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"Therefore you shall stumble in the day"

Text: Hosea 4:5

GRAVE DANGER AWAITS

Israel did not wake up to the reality of the threat of impending war from the powerful Assyrians. The whole country was adversely affected and was in danger of destruction.

“Therefore you shall stumble in the day;
The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night;
And I will destroy your mother.”
Hosea 4:5

1. “Therefore you shall stumble in the day”

a) The idea of day is well-described in the following text:

“But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”
Proverbs 4:18

i) It is the path of the just.

ii) The light is like that of the shining sun.

iii) It shines brighter until it reaches its peak… “the perfect day”.

b) When people stumble in the day (daylight):

i) There is no justice in the land.

ii) There are few if anyone just left in the land.

iii) Without light, people will stumble.

2. “The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night”

a) Another text that describes darkness is found here.

“The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.”
Proverbs 4:19

b) When people are uncertain, they look to seers or prophets, believing they have better vision of the unknown.

i) But if the prophet is false,

ii) He would not be able to foretell the future.

iii) His advice would be worthless.

iv) People who follow their advice would stumble.

v) Darkness prevails when wickedness is practised.

vi) Thus, prophets and people will stumble together.

3. “And I will destroy your mother”

a) It is the LORD Himself who will bring about the destruction.

b) The “mother” is a reference to the nation of Israel. It was doomed to be destroyed!