Halfway through the year, halfway through the Bible! Anyone who’s still following me, reach round and give yourself a pat on the back
A festival song
Psalm 81
Idols destroyed
2 Chronicles 31:1, 2 Kings 18:4
Hezekiah’s further reforms
2 Chronicles 31:2-21
Israel’s leaders denounced
Micah 3:1-12
Hoshea taken prisoner
2 Kings 17:3-4
Israel’s wickedness
Hosea 7:1-2
Conspiracy in the palace
Hosea 7:3-7
Israel and the nations
Hosea 7:8-16
There is joy in Judah, because Hezekiah is doing what is right. But in the north, there is despair, destruction and defeat. Hoshea, last king of Israel, who had been a vassal of the Assyrians, thought he could cut a deal with Egypt instead. But the Assyrians attacked, besieged Samaria for three long years, captured it and deported the people. Israel has fallen.
This terrible event is told in the briefest of language in 2 Kings, as though the writer really isn’t interested. Clearly he’s long since given up on Israel, and all his hopes are focussed on Judah.
The prophets see clearly what Hoshea and his cronies ignored - Hosea calls Israel a pathetic “dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.” (7:11) There’s something of a sense of disgust - they’ve made their bed, let them lie in it.
By contrast, this is what we’re told about Hezekiah: “he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” (2 Chronicles 31:21)
A festival song
Psalm 81
Idols destroyed
2 Chronicles 31:1, 2 Kings 18:4
Hezekiah’s further reforms
2 Chronicles 31:2-21
Israel’s leaders denounced
Micah 3:1-12
Hoshea taken prisoner
2 Kings 17:3-4
Israel’s wickedness
Hosea 7:1-2
Conspiracy in the palace
Hosea 7:3-7
Israel and the nations
Hosea 7:8-16
There is joy in Judah, because Hezekiah is doing what is right. But in the north, there is despair, destruction and defeat. Hoshea, last king of Israel, who had been a vassal of the Assyrians, thought he could cut a deal with Egypt instead. But the Assyrians attacked, besieged Samaria for three long years, captured it and deported the people. Israel has fallen.
This terrible event is told in the briefest of language in 2 Kings, as though the writer really isn’t interested. Clearly he’s long since given up on Israel, and all his hopes are focussed on Judah.
The prophets see clearly what Hoshea and his cronies ignored - Hosea calls Israel a pathetic “dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.” (7:11) There’s something of a sense of disgust - they’ve made their bed, let them lie in it.
By contrast, this is what we’re told about Hezekiah: “he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” (2 Chronicles 31:21)
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