Love Endures: Despite Disobedience

Hosea 4:1 CSB

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!

INTRO—

One of the hardest truths for me to understand, or believe, as a child was…DISCIPLINE = LOVE. Even today that truth is one I more often react to rather than respond to. My boys were much like their dad…and I’m rather confident in guessing/thinking everyone here (and online) could/should readily admit the same.

I’d say each of us often wrestles with this truth in our relationship with God. Thankfully, God has clearly reassured all of us:

Proverbs 3:11–12 CSB

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12:5–6 CSB

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.

Soooo, as we continue our focus on Hosea, his life and message, I’m going to keep the truth we just read from Proverbs and Hebrews in mind…remembering that THE LOVE THAT DOES NOT LET GO, which we could describe as an Enduring Love, this Love (of God) Endures: Despite Disobedience.

Today, we open God’s word to Hosea chapters 4 and 5…and this week…is the tough part. God clearly states His case against Israel—against His people. Love’s reason for discipline, judgement…which is justly (rightly) coming to…God’s people.

Love Reminds [Hosea 4.1-3]

[REMINDS: “Here are the expectations…which have always been.”]

The Expectations (defined as ‘being absent’)

Truth

John 8:31–32 CSB

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Faithful Love

Micah 6:8 CSB

Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Knowledge of God

Exodus 20:1–3 CSB

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me.

The Unfortunate Insteads

Cursing, Lying, Murder, Stealing, & Adultery (Breaking the Commandments)

Hosea 2:19 CSB

I will take you to be my wife forever. I will take you to be my wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion.

Love Confronts [Hosea 4.4-5.4]

[CONFRONTS: “Here are the ones responsible…those designated to lead, and—everyone (nation, family, etc.)”]

The Ones Tasked to Lead [The Priests & Prophets = Spiritual Leaders; Hosea 4.4]

God’s people suffer (Hosea 4.6) because God’s word is not clearly valued, communicated, and lived…by the ones who should, must, do know better.

God’s People [All of Them/Us]

Hosea 4.9 shows us the universal responsibility we have to live/do right(ly)…and to hold each other accountable.

The Problems are Personal and Corporate (Public)

Everyone valuing idols and not God…idolatry from ‘the expected’ (wooden statues) to ‘the hidden’ (divining rods, spiritual promiscuity). [Hosea 4.12]

This last category is where we must work diligently and remain vigilant.

Love Warns [Hosea 5.5-15]

[WARNS: “Continuing in this way (direction), could/will lead to the detriment of others.”]

Israel’s sin influenced and impacted Judah! (Hosea 4.15; 5.5, 10, 12-14)

Hosea 5:5 CSB

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them. Both Israel and Ephraim stumble because of their iniquity; even Judah will stumble with them.

In the church, our idolatry, can impact others. The idolatry of a church can impact (confirm a bias) in a community. The idolatry of Christians can impact a nation.

CONCL—

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship —

“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

God loves his people, all the time and any time throughout history…from the Old Testament to the New Testament to today. Because he loves his people, he calls them to holiness. When his people stray from faithfulness, he draws us back to himself through loving discipline (judgment).

We must be willing to hear the truth, respond rightly, and proceed faithfully.

Hebrews 12:5–6 CSB

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.

Hosea 5:15 CSB

I will depart and return to my place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their distress.