Scripture Reading: Hosea 8:3
Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

Reflection: The prophet Hosea asks Israel to get ready to be invaded by Assyria. God was however not going to intervene on their behalf as before and they were going to be humiliated. The reason why God was going to allow Israel to be pursued and humiliated by their enemy was that they had ‘cast off the thing that is good’. ‘ Casting off the thing that is good’ refers to Israel’s rejection of the principles and standards of God. In Hosea’s prophetic proclamation with the words ‘They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols’ (Hosea 8:4), God reveals the areas of violation of his principles and standards by Israel. It is a dangerous thing to cast off that which is ‘good’. It gives grounds and divine permission for your enemies to pursue your life. Don’t allow your enemies to be granted permission to pursue your life! Don’t cast off that which is good!