In review, we ended last week in Chapter three of Hosea with the Lord telling Hosea to once again show agape love to his unfaithful wife. This love implies an ardent and vehement inclination of the mind and a tenderness of affection at the same time. A wife whom Scripture states had presumably offered her body to any and everyone who wanted it and who had also become a slave. Disgraced, destitute and derelict there was not a good thing to be seen in her and not a good thing to be said about her. And God tells Hosea to demonstrate the unthinkable by once again showing love to her. Lest we should get cocky about being better than Gomer, I am reminded of Scripture which tells us:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NIV)
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
Gomer, like Beth, needed a Savior to both save and satisfy and so in an amazing command to the Prophet, the Lord told Hosea to go show your love to your wife again though she is loved by another. As we discussed last week, Hosea portrays Jesus the One Who both saves and satisfies and we, sadly, portray Gomer, the one in dire need of saving and satisfaction. Moses writes in Psalms 90:
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalms 90:14 (NIV)
James Montgomery Boice called Hosea 3 “the greatest chapter in the Bible because it portrays the greatest story in the Bible – the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people – in the most concise and poignant form to be found anywhere.” Paull tells us in Philippians 2:6-11 Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV)
Hosea’s stunning story is unique in Scripture, but we will only understand its full meaning if we see it as reflecting a message from God – a clarion call, if you will - to the backslidden sojourner, the prodigal in the pig pen.
“It is pre-eminently a book for the backslider.” Gareth Crossley
Hosea wrote with passion because he lived it and preached what he felt. On Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan once wrote: “I preached what I did feel, what smartingly did feel.” And Hosea did the same. Hosea was called to flesh out in the physical what God had experienced in the spiritual – in the adultery of the Israelites. The Bible’s most searing descriptions of a believer’s sin is to call it adultery.
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 (NIV)
Worldliness shows itself in a lifestyle conformed to the spirit and standard of the age. Paul tells us we are not to be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is only then we will be able to discern what His good pleasing and perfect will for our lives is (Romans 12:2).
“Worldliness is a spirit, a temperament, an attitude of soul. It is life without high callings, life devoid of lofty ideals. It is a gaze horizontal, never vertical. Its motto is ‘Forward’, never ‘Upward’.” John Henry Jowett
Bluntly put, worldliness is breaking a solemn vow of commitment to Christ - Who is to be our Protos – our number One - and flirting and consorting with other gods. Which, of course, are not gods at all, simply lesser objects of nature.
“The human soul longs for things higher, warmer and purer than those offered by today’s mass living habits, introduced by the revolting invasion of publicity, by TV stupor, and by intolerable music…We have turned our backs upon the Spirit and embraced all that is material with excessive and unwarranted zeal.” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to Harvard graduates in 1978
Paul states in Ephesians:
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Ephesians 4:17-19 (NIV)
We need to ask ourselves a serious question here. Are we ever guilty in any way or to any degree of the same sin? Guthrie writes these challenging words for us to carefully self-examine our own hearts and motives:
“If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord’s table, any person better than Christ and any indulgence better than the hope of heaven, take alarm.” Thomas Guthrie
Moses again writes in Psalms 90:
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalms 90:17 (NIV)
The word rendered “establish” is the Hebrew word “Kun” meaning: to be firm, be established, be steadfast, be faithful, be sure, be reliable, be fixed, be certain; to be ready, be prepared; to be determined; signifies the deep satisfaction and sense of well-being which comes from the certainty that one’s heart steadfastly trusts in the Lord Who directs man’s paths.
In Chapters Four and Five of Hosea God brings His charges and judgments against the Israelites – against those who lived in the land which He gave them – a land that was flowing with milk and honey. The charges He lists are not too dissimilar to the actions found in our country today:
The land mourns (quite literally dries up) and the people waste away as well as animals and fish. We have had a very dry fall thus far and walking around the Yoe’s property this weekend was a poignant reminder of the drying up of the land – dead grass, bushes, trees, etc. Even the weeds are found wanting! Soon for the Israelites, poverty and famine became rampant. Life and all its abundance only comes with God Who is the Author of all life. Satan, on the other hand, is the author of sin and the ultimate consequence of this handiwork is always death. The whole nation of the Israelites had rejected God and the Priests and leaders were just as guilty as the people.
27 This is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely. 28 Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.” Jeremiah 4:27-28 (NIV)
God summarized the problem through the pen of Hosea as a lack of knowledge of God and His Truth and His ways among the people and even among the priests. Certainly we can relate to this in our times as well:
1 Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. Hosea 4:1 (NIV)
6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” Hosea 4:6 (NIV)
In response to such an obvious failure to grasp and apply the most basic principles of covenant life, the Lord cried out, “A people without understanding will come to ruin!” (V 14B)
Considering the great Biblical illiteracy in our nation, this is a scary statement. God was ever aware that His people must remain diligently obedient to the instructions of His precious Word for their good as well as His glory.
“In an age bereft of courageous leadership, declining biblical literacy, and rising cultural accommodation, a faithful voice from the gospel center is needed- a voice that prophetically speaks the ancient text to our contemporary context. The Gospel Coalition seeks a renewal of faithful preaching that is rooted in the Scripture and centered on the gospel.” The National Gospel Coalition
We are to remember, remember, remember God’s past faithfulness as it is key to a life of love and trust and faith in Him. We don’t need to start over again. We are to build upon our past experiences of His faithfulness towards us. We are so prone to forget what He has done on our behalf. If He proved Himself faithful then He will prove Himself faithful now. God never changes:
6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:6-7 (NIV)
The absence of spiritual understanding became a factor in Israel’s downfall ultimately leading to their deportation and the exile of Judah.
