Hoshea succeeded Pekah as king of Northern Israel. Northern Israel was now a vassal state of Assyria, paying tribute to the emperor Shalmaneser. Hoshea was not as wicked as the kings who preceded him. But when he attempted to break free from Assyria with the help of Egypt and stopped paying tribute, Shalmaneser invaded, capturing the capital, Samaria. He deported the Israelites into Assyria. They lost the promised land.

This did not happen merely because of Hoshea’s mistake; it was the Lord’s judgment on many years of sin and idolatry by Israel, starting from the time of King Jeroboam (22). The Lord sent prophets again and again to warn Israel, but they hardened their hearts and persisted in despicable practices (17). They preferred becoming like the nations around them over holding on to their identity as a chosen people (15).

We Christians, as God’s new chosen people, are called to meditate on the knowledge of Christ we have received and be inwardly changed from the godless pattern of the world (Ro 12:2). If we neglect this, we will gradually become idolaters as Israel did. May God help us value his presence with us so that we don’t lose it.
Application: Father, help me never forget the value of your presence, and keep your word and my identity as a chosen people.
One Word: Don’t lose God’s presence