Without Remorse
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Remorse is a necessary component in order for there to be genuine repentance over the crime committed. Defendants said to be unremorseful have their character judged to be unfavorable and usually do not get the mercy of the jury or the judge. Now some may disagree that remorse has any place in the courtroom or that any can determine whether or not someone is genuinely remorseful.
Is guilt the same as remorse? To put it simply, remorse says, “Forgive me for hurting you," while guilt or regret says, “Stop making me feel guilty for hurting you.” "Regret often seems flat, emotionless, and is more focused on moving on and getting the “punishment” over with," Sincere repentance includes sorrow and remorse for our actions because of the pain caused to another.
Remorse begins—but does not end—with a felt sense of guilt. In an ideal community, the wrongdoer will identify with the victim, and the pain inflicted on the victim will, in the wrongdoer, become self-directed anger that is guilt. Remorse takes guilt one step further. Where guilt is passive and self-centered, remorse is active and other-centered. The remorseful (as opposed to the merely guilty) wrongdoer will seek to atone for his wrong.
In God’s court - remorse is a necessary component of the heart for repentance. Remorse has a place in God’s courtroom and therefore it matters whether it is present or not. Without remorse there is no genuine repentance no matter what display one may provide. Without repentance there is no redemption.
1 Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. 2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. 3 Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. 5 This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words from my mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning. 6 For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed me. 8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. 9 Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. They commit atrocities. 10 I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled.
11 A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return my people from captivity, 1 when I heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim and the crimes of Samaria will be exposed. For they practice fraud; a thief breaks in; a raiding party pillages outside. 2 But they never consider that I remember all their evil. Now their actions are all around them; they are right in front of my face.
3 They please the king with their evil, the princes with their lies. 4 All of them commit adultery; they are like an oven heated by a baker who stops stirring the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king, the princes are sick with the heat of wine— there is a conspiracy with traitors.
6 For they—their hearts like an oven— draw him into their oven. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are as hot as an oven, and they consume their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls on me. 8 Ephraim has allowed himself to get mixed up with the nations. Ephraim is unturned bread baked on a griddle.
9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice. 10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the Lord their God, and for all this, they do not seek him. 11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria.
12 As they are going, I will spread my net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the sky. I will discipline them in accordance with the news that reaches their assembly. 13 Woe to them, for they fled from me; destruction to them, for they rebelled against me! Though I want to redeem them, they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry to me from their hearts; rather, they wail on their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine; they turn away from me. 15 I trained and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me. 16 They turn, but not to what is above; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent tongue. They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.
Academy Award Repentance
Academy Award Repentance
1 Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. 2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. 3 Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
As we begin here in Hosea chapter 6 opens with the words of the people. Their words are a declaration of their hope in repentance, and their desire to repent so that they might enjoy the healing and redemption in the Lord. They say come let’s return to the Lord. Come is an imperative command. Return to the Lord - turn back to the Lord speaking about completely turning around from the current path that they are on and walking on and doing an about face.
Why are they calling to return to the Lord? There are several reasons and they all look toward what God has promised.
He will heal us and redeem us
He gives us life after death
His coming is sure and will be refreshing
They look to these promises because as they say the Lord has torn them and wounded them. To tear is to separate or cause to separate violently and wounded is to be struck or afflicted suddenly or smite. Let us return to the Lord for He has torn us and He will heal us - speaking of providing a cure for - whether physically or spiritually. Let us return for He has wounded us and He will bind up our wounds - to inspire with confidence and give hope or courage.
They look for revival and restoration as they say He will revive us after two days and on the third day He will lift us up. Many see this as looking forward to Jesus - but God appeared to Israel on the third day
10 and the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death. 13 No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows and not live, whether animal or human. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.” 14 Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women.” 16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.
Jonah and Esther experienced deliverance on the third day
17 The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”
1 On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance.
Hezekiah’s recovery was on the third day
2 Kings 20:8
8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord’s temple on the third day?”
The point is Hosea is not prophesying the resurrection of Jesus. Rather, the third day is a day of renewal and giving of life. So they are hoping that God will bring new life to the nation after two days, on the third day. but it does bring to mind for us the promise of the Lord in Jesus to heal and restore revive and raise up to life in His presence - face to face proximity. God promised this intimate covenant with Israel and it is even more pronounced in Christ Jesus.
