A Call to Return (Hosea 6:1-3)
“Come, let us return to the LORD.” God had passed his judgment on the Israelites for their many sins. Now Hosea was calling upon the people of God to return to their Lord. God had torn them to pieces, and he had injured them, yet if the people of God returned, he would heal them, and he would bind up the wounds he had inflicted upon them. He would revive (renew; restart) them, and restore them back to a right relationship with him, so that they could live daily in his presence. They were to persevere, persist and press on to acknowledge (confess; accept; appreciate; and recognize) their Lord God. Yet, we can acknowledge God with our lips and still have our hearts far from him. So this recognition of God is not with our lips only, but is with our actions, thoughts and obedience to him.
Jesus said that he disciplines and punishes those he loves, so we are to be earnest and repent. We learn in the teachings of Paul, on the subject of the Lord’s Supper, that whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. So, we are to examine ourselves before we partake in communion, because if we partake with known sin in our hearts, we bring judgment upon ourselves. Yet, if we judge ourselves, we will not come under judgment.
I believe the taking of communion is much more than just a symbolic act, but that it represents our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. If we hold on to sin and don’t repent, it is an offense to what Jesus Christ did for us when he died on the cross for our sins, so that we could go free. So, if we try to partake in fellowship with our Lord on any level and yet we still hold sin in our hearts and we don’t repent, I believe we take the risk of bringing judgment upon ourselves. Yet, if we examine ourselves, judge ourselves, and we turn from our sin, and turn to walk in obedience to Christ, then we will not come under judgment.
I believe the church of today in the USA needs to be revived and renewed in their relationship with God, yet this will not happen until God’s people humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways. Then God will heal, he will bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted, he will revive (renew) his church, and he will restore them (us) back to a right relationship with him. Then, they are to acknowledge (show appreciation and honor for) their God in every aspect of their lives, and not to just offer lip service only. One day Jesus Christ is coming back for his bride. We need to make ourselves ready for him. “Come, let us return to the LORD.”
Temporal Love (Hosea 6:4-11a)
God asked the question, “What can I do with you?” He was speaking to his children. The question had a tone of frustration to it, if God can at all get frustrated. I believe he was “put out” with his children. He was offended by their insincere devotion to him. He described their love like the morning mist that disappears. Their love was temporary and it was worldly love, not godly love. It was based upon emotion and convenience, but lacked true heart commitment and devotion to God in faithful surrender and obedience.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Like Adam, they have broken the covenant—
they were unfaithful to me there. (Hosea 6:6-7)
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with “tax collectors and sinners,” not realizing that they, too, were sinners. Jesus told them to “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” The Pharisees were strict followers of all the law, including many laws instituted of men. Yet, they lacked love and compassion and mercy, which means they did not obey all of God’s laws. They were all about doing what they felt were all the right things, yet they forgot to love people with God-like love. Jesus told them that showing love and mercy is what he desires. He was not interested in their empty religious ritualistic practices of doing things that don’t have anything to do with changing a person’s heart. They were more interested in how things looked on the outside than they were concerned with the wickedness of their own hearts. They focused more on clean hands than on clean hearts.
The Israelites of Hosea’s day were a little bit like that, too. They went through the motions of following God, but their hearts were far from him. And, God was letting them know that he did not need all the things that they were willing to “give” to God as “sacrifices” to him, but he wanted their hearts fully committed and devoted to him (see Rom. 12:1-2). That is still the only sacrifice he desires – that of a broken and contrite heart. He wanted them to honor him in all that they did and all that they said 24/7, and not just a few hours a week (like the morning mist that disappears). And, he wanted them to love others with his love. To love like Jesus means to show compassion, mercy, kindness, and generosity, to care for people’s needs, to tell them the truth about their sin, and to call them to repentance and faithful obedience to Christ, because that is how Jesus loved and still loves us. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The people of God had broken covenant with God and they were unfaithful to him. God illustrated this by having Hosea marry an adulterous wife who would bear rebellious children to him. God was showing Hosea, from personal experience, what it meant when his people, represented by Hosea’s wife, broke covenant with him, were unfaithful, and went after other lovers. The covenant we presently have with God is the New Covenant instituted by Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Jesus Christ died, not just so we could go to heaven one day and escape hell, but so we could be free from the control of sin over our daily lives, and so we could walk in freedom in fellowship and faithful obedience to Christ. We come to know Christ by turning from our sin, by being transformed into new creatures in Christ via the Holy Spirit, and by turning to Christ in faithful obedience. This is our part of the covenant agreement with God when we come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our husband and we are his bride. When we choose to live in sinful rebellion, and we are not faithful in our walk of obedience with Christ, and we run after “other lovers” of fame, fortune, reputation, approval of man, entertainment, or whatever “gods” may be in our lives to which we give our heart and devotion over and above God, it is just like a married person being unfaithful to his or her spouse. So, it means we have broken covenant with God/Christ Jesus. And, the only way to have that relationship restored and made right is through repentance and obedience to Christ, and through his forgiveness in restoring us to a right relationship with him and through renewing our fellowship with him.
