Minor Prophets 4

Intro

the Prophet and the Prostitute

a prophet of Israel

an illustration he was called by God to live out himself to show people the pain God was going through for their sake

Prostitute

called to marry someone whom he knows will be unfaithful

given three children that are named awful names that he knows he will lose

it will be great when they are scattered and brought back under one head

the people did what they thought would get them the easiest reward for their worship

their worship became something that it is not supposed to be

its selfish, like the prostitute

it brings pain to everyone, like the prostitute

poor Hosea had to live this out for the sake of his people and they still didn’t listen and understand

Prophecy

God explains what it is he really is after

the people who were supposed to be a nation of priests are nourished by sin

they have put the ritual over the relationship, completely backwards

they sowed the wind and will reap the whirlwind

despite that, there is hope

God is not man

he is compassionate, even when his people make him burn with anger

Application

what if every time you opened your stupid phone you were reminded that you are loved unconditionally by God

what if every time you turned the key you were told again that your God would suffer and die in your place, for your sins rather than let you be punished for what you deserve

that’s what the law was supposed to do in so many words for these people

that’s what our religion is supposed to be like as well

relationship, not ritual

but the selfish mind sees the one as so much easier than the other