70.
We have no king. This was not actually the case, for they did have a king. They had made Jeroboam their king. 1 Kings 12:19-20 In spite of having an earthly king whom they had chosen, at the words of Hosea they realized how vulnerable they were. They were without Divine leadership. The kind of a king who would work miracles of deliverance for them. They recognized the folly of their ways but did not come to repentance. They were well aware that their situation was their lack of fear, or respect for the Lord. If the next statement reflected their attitude, it sounds flippant. What good is a king, how can a king benefit us. Hos. 10:3 Not only did they have a king but they were to be subjected to the kings of other nations as they were scattered abroad throughout the world.
We have no king. What a tremendous loss. Like all backsliders their lives were empty and in vain without the Lord. Loosing His presence and guidance leaves a void in the spirit which cannot be filled but with the Lord. How prophetic were their words. The majority of the citizens of the northern kingdom were completely removed from the land. Some drifted to Jerusalem and became a part of its population. Jesus, on His triumphant entry into Jerusalem was hailed as the King of Israel who had come in the name of the Lord. John 12:13 They now had their King, the Son of David. Mt. 21:9 However the same spirit of rejection was to be found in them. We have no king but Caesar. John 19:15 Those outside of Christ remain kingless whether they are of Israel or Gentiles. The height of irony is to be found in the words which Pilate wrote on the cross of the Lord Jesus. JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19 Israel was again without a king. Jesus had demonstrated the authority and powers of the kingdom of heaven. He was, and is, the only true King.
However, Jesus was to make it very plain that He was not to be the king of Israel (after the flesh), nor was His Kingdom to be of this world. He was not of this world but from, and of, the Heavenly Kingdom. John 8:23 The prophecies of the Old Testament pertaining to the Kingdom of God, were misinterpreted in His day, even as they are being misunderstood in our day. The Kingdom which is His, is Heavenly, eternal and belongs to an entirely different Spirit and atmosphere than this world. Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. That should be sufficient to show us that He is not going to rule over Israel, nor over the whole world, for that matter. John 18:36 What is His Kingdom, well for one thing it is not meat and drink. It will be a kingdom of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
Rom. 14:17 No sinner would appreciate living in such an atmosphere. Consequently, the unrighteous are excluded from any facet of His kingdom. Whether it is the Kingdom of God which is within you now, or that which is to come. Sin cannot abide in His presence.