Upon this known promise of God to heal and bind and revive as well as restore and provide face to face intimacy of relationship another imperative is given among the people. Let us strive to know the Lord. The word strive denotes an undertaking of great effort. To know about and perceive the Lord. When we endeavor to know the Lord especially through His word, He reveals Himself to us. David Guzik. To know God one must believe God.
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come down to us like rain, like the spring showers that water the land. His departure from heaven and coming down is as sure as the dawn Just as sure as spring and winter comes so will His return if they return and acknowledge Him.
It seems genuine and heartfelt. We are destroyed for lack of knowledge. So let us strive to know the Lord! This sounds like exactly what Hosea would hope for the people to do. This is exactly what God wants the people to do. But there is a problem. Upon closer examination we see there is no confession of sin and rather the repentance is without remorse and instead is shallow and insincere. Without confession there is no remorse and there is no true repentance.
8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Problematic Repentance
Problematic Repentance
4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. 5 This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words from my mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning.
The Lord responds to the repentance of the people of Israel. He asks Ephraim and Judah “what am I going to do with you?” He goes on your love is like the morning mist and the early dew that vanishes. It cooling and refreshing for a time but soon it is gone completely without any trace remnants. God says at best their repentance is transitory and soon evaporated like the early dew. The people say all the right words but their devotion does not last. Their love is short-lived. It sounds good on paper but nothing changes. This is the problem with repentance without remorse - it does not inspire necessary lasting change.
It is for this reason God has sent His prophets with His message to cut down and kill the people with His words from His mouth. His judgment strikes like lightning strong fierce and quick. God does not accept this shallow and half-hearted lacking remorse repentance. He hears our words but there cannot be healing because nothing changes. You are just saying words. You are saying what sounds good. You say all the right things to get people off your back or draw people to your side. But the next day you commit all the same sins and make all the same mistakes that you did the day before. Ultimately it is a half-hearted repentance. So judgment will still come even though the people say all the right words and do all the right things to show their repentance.
6 For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed me. 8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. 9 Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. They commit atrocities.
Devotion and returning to God are not denoted by empty words and half-hearted commitments. God tells them and us right here what He determines to be satisfying and what He delights in and take His pleasure in and it is not empty words and vain actions. God says He desires faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. God desires true devotion manifested in right action over vain display of sacrifice. Without remorse the sacrifices are meaningless and even perhaps offensive.
22 Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?” asks the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who requires this from you— this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies— I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of putting up with them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. 17 Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. 18 “Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
God would rather have right hearts over sacrifice; and heart without remorse over sin is wrong. Jesus quoted this passage to the religious leaders in Matthew 9 and Matthew 12 — informing them that they are missing the heart of God focusing instead on wrong and superficial things. Israel had no problem bringing animals for sacrifice but they never once considered bringing themselves as a sacrifice.
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
This is what God truly desires, but they like Adam violated the covenant and there they have betrayed me. Gilead is a city of evil tracked with bloody footprints raiders in wait to ambush and a band of priests murdering on the road to Shechem and they are just committing atrocities. Widespread violence and becoming a center for wickedness and wicked men due to their lack of remorse and faithfulness. Without remorse for their actions and sins their practices continue. Now it could be literally the priests were murdering people on their way to Shechem but more likely is the hyperbole is directed towards the priests duties being exercised in such a away in which they are murdering spiritually. False teaching and their involvement in social exploitation. Now the two cities referenced are referenced with absolutely precise accuracy to the issues. Gilead and Shechem are two cities designated by Joshua to be known as cities of refuge. Cities of refuge are places where manslayers could find asylum
1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, 2 “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
7 So they designated Kedesh in the hill country of Naphtali in Galilee, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer on the wilderness plateau from Reuben’s tribe, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad’s tribe, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh’s tribe.
The cities would prevent the land from outbreaks of bloodshed and the idea was to promote justice and mercy. Without remorse for their actions however in Hosea’s days these cities are instead associated with bloodshed and injustice.
10 I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim’s promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled. 11 A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return my people from captivity, 1 when I heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim and the crimes of Samaria will be exposed. For they practice fraud; a thief breaks in; a raiding party pillages outside.
Judgment (harvest) is appointed - determined — meaning they shall reap what they sow.
7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
They practice fraud, thievery, and a raiding party pillages outside — though God desired to restore Israel to be a place of blessing His efforts were met with continual outbreaks of sin permeating the entire land.
2 But they never consider that I remember all their evil. Now their actions are all around them; they are right in front of my face.
