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"They set up kings, but not by Me"

Text: Hosea 8:4

THE CHOOSING OF KINGS

In the Southern Kingdom of Judah, there was but one royal family from the line of David. But in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, there were many who were installed as kings. But the Lord’s approval was never sought.

“They set up kings, but not by Me;
They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.
From their silver and gold
They made idols for themselves-
That they might be cut off.”
Hosea 8:4

1. The only king God set up

a) The only king God set up was Jeroboam I.

b) He was from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Kings 11:26).

c) He was allowed to be king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

d) He was given strict orders to rule Israel well (1 Kings 11:29-39).

2. “They set up kings, but not by Me”

a) A long list of kings arose.

b) Assassination was almost the order of the day.

c) Each one vied for the throne of Israel.

d) But no king ever sought the LORD.

3. “They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them”

a) Each king sought to have as many sons as possible.

b) All in the hope of having princes who will succeed the throne.

c) But none was acknowledged by the LORD.

4. “From their silver and gold they made idols for themselves”

a) Idolatry was practised widely.

b) Silver and gold represented the wealth of the nation.

c) This wealth was used to make idols for themselves to worship.

5. “That they might be cut off”

a) Israel knew how much the worship of idols offended God.

b) Prophet after prophet was sent to warn them of their sin of forsaking God to worship idols.

c) The words of the prophets fell on deaf ears.

d) The pursuit of idolatrous worship would result in their being cut off (destroyed as a nation).