does not say when he began or ended his service as a prophet, only that he lived through four kingships in Judah and a corresponding king in Israel. The four kings of Judah reigned a total of 113 years (see II Chronicles 26-32), while Jeroboam reigned in Israel for 41 years (II Kings 14:23). Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah were good rulers who did what was right in the sight of the LORD. This does not mean that they did everything perfectly, but their hearts were set on serving the LORD Yahweh. But Jeroboam and Ahaz did not serve the LORD. But having godly rulers does not guarantee that a nation will be godly. For example, even though Jotham did what was right in the sight of the LORD, still the people acted corruptly (II Chronicles 27:2). A nation is blessed when there are godly leaders, but it is still up to the citizens to serve the Lord whether the leaders are godly or not. Hosea was God's voice to the people, and his message was, "Return to the LORD" (Hosea 6:1; 14:1). I think that could be God's message to the United States. I praise God for prophets who are faithful over many years. God used Billy Graham as a prophet, who was faithful to his message over many decades, and who advised 10 presidents and preached a message of repentance to the nation. I pray that God will send another prophet who will have a voice to call us to return to the Lord.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God uses faithful prophets to call people to return to Him.
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Have a godly day. Love you.
Hosea 1:1
"The word of the LORD that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel."
Hosea, whose name is derived from the same Hebrew word as Joshua and Jesus, was a prophet who had a long ministry. The Bible does not say when he began or ended his service as a prophet, only that he lived through four kingships in Judah and a corresponding king in Israel. The four kings of Judah reigned a total of 113 years (see II Chronicles 26-32), while Jeroboam reigned in Israel for 41 years (II Kings 14:23). Uzziah, Jotham, and Hezekiah were good rulers who did what was right in the sight of the LORD. This does not mean that they did everything perfectly, but their hearts were set on serving the LORD Yahweh. But Jeroboam and Ahaz did not serve the LORD. But having godly rulers does not guarantee that a nation will be godly. For example, even though Jotham did what was right in the sight of the LORD, still the people acted corruptly (II Chronicles 27:2). A nation is blessed when there are godly leaders, but it is still up to the citizens to serve the Lord whether the leaders are godly or not. Hosea was God's voice to the people, and his message was, "Return to the LORD" (Hosea 6:1; 14:1). I think that could be God's message to the United States. I praise God for prophets who are faithful over many years. God used Billy Graham as a prophet, who was faithful to his message over many decades, and who advised 10 presidents and preached a message of repentance to the nation. I pray that God will send another prophet who will have a voice to call us to return to the Lord.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God uses faithful prophets to call people to return to Him.
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Have a godly day. Love you.
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