barry
05-29-2007, 08:51 AM
To your God you should return, keeping loving-kindness and justice.—Hos. 12:6.
Jehovah gave the Israelites an upright start in the days of the prophet Moses. By the early eighth century B.C.E., however, their situation had become so bad that God found them guilty of gross wrongdoing. Israel’s heart had become hypocritical. The people of that ten-tribe kingdom had “plowed wickedness” and reaped unrighteousness. (Hos. 10:1, 13) “When Israel was a boy, then I loved him,” said Jehovah, “and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hos. 11:1) Although God had delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, they repaid him with lying and deception. (Hos. 11:12) Rebellious Samaria and its king would have a disastrous end. (Hos. 13:11, 16) If the Israelites repentantly sought forgiveness, God would extend mercy. Of course, they would have to acknowledge that “the ways of Jehovah are upright” and walk in them.—Hos. 14:1-6, 9. w 11/15/05 1-3b
Jehovah gave the Israelites an upright start in the days of the prophet Moses. By the early eighth century B.C.E., however, their situation had become so bad that God found them guilty of gross wrongdoing. Israel’s heart had become hypocritical. The people of that ten-tribe kingdom had “plowed wickedness” and reaped unrighteousness. (Hos. 10:1, 13) “When Israel was a boy, then I loved him,” said Jehovah, “and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hos. 11:1) Although God had delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, they repaid him with lying and deception. (Hos. 11:12) Rebellious Samaria and its king would have a disastrous end. (Hos. 13:11, 16) If the Israelites repentantly sought forgiveness, God would extend mercy. Of course, they would have to acknowledge that “the ways of Jehovah are upright” and walk in them.—Hos. 14:1-6, 9. w 11/15/05 1-3b