Hosea, Part XIV

I don't know about you, but by the end of the sixth chapter, I would have been done with both Israel and Judah. 

Enough warning, I'd say.  You deserve what is coming to you. I gave you mercy, but you returned rebuke.  I gave you forgiveness, but you gave me forgetfulness. I gave you life, but you chose lies. Enough.

But I am not God. 

I can only ponder eternity.

But God dwells in eternity.  

I can only ponder the grief and anguish God feels towards His people who have prostituted themselves away from His love and care.

But God dwells in His grief.

I can only ponder His anger, relating to how I would feel if those I love cast away my love and debauched themselves in a whirlwind of lies and deception.

But God dwells in His righteous indignation. 

God says, "I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great." (7:1) 

God could leave it at that, and His people would either (1) ignore Him (2) minimize His concerns, thinking He's overreacting (3) attack His prophet, wanting him to just shut up (4) feel a tiny bit guilty but would carry on nonetheless (5) spout practical reasons why sin is OK and God just doesn't get it (6) all of the above.

It would appear that #6 is the correct answer. 

But God dwells in righteousness and will not brook sin in any shape or form.

Then God lists, through Hosea, all of the sins that are "too great." God is very clear about what He is doing; He will not ignore what is happening with His people: 

Its people don’t realize 

   that I am watching them.
Their sinful deeds are all around them,
   and I see them all. (7:2) 

Here we go:

• The king and his princes all think that what the people are doing is entertaining
• The people are always on fire with lust
• The princes drink and then hang out with those who "mock them" 
• These people are always plotting and planning intrigue and will one day go after their leaders and kill them

("And no one cries to Me for help," v.7)

• The people weaken their strength by cavorting with foreign gods, 

("Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don't return to the LORD their God or even try to find Him," v. 10)

• The people look to pagan leaders for security

("I will punish them for all they do," v.12) 

God is lamenting the sorrow that awaits those who have deserted Him; He wants to redeem them, but they lie about Him. They "do not cry out to Me with sincere hearts," (v. 14)  In their woe, they instead do pagan rituals to enlist the help of pagan gods for their survival and forget it is God who made them strong and provided for them: "They look everywhere except to the Most High," (v. 16)

What is the result of this repudiation of God and His covenant relationship with His people?  They will die by their enemies and Egypt --the strong pagan power that it is--"will laugh at them."

Thus closes chapter 7.  God is very specific in His list of what the people are doing to betray Him: whoring after pagan gods; enlisting foreign kings for protection and living lives that are utterly contrary to everything that God's covenant and law stands for.  The people are in spiritual disarray, having bought the lie that pagan gods and foreign power are what they need.

But God dwells in truth.

Always has.  

Then, one day, God comes and dwells in flesh:

 
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it... 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:1-5 & 14)

Then God embodies (literally and figuratively) the truth:

“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied.
“I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” (John 18:37)

I find it fascinating that Jesus speaks this to a pagan power. A life, a faith and a society not predicated on God's truth will lust after pleasure, power and prestige.

 

Hosea speaks the word.

Jesus becomes the Word.

Hosea points to God and His righteousness.

Jesus becomes God's righteousness.

Hosea comes to point his people back to life in God.

Jesus comes to be life in God.

God comes closer and closer to His sinful children, and then one day, dwells among them, in righteousness and truth.  

How can we ever say that God is harsh, wrath-filled and angry, full of judgment and a willingness to punish His children?

Christ comes to prove that God is kind, forgiving and loving, full of redemption and a willingness to bring back His children to His side.

Oh, and one more thing: the side that He draws us back to?  

Look: It has a scar.