Hosea - Return to the Lord

Intro

Every time I go to Carabbas, I fill up on bread. Good meal ruined by the appetizer. Hosea is addressing this issue with Israel. They filled up on things that don’t satisfy, and now they have turned from God.

Need: Church, we can fall into this same trap. God has given us cookbook full of meat to satisfy, but we would rather consume scraps hoping for the same end.

Main Idea: Nothing will satisfy apart from God.

Hosea is known for his marriage with Gomer. His chasing of Gomer represents God’s chasing his people. They turned away, but he pursues them.

Hosea is prophesying at the same time as Amos. Judgment is here. Hosea isn’t offering a last minute reprieve, but a hope for the future.

Hosea 14:1-9

Truth #1: Repent of false objects of faith (1-3)

Exp. The north had turned away. Verse 1. Return = repent. Their sin has brought them here. Verse 2. Take away iniquity. Why? Sin is opposed to repentance. There is no restoration without repentance. This is before sacrifices. Sacrifice without obedience is worthless.

Hosea 6:6

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Exp. Hosea then gets to the false objects of faith. Verse 3. Made an alliance with Assyria. Would be their doom. Horses came from Egypt. Our God, work of hands = graven images. Worshipping their things. Political alliances, provisions from others, and false gods. Will not do what you want.

Ill. Van. I thought it would fill me. First flat tire. Cost me more than I thought.

Arg. False objects of faith cost you more than you hope they’ll give. We always pay more than we receive. Paul writes in Romans.

Romans 1:24–25

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Christ - False objects of faith give temporarily, but costs us eternally. Following Jesus costs us temporarily, but gives us eternity. Jesus is the true object of our faith and the image of God.

App. What do we do?

Acknowledge and confess false objects of faith. (children, politics, career)

Repent from false objects of faith.

Truth #2: God will supply all of your needs (4-8)

Exp. Changes to God speaking. Verse 4. Future hope. Judgment is present. God heals apostasy. They can’t work their way back. Verse 5-6. Dew = necessary in Israel. Beauty of lilies. Rooted trees. Fragrance. Poetic language regarding prosperity. God’s rich blessing on the nation. Mention of olives represents many areas of need. Not a hope of removing judgment, but a hope afterwards. God will the land physically and heal their hearts spiritually. He wont take resources. He’ll give them.

Ill. Thursday morning. Sermon prep. Rain. Plants getting watered. Weeds were growing. God feeds the weeds.

Arg. If God supplies for them. How much more does he supply for you? Verse 7. Flourish. Verse 8. Ephraim was the worst. From me comes your fruit. God supplies you, and then brings the fruit. How?

Christ - Jesus is

The Bread of Life - Source of fulfillment. You will not desire other things.

Resurrection and the Life - Spiritual life. IS the resurrection.

The Good Shepherd - Takes care of his sheep. Protects his sheep.

The True Vine - Connected to the source. Any fruit you produce is because of the true vine.

App. Get to know Jesus. You won’t want anything else.

Truth #3: Wisdom is obedience to the Lord (9)

Exp. We get to the final verse in the chapter. Almost different section. Verse 9. Call for wisdom. Walk in the ways of the Lord for they are right. Those who remain in sin can’t walk in them. He tells them to:

Understand

Walk uprightly

Ill. First time I smoked a pork should. Cooked it wrong. Then I cut it instead of pulled it. Didn’t know it was pulled pork.

Arg. Why the Israelites read the Law every seven years. So they wouldn’t forget. Crucial for us to know God’s Word James 1:22

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Arg. Much of James’ letter is about faith that has legs. How can you know God’s Word, been changed by Jesus, and do not live it out? This isn’t just a moralistic lesson. We can obey because of Jesus.

Christ - We can only heed God’s words through faith in Christ. God heals apostasy. That’s Jesus. He supplies their needs. That’s Jesus. God supplies the fruit. That’s Jesus. Jesus is the perfect wisdom that allows us to obey.

App. What do we do?

Be hearers - Read, listen, Bible study.

Be doers - Live as Christ would have you live. Do away with false objects of faith pursue Christ.

Conclusion

Seems very active. Yes. The Christian life is active. That’s why it’s the Christian life. Assumes daily obedience to the Word. Our values are active:

Intentional Community

Joyful Generosity

Engaging Missions

Deploying Leaders

God has spoken, and Lakewood will respond. I pray you do as well.