BIBLE READING: Hosea 6

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6.6)

Sacrifices were an important part of the old covenant. They were explicitly given by God (ex. Leviticus 4.2-3) and we see Israel doing them with regularity (Number 28). But sacrifices were never the end goal. They only existed because sin existed. If sin had not occurred, there would be no need for sacrifice.

That’s the point of Hosea 6.6. It’s not that sacrifice didn’t need to occur or that sin didn’t need to be atoned for; it was that Israel wasn’t doing it for God. Scripture often notes that sacrifices to God are incomplete and even offensive without a changed heart that loves and knows the Lord. “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15.22; See also Isaiah 1.11-17; Amos 5.21-24; Micah 6.6-8 and Matthew 7.21-23)

Jesus would later use Hosea’s teaching against the hypocritical Pharisees, saying, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9.13). Without a loving relationship with God, all the rituals in the world couldn’t help the Pharisees.

The failed relationship between God and Israel was punctuated by their heartless devotion to sacrifice. There were plenty of sacrifices going on in Israel (Hosea 8.11), but God didn’t want any of them (Hosea 8.13) because they did not serve their purpose.

God’s desire is clear to his people: he wanted to be known (Hosea 1.20). He wanted to be their God and for them to be his people (Hosea 1.23). He wants the same from us today. He doesn’t simply want his people going through the motions of what he said to do. As important as it is for us to be obedient (Romans 1.5; 16.26), we must realize that everything he reveals is intended to push us towards a deeper, more intimate relationship with him (John 17.3).

We must not think adherence to a certain lifestyle or abhorrence of bad things is all God is looking for. Practicing spiritual discipline and self-sacrifice will never produce righteousness or serve to balance to sins we have committed; but it will draw us closer to God. Whatever God has revealed to us is for this purpose.

Without this goal, anything we do puts the focus on my actions and gives way to pride and vanity. Many religious people participate in Christian rituals, yet their hearts do not love God and seek to know Him. May we never be like those whom Jesus described: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7.6).

BIBLE READING: Hosea 3

Divorce runs rampant in our society. It is easier for couples in difficult seasons of marriage to cut ties and move along. Especially when one party has been unfaithful. How can you be married to someone you can’t trust? It defies conventional wisdom and even seems to oppose the covenantal nature of marriage.

We know the bible is not silent on this issue, offering clarity to these messy situations (1 Corinthians 7). However, before suffering the exception we must clearly understand the model of marriage from God’s example. The opening chapters of Hosea are an object lesson of what covenant love ought to look like.

Hosea married Gomer who was unfaithful almost immediately. She made no effort to conceal it and eventually left him completely. Anyone in their “right mind” would justify Hosea in writing her off and moving along. But the story takes a dramatic turn when God told Hosea to take her back (Hosea 3.1). However, he couldn't simply call her up and make amends; he must buy her back because her actions made her the property of someone else (Hosea 3.2). This scene was humiliating for both Hosea and Gomer. But in this moment the nature of love shone through: “You must dwell as mine for many days… so will I also be to you” (Hosea 3.3).

Hosea clearly connects marriage to God’s covenant relationship with his people (Hosea 3.1). His love for Israel has suffered from their unfaithfulness but he continues to act in their best interest, ultimately hoping for reconciliation (Hosea 2.14-15, 20; 14.4-7).

While scripture offers grounds for divorce (Matthew 19.9), every marriage must start with this baseline: while we were still sinners, even enemies to God, Christ died for us (Romans 5.8-10). God even endured the pain of rejection after rejection but refused to give up. The scriptures teach us to see that we are Gomer. We have all failed, rejected, even abandoned God (Romans 3.23; Ephesians 2.1-3). BUT GOD, although spurned and heartbroken, is not deterred. He suffers long in hopes of reconciliation.

We do a horrible disservice to marriage if we are not primarily motivated by God’s model of love. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3.16). Love is a choice. Love is demonstrated when others are undeserving. Love endures beyond what is easy, comfortable and even beyond what makes sense for the sake of some else’s good. It is an unfailing covenant, not a contract. It is loving as God has loved us through Christ (Romans 5.8; 1 John 4.9-11).

Love is difficult but Divinely demonstrated. I pray we are blessed with the strength to show the same love that has been shown to us.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13.4-8, NIV)

BIBLE READING: Hosea 1-2

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer almost immediately produced a child. But the joy of birth was overshadowed by the name God placed on him: Jezreel. Historically, Jezreel was a place of judgment (see 2 Kings 9.6-10: also, Judges 6.33). To further darken the situation, Gomer had two more children from other men (Hosea 2.4-5). How should Hosea feel about these children? What right do they have to his inheritance? Legitimately, none.

The ugliness of Hosea’s circumstance represents the situation of God with Israel at this time (Hosea 3.1). Just as these children had been born from infidelity with other lovers, the people of Israel were both literally and figuratively not God’s people. Many were the result of unlawful intermarriage (Exodus 34.11-16; Deuteronomy 7.3-4), but worse they did not know or treat God as their Father (Hosea 7.8-11). This not only spurned God’s faithfulness but offered Him covenantal grounds to reject their inheritance and execute judgment (Deuteronomy 28.1-68). Israel should have known this but were either aloof or unaware (Hosea 4.1, 6).

