Exchanging the glorious for the disgraceful
Hosea has demonstrated in his own life how God loves His unfaithful people by taking an unfaithful woman to be his wife. It’s a poignant illustration. He’s demonstrated God’s love in action.
Now he uses words. Lots of words! He starts with the charge against Israel.
There is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land. Hosea 4:1
For without an acknowledgement of God in the land, there can be no faithfulness or love. And where there is love, there is God. Where there is faithfulness, there is God.
And because of this godless behaviour – cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery – the land’s dried up and the people are fading away.
Because this is not life-giving behaviour. This path they have chosen leads to death.
And the priests are just as bad.
they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful. Hosea 4:7
In every situation, there is a choice. Every choice we make leads us to God or away from God.
There is prostitution and adultery in the land – both literal and spiritual.
A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;
they are unfaithful to their God. Hosea 4:12Though you, Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty. Hosea 4:15
Judah still has not been led astray to the extent that Israel has. There will be judgement against Israel and God makes it clear why –
A spirit of prostitution is in their heart;
they do not acknowledge the Lord. Hosea 5:4
And so there will be judgement. The land will be laid waste. God will withdraw Himself from His people. When they seek Him, they will not find Him. The nation will be torn to pieces and carried away.
I will pour out my wrath on them
like a flood of water. Hosea 5:10
And when this happens, this will be their response.
“Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:1-3
They are talking it for granted that God will appear when they need Him. After all, He always has in the past. Why would this time be any different? God is love, so surely they can do whatever they want and God will still come when they call out to them. Can you see how they’ve come to take God’s love and forgiveness for granted?
God recognises this desire to return to Him for what it is. Self-seeking. They will do what they need to do to be saved. They will say what they need to say to be rescued. And then what? They’ll return to their disgraceful ways. These are just words. Empty words. There’s be no real change of heart.
It’s not about words and actions, it’s about a right attitude of heart.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
The people have been compromising their values and conforming to the world they’re living in for so long that they don’t even realise what it’s doing to them. How it’s changing them.
Ephraim mixes with the nations;
Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.Foreigners sap his strength,
but he does not realise it.
His hair is sprinkled with grey,
but he does not notice.
Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,
but despite all this
he does not return to the Lord his God
or search for him. Hosea 6:8-10
It’s hard not to feel that that is how it has become in many parts of our world today. We’ve distorted what faith in God looks like so much that we don’t even think of turning to God any more. Our world has become the norm and we can’t see how it is weakening us and slowly destroying us.
And so the people cry out to help in all sorts of ways, but have forgotten how to cry out to God.
The people look for escape and deliverance in all sorts of things, but do not believe in God for rescue.
Exactly what have we learnt since the time of Hosea?
