In Hosea 4 we see that the Lord is speaking to the Israelites about why judgement has become inevitable to them. It is because of the lack of 3 foundational things. It is their lack of faithfulness (loyalty), love (steadfast covenant love), and knowledge of God. It has led to a culture of cursing, lying, stealing, murder, and adultery. If this doesn’t sound familiar it should. This is exactly the world we live in today in America. What is scary to think about is that because of these traits God is telling the Israelites that judgement is inevitable. One of the main reasons I believe God has called me to start the God’s Lineman Organization is because of the lack of knowledge portion of this chapter. I believe that in our generation we use lack of knowledge as an excuse for the things we do. What God is saying here to the Israelites is that their lack of knowledge has come from ignoring knowledge. In today’s generation, especially in America, churches and bibles are in abundance everywhere we turn. God’s word, especially in the south, is in just about every home, hotel, or airport. We can get it on our phones, tv’s, or computers. Using the excuse for lack of knowledge is not an excuse at all. We as a nation have intentionally rejected spiritual knowledge by not taking the time with God’s word that we should. We choose work, hobbies, material things, and other activities to fill up our days instead of taking time to pray, meditate, and read God’s instructions to us in his word. God’s word has been given to us throughout the generations and we can literally hold it in our hands in one book. Sometimes I think we forget how amazing this is. Our whole purpose for living and the way to a relationship with the God of the whole universe that created us can be held in our hands and read anytime we so choose. I pray that we do not take this for granted and start seeing the word of God for how amazing and precious that it is. I also pray that we start to give God’s word the reverence that it deserves. I love y’all! Have a great day!
Hosea 4:1-19
Read scripture…
“Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. For this reason the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear. But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for my case is against you priests. ,, You will stumble by day; the prophet will also stumble with you by night. And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me. I will change their honor into disgrace. They feed on the sin of my people; they have an appetite for their iniquity. The same judgment will happen to both people and priests. I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned their devotion to the Lord. Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one’s understanding. My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God. They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed. Israel, if you act promiscuously, don’t let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, , and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives! For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the Lord now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow? Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel’s leaders fervently love disgrace. A wind with its wings will carry them off, , and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.”
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