Hosea 10

Chapter 10

Verses 1-2

Comfort brings apathy toward God (1)

The more Israel increased the more lax they became

about worship

God breaks down false idols (2)

As the gospel does today

The power of the gospel comes in two movements. It first says, “I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe,” but then quickly follows with, “I am more accepted and loved than I ever dared hope.” The former outflanks antinomianism, while the latter staves off legalism. One of the greatest challenges is to be vigilant in both directions at once. Whenever we find ourselves fighting against one of these errors, it is extraordinarily easy to combat it by slipping into the other. Here’s a test: if you think one of these errors is much more dangerous than the other, you are probably partially participating in the one you fear less. - Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 48). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Verses 3-

Apathy and Complacency brings arrogance (3-6)

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 48). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

with arrogance comes false oaths

we begin to operate looking to please the world when we devalue God

We must remember God’s covenant with us

This is why we come back and revisit God’s word

with false oath comes God’s judgment

we see God’s judgment play out on Samaria

God may remove our idols

As the calf of Beth-aven was carried to Assyria

the people are left in their shame

Our idols are all finite objects (7-8)

governments

Cities and states

places of worship

we will be left in ruin - without God

God is at war with the wicked (9-10)

See

Israel and the tribe of Benjamin

God continues to remove the wickedness from his people

We see Paul do this in the NT (Church)

God does this in our own life (sanctification)

God disciplines his people

Not to drive them away, but to call them back

God shows mercy to his people, even when unfaithful (11-12)

God spared Ephraim

Yet, their life will be hard work

Much like ours today in the sanctifying process

Our response should be to seek righteousness

Sanctification

Our work

Work of Spirit

Ultimately righteousness comes from God

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Shorter Catechism

Q. 35. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.l

Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots II. Sanctification

Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost, when He calls him to be a true believer. He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood, but He also separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart, and makes him practically godly in life.

Continued chasing after idols leaves man guilty of being cut off (13-15)

When we are so arrogant to practice:

Sin - iniquity

injustice

self-worship

then we are deserving of God’s wrath

Evil will not go unpunished

God is both merciful and just

Pratical Application:

Every Christian should examine themselves in light of the gospel daily

Every Christian should fear God as sinners

Every Christian should cling to God’s mercy

Every Christian should seek Holiness as to escape being consumed by wickedness

Gospel renewal is a life-changing recovery of the gospel. Personal gospel renewal means the gospel doctrines of sin and grace are actually experienced, not just known intellectually.

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 54). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots II. Sanctification

Sanctification, again, is the only certain evidence of that indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation.

J. C. Ryle