Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hosea 5-6

For I desire steadfast love
and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God
rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6 ESV

We live in an age where anything you ever wanted to know is available at the click of a button. I hold in my hand a 12-square-inch device with free access to dozens of Bible translations as well as concordances of Greek and Hebrew words and even Matthew Henry’s complete commentary on the Old Testament and the New. All this information is available to you, too, FREE on BlueLetterBible, and yet Biblical illiteracy is at an unprecedented level. My fellow Americans don’t know God’s Word, but even scarier: they don’t know God. Most people in the USA have heard of the God of the Bible and His Son, Jesus. Most Americans know that Christmas and Easter are somehow related to Jesus. Most Americans have heard about some of the amazing things that God has done, but they don’t know Him.

There is no faithfulness
or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land….
My people are destroyed
for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:1b,6a ESV

My nation is being destroyed not for lack of access but for lack of interest.

My nation is being destroyed not for lack of information but for lack of knowledge.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 ESV

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?” Proverbs 1:22 ESV

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” Proverbs 2:6 ESV

“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,” Proverbs 8:10 ESV

“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.” Proverbs 15:14 ESV

Heavenly Father, It grieves my heart to think of all those people in my own nation who are being destroyed by their own ignorance, those who are choosing to run from You rather than toward You. Father, I’m asking You to please bring revival to our nation, to our cities and states, to our families and churches. Break us that You may heal us. We need to be broken so that we might be healed. We need to know You so that we can love You. We need to fear You so that we can love You. You are worthy! In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

To know Him is to love Him. Do you know Him?