God’s position is harsh but understandable. “…you are not my people and I am not your God” (Hosea 1.9b). But notice follows: “Yet… in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” (Hosea 1.10). There will come a time when God has mercy on these children and claims them his own (Hosea 2.23). This immediately begs the question "why?"

Paul quoted this verse in his explanation of the gospel. He revealed that God “shows mercy on whoever he wills” (Romans 9.18), “in order to make known the riches of his glory” (Romans 9.23) to those who were not God’s people by birth but through faith in God’s promises (Romans 9.8). In other words, God’s mercy proves his love for everyone (John 3.16; Romans 11.32-36). Even in the ugliest of circumstances, God’s heart is to claim every person as His child, through mercy and grace. (Hosea 2.23)

We must understand that prophetic accountability to the covenant calls the reader to greater intimacy, not merely desolation. God will have his own special, covenant people and he will not share them with anyone else. Although written to people of times past, God’s has similar expectations for his special people today, but with grace realized (1 Peter 2.9-10). Christ has come and we must not reject him (John 1.17; Hebrews 12.25)!

To appreciate the difficult language of the prophets we must always see the hope of restoration, not just for the Jews but for everyone. Hosea’s language undeniably links this message back to the promises to Abraham (Genesis 13.16; 22.17; Hosea 1.10a) which point forward to the coming of Jesus to reestablish God’s kingdom and people. God’s desire to have a people for his own possession was foreshadowed with Israel (Deuteronomy 7.6-11) but is ultimately for all people to be part of, through his Divine mercy and grace in Christ.

“But God, being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ… through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (excerpts from Ephesians 2)

BIBLE READING: Psalm 146

“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146.3-4)

All around us, we see undeniable proof of how people crave someone to trust in. Think of all the people we raise up as examples and heroes and saviors. As if the future of the world—or the Lord’s Church—depends on a person. It’s no surprise many feel so hopeless and discouraged. This psalm warns of two realities with human leaders:

• No human can truly save you. Our politicians promise a lot of things, but no one can insulate you from poverty, racism or disease. Even the good ones can only affect circumstances for a season. What’s the chance they can save from sin and death and hell? Zero! In fact, every person needs saving for himself or herself. Any person you may raise up, can be torn down in some way. Everyone is sinful. If you put your trust in princes, you won’t be saved.
• Every leader will die; and when they do, their plans will die with them. In fact, even before death, how many leaders have been overridden and unable to accomplish their purposes? Men can conqueror and subdue and assert themselves in their time, but when they die there is no guarantee any of that will continue. Men are limited, ultimately by death.

God knows the temptation to exalt men, even among his own people. In Corinth, church members were name dropping to show which “man of renown” they chose to align themselves with (1 Corinthians 1.12-13). How often in history, past and recent, have churches and individual believers, given undue place to men, and suffered the consequences? They may well have been gifted and godly men, men God greatly used. But in our lives, we see exactly what the bible describes. There is no human leader who can truly offer what we need. Have we learned our lesson?

“Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” (Isaiah 2.22, NIV)

The best of men, especially the most spiritually gifted of men, need their fellow believers to remind them constantly, ‘What do you have that you did not first receive?’ (1 Corinthians 4.7). All Christians need to kill the temptation that regularly worms its way into our minds to make more of men than we should. God is not tied to using anyone to fulfil his purposes. He could easily do all his holy will using no-one and nothing. There may be turmoil in the world and no good, clear leadership; but God still reigns. We must never forget who we serve and put our trust only in him. 

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.” (Psalm 146.5-7)

BIBLE READING: Psalm 145

“The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145.8-9)

Grace. Mercy. Longsuffering. Covenantal faithfulness. This is the language God has always used towards his people. Especially in the days of the prophets, God reiterated these behaviors and the purpose of his kindness.  “...Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (Joel 2.13)

In this time, God’s people had strayed from him; but his desire was for mercy and restoration. This message was given as a consistent reminder of God’s hope for his people to return and be healed (ex. Jeremiah 15.19; Hosea 14.1, 3). But this language is not unique to Israel: God offered the same message to even the most wicked people. Jonah was sent to the to call the murderous Assyrians (Nahum 3.1-3) to repentance. But he didn’t want to go because, “I know that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. (Jonah 4.2). God’s mercy and kindness has always been impartial, even to those who Jonah saw as the most unworthy. That’s exactly the point of God’s kindness.

The consistency of God‘s language reminds us that God's nature has not changed. He made promises and he intends to keep them. He will bless those who obey and bring judgment on those who do not. Paul would expound on this to the Romans: 

"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ... He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury... For God shows no partiality." (See Romans 2.4-11)

God's greatest desire is for mercy to triumph over judgment (James 2.13) but that does not negate our need to respond. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3.9)

Ultimately God recognizes everyone’s need for mercy and has made provisions through his kindness for that to be possible (Romans 11.30-32). But all must respond in self-denial and repentance. His promises, both for good and bad, remain. Will we see his kindness and continue unchanged or will we turn and come to him?

“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works... The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” (Psalm 145.17, 20)