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Prophets and Kings
iniquity upon Israel. “The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants
of the land,” Hosea declared, “because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor
knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and
stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth
blood.”
Hosea 4:1, 2
.
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The prophecies of judgment delivered by Amos and Hosea were
accompanied by predictions of future glory. To the ten tribes, long re-
bellious and impenitent, was given no promise of complete restoration
to their former power in Palestine. Until the end of time, they were
to be “wanderers among the nations.” But through Hosea was given
a prophecy that set before them the privilege of having a part in the
final restoration that is to be made to the people of God at the close
of earth’s history, when Christ shall appear as King of kings and Lord
of lords. “Many days,” the prophet declared, the ten tribes were to
abide “without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice,
and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim.”
“Afterward,” the prophet continued, “shall the children of Israel return,
and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the
Lord and His goodness in the latter days.”
Hosea 3:4, 5
.
In symbolic language Hosea set before the ten tribes God’s plan of
restoring to every penitent soul who would unite with His church on
earth, the blessings granted Israel in the days of their loyalty to Him in
the Promised Land. Referring to Israel as one to whom He longed to
show mercy, the Lord declared, “I will allure her, and bring her into
the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her
her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope:
and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day
when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day,
saith the Lord, that thou shalt call Me Ishi [“My husband,” margin];
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and shalt call Me no more Baali [“My lord,” margin]. For I will take
away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more
be remembered by their name.”
Hosea 2:14-17
.
In the last days of this earth’s history, God’s covenant with His
commandment-keeping people is to be renewed. “In that day will I
make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the
fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will
break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will
make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto Me forever;