Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Hosea

Hosea 
Day 
Day 77

"Princes have made him sick"

Text: Hosea 7:5

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is not a glamourous thing to possess. Many like titles because they are nice-sounding. To be a king or a prince may sound nice but with it comes responsibility and accountability.

“In the day of our king
Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine;
He stretched out his hand with scoffers.”
Hosea 7:5

1. Essential rules for a king

a) These were spelt out by Moses.

b) This was written in anticipation of the day when Israel would have a king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

i) He shall not multiply horses for himself.

ii) Neither shall he multiply wives.

iii) Nor shall he multiply silver and gold.

iv) He shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book from the priests, the Levites.

v) It shall be with him.

vi) He shall read it all the days of his life.

vii) That he may learn to fear the LORD his God.

viii) And be careful to observe all the words of this law.

2. “In the day of our king princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine”

a) The princes

i) These were members of the royal family.

ii) Some would be next in line for the throne.

b) Plots to get rid of the king.

i) Assassination was a common practice.

ii) Making the king drunk was another.

3. “He stretched out his hand with scoffers”

a) Instead of ruling diligently the king was too drunk to rule properly.

b) He would be found in the company of scoffers.

c) He would be unable to rule the kingdom efficiently.

d) This was a problem that Hosea personally observed in his lifetime.