Hosea 4
Gain the Knowledge of God!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 15.
The prophetic work of Hosea transitions from the symbolic enactment of God’s covenant relationship with Israel through Hosea’s scandalous marriage to Gomer (chapters 1-3), to a collection of prophecies that articulate the message behind Hosea’s actions (chapters 4-14). Hosea 4:1-6 begins this second section with the legal language of a court case between God and Israel:
Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes … My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. [emphasis added]
The prophet employs the familiar “because-therefore” language of a legal indictment, accusing Israel of a general lack of faithfulness, kindness, and knowledge of God, which led to the specific violations of breaking the Ten Commandments: swearing (3rd), deception (9th), murder (6th), stealing (8th), and adultery (7th). In verses 11-12, he went on to describe their harlotry against God, to include idolatry, adding the 1st and 2nd commandments to their violations. The consequences of their flagrant law violations have already been bloodshed and languishing, the opposite of what God intended for His people in the Promised Land – the land of rest, flowing with milk and honey. God made a legal case against Israel (Ephraim) for His coming judgment, describing them as a “stubborn heifer” that refused to be shepherded like a gentle lamb (Hosea 4:16).
Seize the moment and gain the knowledge of God – “If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:4-5).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE: