ONE IS THOROUGHLY CONVINCED in the study of Hosea that no one can charge the LORD with failure to warn and instruct. What more can He say than to you He hath said? To you who for refuge to JESUS have fled? From the beginning, the people had divine commands. They also had the presence of the LORD in the Shekinah manifestation. GOD spoke through the fathers and by the prophets. He gave them a code of governing ethics and an imposing list of restricting statutes. They had moral standards of the highest order and ceremonial procedures with deep godly significance. From Samuel to John the Baptizer, they were never without a faithful spokesman from the LORD. As long as they maintained even a faint regard for the divine instructions, the LORD, who is slow to anger, bore patiently with them. Yet the testimony of the people never became prominently strong. Indeed, there were times when it seemed the pulse of spiritual devotion had all but ceased. Hosea prophesied in such a period. GOD's dealings with the people through Hosea may be tersely summarized in this anonymous outline: I. DEMONSTRATION FOR CONVICTION (1-3) II. REVELATION FOR KNOWLEDGE (4-6) III. CORRECTION FOR OBEDIENCE (7-10) IV. EDUCATION FOR DISCERNMENT (11-13) V. RESTORATION FOR TESTIMONY (14)