The Knowledge of God

Today's verse is Hosea 6:6
     For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;
      And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Jesus in Matthew admonished the leaders of Israel to understand this verse, saying that they would, if they understood it, would not condemn the guiltless. To understand consider also its context, for Hosea starts this discourse with this statement:
Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel:
For the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Notice that last "nor knowledge of God" the root of all of Israel's problems. Now look at what Peter tells us:
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.These things mentioned here are a sum of the diligent application of the word of God in our lives based upon our knowledge of whom Jesus Christ is. So to sum this all up, our God desires that we know him, and as we learn of him, we will learn to love him. And as we love him we will seek to please him, and thus be changed into an image of him, to his Honor and Glory. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: Hos 4–14, Joel 1:1 and 2 Pet 1–3
Tomorrow's reading will be: Joel 1:2–2:32