Sins Exposed (Hosea 6:11b – 7:10)
God spoke of Israel’s sins being exposed and her crimes being revealed. He said they practiced deceit, they break into houses like robbers, and they think God does not notice or care. Yet, their sins engulf (overwhelm; consume) them, and God does notice, and he does care. Their sins (wickedness and lies) are a delight to the king and to the princes. They mix with the nations, and foreigners sap their strength, but they do not realize it. Their arrogance testifies against them. Despite all this, Israel does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.
This sounds a whole lot like the church of today here in the USA. Deceit is not only being practiced in our government, but it has become a practice among the leadership of our churches, too, through the use of marketing techniques and manipulation of the people. I have seen so many pastors just lie through their teeth or manipulate their people in order to get them to do something they want them to do. And, they follow deceit, too, because so many of our church leaders are following after false teachers who are teaching a watered-down gospel of men, and are distorting the truths of God’s word in order to suit their own purposes and desires. Many of our church leaders are blinding following these false teachers of the word and are teaching their people to follow them, too. They will often listen to these men teachers over and above the truths of God’s word, as well, and will reject anyone who might try to point them to the truth, because the truth does not fit with man’s teachings.
They mix with the nations. The church in the USA has done this through partnering with the USA government via the incorporated status of the church under the federal government. The government can thus regulate what the institutional church can and cannot do, and what they can and cannot say. The church has invited the government inside the church in a position of authority that often supersedes the authority of Almighty God, and the “kings” are pleased with this, because they have gotten the church to compromise their faith (covenant relationship) with God. The church has also compromised with the world, i.e. with the sinful desires of the flesh. It uses worldly means and methods to try to attract the world to the church, but that is not the mission of the church. The church’s mission is to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded, and their mission is to preach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ, which means to call people to repentance and obedience to Christ. Yet, many have removed repentance and obedience because the message is too strong and it might offend people, and the “kings” are pleased.
Easily Deceived (Hosea 7:11-16)
Israel was easily deceived and senseless. They called upon and turned to other nations for their help, instead of turning to Almighty God. They strayed from their pure devotion to God. They rebelled against their Lord. And, they spoke lies against God. They did not cry out to God from their hearts in humility and brokenness of heart. They turned away from God, rather than turning to him for help. Not only that, but they participated in plots of evil against God, even though God had trained them and had given them strength. So, they were to face God’s judgments.
I see the church in the USA as right where Israel was at that time. The church is very easily deceived. They believe the government of the USA, what they read in the news, their human leaders, and the books of men approved by their church leadership. They often follow all of these over and above God and his word. I have seen this time and time again, and it continues to amaze me how they (church leaders included) absolutely just ignore God’s words in favor of following some man who has a reputation as one approved by God, but is truly not approved by God, but only by man. If only they would check out God’s word, they would see this. They would see that a man who prays in the name of a false Christ is not of God. They would see that a man who is partnering with people of other faiths, with an agreement to not try to lead them to faith in Christ, is not of God. And, they would stop believing everything man says, they would stop following after men, and they would be followers of God and of his word, which is the truth. May we be seekers of truth!
Your Word / An Original Work / December 27, 2011
Based off Psalm 119
Praise You with an upright heart as
I learn of Your righteousness.
I seek You with all my heart;
Do not let me stray from Your law.
I have hidd’n Your word in my heart
That I might not sin against You.
Open my eyes that I may see
Wonderful things in Your word.
I am a stranger on earth.
I have chosen the way of truth;
My heart is set on Your word.
I will walk about in freedom,
For I have sought out Your truth.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
For I believe in Your law.
Your hands made me, and they formed me;
Give me understanding, Lord.
I put my hope in Your word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light unto my path.
You are my shield and my refuge;
In Your word I put my hope.
My heart trembles at Your word, Lord.
May my lips o’erflow with praise.
May my tongue sing of Your truth, Lord.
Your salvation, Lord, long I.
Your word, Lord, is my delight.
http://youtu.be/PoekdVclmGM
Hosea 6: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%206&version=NIV1984
Hosea 7: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%207&version=NIV1984
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