The importance of God’s Word is stressed throughout Scripture – over and over again. Because His Word is always for our good. As we saturate ourselves in it and apply its Truths to our lives we experience life to the full, the life that Jesus died to give us. Otherwise, as the Israelites, we are so prone to wander. God always has our best interest at heart. He made us, He know what is best for our lives. We have talked about the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)
“God's people were responsible to meditate on these commandments, to keep them in their hearts. This enabled them to understand the Law and to apply it correctly. Then the parents were in a position to impress them on their children's hearts also. The moral and biblical education of the children was accomplished best not in a formal teaching period each day but when the parents, out of concern for their own lives as well as their children's, made God and His Word the natural topic of a conversation which might occur anywhere and anytime during the day.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
“Theology can be talked about on Sundays, recorded at conferences – but it’s lived in kitchens or it dies at tables. Doctrine in the kitchen is doctrine in real life. Don’t belittle everyday pots and pans — they are the means to carry theology into the everyday of our lives. The mother in the kitchen is the one who can actually give life to the words of the speaker on the platform. Platform words are dead words – until brave people live them out in the kitchen.” Ann Voskamp
We absolutely as parents do not know what the future holds for our children or us for that matter. We want them to be prepared for what they will face in life. Story of The King’s House minister.
There are a myriad of verses which speak to the importance of Scripture. Psalms 119, while lengthy, is a great Psalms on God’s Word. It is God’s desire for the Scriptures to be for us a comfort, our prized possession, the rule for our lives, a resource for strength and plethora of other reasons – all of which will drive us to desire it even more. A few of the promises of Scripture found in its verses are as follows:
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1:1-6 (NIV)
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. Psalms 119:1-2 (NIV)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV)
33 Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Psalms 119:33-35 (NIV)
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalms 119:72 (NIV)
97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. 102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. Psalms 119:97-102 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105 (NIV)
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Psalms 119:140 (NIV)
165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)
I could yap forever regarding the profitability of Scripture. It has been such an amazing blessing in my own life. It is a wonderful comfort, it enriches my prayer life as I pray back the promises of His Word – I can know I am praying His will when I am praying His Word, it helps me keep my way pure, sets my heart and mind on things above, it teaches me of God and His amazing ways, it is alive and active, I can always go further still as Paul states:
“Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out!”(Romans 11:33), it gives me an eternal perspective in lieu of an earthly one and on and on I could go. Also, you never get to the end, there is always further still with Him.
Story of the Muslim turned missionary burning the Bibles.
“Our claim is that God has revealed Himself by speaking; that this divine (or God-breathed) speech has been written down and preserved in Scripture; and that Scripture is, in fact, God’s Word written, which therefore is true and reliable and has divine authority over men.” John Stott
“Just as our bodies need food, so our souls need spiritual food. Without it we become malnourished and weak, susceptible to every temptation and unable to do the work God calls us to do. Where do we find this spiritual food? In the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible reveals Christ, the Bread of Life and the Water of Life…Don’t be content to skim through a chapter, merely to satisfy your conscience or because of some long-established habit…Meditate on it, memorize it, hide it in your heart so it permeates your whole being. A small portion well digested is of far greater spiritual value than a lengthy passage scanned hurriedly.” Billy Graham
"Beware of reasoning about God's Word - obey It." Oswald Chambers
“For us to grow in maturity, it's not enough to just read God's Word. We need to obey it and put it into practice. Much as an athlete builds physical muscles through repetition and conditioning, we build spiritual muscles by learning, obeying, and living God's Word. Sound Bible study transforms our lives by training our minds and hearts. Bible literacy protects us from error and increases our love for God himself. By giving us His Word and His Spirit, God has given us everything we need for spiritual maturity. Failure to grow is always our choice, never God's. What are we doing today to help us grow and mature as Christians?” Donna Evans
The Israelites lack of knowledge led them to pursue and believe what their itching ears wanted to hear and their deluded hearts wanted to embrace. There is certainly nothing new under the sun, is there? Paul writes Timothy:
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV)
The Israelites exchanged the glory of God for something disgraceful and God made sure they remained unsatisfied:
10 “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution, 11 to old wine and new, which take away the understanding of my people.” Hosea 4:10-11 (NIV)
We will never find continuous and permanent satisfaction apart from God. He is the living water which overflow our cups. Haggai states this as well:
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. Haggai 1:5-8 (NIV)
The Israelites became hard hearted and stubborn refusing to turn to the Lord and forsake the false idols they lusted after. They continued in their shameful ways and God asks:
16 The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow? Hosea 4:16 (NIV)
Judgment falls as it is always sure to do. We can choose to be disobedient but God chooses both the consequence and the timing it is meted out. The Assyrians come as a whirlwind and sweep them away. Even then, a spirit of prostitution comes in their hearts and they do not acknowledge the Lord. They stumble in their sins and their arrogance testifies against them and they do not acknowledge the Lord therefore when they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, He has withdrawn Himself from them. Israel turns to the great king of Assyria for help yet he was unable to cure them or heal their sores. God ends chapter five by stating He will go back to His place until they admit their guilt and seek His face and earnestly seek Him. I am reminded of the passage in 2 Chronicles:
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.