They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies. – Hosea 7:3

Today's Scripture Reading (February 25, 2023): Hosea 7

Assassination is an old game. It is often one way of removing a figure of authority to be replaced with someone else. While this might not make sense to us, it is also, admittedly rarely, a benevolent response, whether or not we agree with the action. The last British Monarch to be assassinated, and I understand that some might not approve of me even using that word for his death, was George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India. But the Assassination of George V appears to fall into the benevolent category.

The story of George V's assassination was not revealed until many years after his death on January 20, 1936. George V had been ill for a significant period before his death. And when he died, no one was surprised; his death was expected. In fact, earlier that day, his physician issued a bulletin that "the King's life is moving peacefully towards its close." At 11:00 that evening, his doctor visited him one last time. And without the knowledge of the King or any of his family members, the doctor administered morphine and then cocaine. He acted secretly because he believed the family would object to his plan. Within fifteen minutes of administering the drugs, the King's breathing quieted, and he was pronounced dead at 11:55 pm. Undoubtedly, the death of the King was coming, but it was hastened by the will of one man who believed that the King deserved a dignified ending. And the King's physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, also now controlled the manner in which the world would find out about George's passing. Because he died a few minutes before midnight, the death of the King could be released in the morning edition of the Times, which Dawson believed was better than if the King had died during the day and was revealed in one of the less appropriate evening papers. The King was dead. And when the reality of the King's death was finally revealed, a short poem was penned.

            Lord Dawson of Penn

            Killed many men.

            That's why we sing

            'God Save the King.'

Our best guess at the meaning of Hosea in this verse is that he is referring to one of the successful assassinations that took place during his lifetime. Of the seven Kings that Hosea saw rise to the throne of Israel during his lifetime, only two died of "natural" causes. Four Kings were assassinated during the years of his life. And Hoshea, the last King of Israel, was likely killed by Israel's Assyrian conquerors after Hosea's death. None of these Kings suffered from a benevolent assassination, and each time the one who killed the King took his place on the throne. Two times, the assassinator later in his reign became the assassinated. And each of the four kings assassinated during Hosea's lifetime was betrayed by someone they trusted. The kings seemed delighted with their wickedness as they put into practice their evil plans borne out of lies. It was a picture of national chaos and a nation's decimation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hosea 8