Charges Brought Against Israel and Us

O. T. #2038  "Charges Brought Against Israel and Us"

Oct. 4, 2021

Hosea 4

LET IT GLOW

Do we stand in awe of our God and see His goodness in the wildest sense? (3:5)

Just this week two friends have had heart surgery and are doing good. Also, I have a cousin, with health problems, that survived Covid. Truly God is good all the time!

Israel would have experienced the goodness of God had they heeded the prophets warnings and repented of their many sins. Yet they would not.

God has a controversy (quarrel, dispute, strife) against Israel. He is going to bring them to court, spell out the charges against them, and prove those charges. The message of chapter 4 is that Israel is guilty of lawlessness, immorality, ignorance of God's Word, and idolatry. (Wiersbe)

The Judge gives the charges to various groups:

• the nation of Israel as a whole;(verses 1-3)
• the priests; (verses 4-14)
• spectators in the court; (verses 15-19)
• priests, rulers, and people. (5:1-7)

Israel was given the Mosaic Law for them to pattern their laws and ways if they wanted to be blessed. They promised back in Exodus 19:8 to obey all that the Lord had said, but broke their promise. There was no faithfulness (truth) in the land, no loyal love to the Lord God. Their land would be mourning, as well as the animals, birds, and fish, which will disappear as Assyria comes to conquer the Northern Kingdom.

Israel was to be a peculiar treasure above all people, a special people, set apart unto holiness. What God expects of Israel, He expects of us.

LET IT GROW

In verses 1- 2, God clearly spells out the sins of Israel:

• There is no truth,
• no mercy,
• nor any knowledge of God in the land;
• swearing,
• lying,
• killing,
• stealing, committing adultery.

Israel was brainwashed through their idolatry. Their conscience was seered over. Like a river bursts out of its banks and floods, it destroys all that goes before it. Bloodshed was everywhere because they lusted and had not.

Greed, the almighty dollar, and material things are seen there in America, as well as all of the above. It is legal to murder babies as a result of fornication and adultery. Homosexuality is in the open now, but is an abomination to God. He did not create us to be like that. Marriage is between a man and woman.

LET IT GO

Merciful Father, we have allowed sins to prevail and generations do not know right from wrong.

Please forgive us, turn us back to You, Holy Father.