Without remorse one never considers another. God says because they do not consider that I remember all their evil - they have no remorse. To be without remorse means to not consider anyone else - let alone God. Complete disregard towards God’s character and the wall that their sin was building in their relationship with God. They willfully ignore and do not consider - they deliberately forget because they dont care how their actions affect others. Have you forgotten? Do you think God doesnt see or care? Do you think God is blind to your sins? There is only one way God forgets our sin - through the atoning work of Jesus.
34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.
15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hearts Turned Toward Sin
Hearts Turned Toward Sin
3 They please the king with their evil, the princes with their lies. 4 All of them commit adultery; they are like an oven heated by a baker who stops stirring the fire from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king, the princes are sick with the heat of wine— there is a conspiracy with traitors.
6 For they—their hearts like an oven— draw him into their oven. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are as hot as an oven, and they consume their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls on me.
Their lack of remorse springs forth God says from their desire to please the wrong people. They care about the wrong people and desire the wrong things. They please the king with their evil and think the King is pleased as well. They repent with their mouths but they are like an oven heated by a baker where they need to stir no longer for the heat remains. The oven being the heart (verse 6) and the fire its passions its desires. Stops kneading the dough until it is leavened - permeated with the yeast - a sign of the complete infiltration and permeation of sinfulness.
Between 752 B.C. and 732 B.C. there were four kings of Israel who were assassinated - 2 Kings 15. Israel had five kings in 13 years. Jeroboam I, the first king, to Hoshea the last king - nine different dynasties! This because they were far from the Lord without remorse the situation was such that there was much corruption and more confusion. None of them called upon the Lord.
8 Ephraim has allowed himself to get mixed up with the nations. Ephraim is unturned bread baked on a griddle. 9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice. 10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the Lord their God, and for all this, they do not seek him.
Instead of calling upon the Lord, Ephraim (obstinate Israel) instead allows himself to get mixed up with the other nations - seeking wisdom, counsel and safety from the surrounding areas. God says that because of this Ephraim is like an unturned bread baked on a griddle. Forming alliances with foreign nations becoming mixed - like flour and oil mix to make a cake. They too are mixed, but they are like a half-baked cake. Unbalanced and unturned and burned soon to be cast out as refuse.
No remorse, no repentance, no true turning to God and continuing to walk in the way of destruction and judgment.
Like one’s aging is gradual and mostly unnoticed until the detriments become apparent, so is Ephraim. Strength is gone, death is closer than believed. The mighty nation becomes weak with alliances and mixing and Israel’s arrogance testifies against them.
No remorse - no repentance as they do not return to the Lord their God, they do not seek Him because they do not care. Without remorse, one does not repent and still pursues sin and do not seek the Lord because the heart burns hot for their sins.
No Redemption
No Redemption
11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria. 12 As they are going, I will spread my net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the sky. I will discipline them in accordance with the news that reaches their assembly.
13 Woe to them, for they fled from me; destruction to them, for they rebelled against me! Though I want to redeem them, they speak lies against me. 14 They do not cry to me from their hearts; rather, they wail on their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine; they turn away from me.
15 I trained and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me. 16 They turn, but not to what is above; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent tongue. They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.
Ephraim has become like a silly dove - who pretends to be winged to protect the nest when predators are around - but the nest is near. Seeking help from surrounding nations as opposed to God they broadcast their weakness - for their strength always remained in God and His protection over them. So they call to Egypt and Assyria who will be their downfall - they will trap them as the Lord spreads the net.
Woe to them for they fled from Me. God says this happens because they turned from Him and never came back to Him. They did not have remorse and did not repent then they did not seek the Lord meaning that the Lord will not redeem them from judgment. Without remorse there can be no redemption. The Lord desires to redeem them but they speak lies - basically running from saying God isnt good and cannot save or redeem them. They do not cry to Him from their hearts instead wailing on their beds. They slash themselves like the pagans would.
Without remorse crying to the Lord is the wailing of one wounded - but only out of the pain for the wound not of the pain they have inflicted on God.
God trained and strengthened them - teaching them righteousness and discipline in Him the Lord would be their strength. They instead turn their back and become like a faulty bow - untrustworthy and unable to hit the mark with precision.
57 They treacherously turned away like their ancestors; they became warped like a faulty bow.
Without remorse they could not turn back to the Lord - instead they repent shallowly and continue headfirst into sin and judgment
Conclusion
Conclusion
What went wrong with this repentance? There was no remorse, instead their concern was healing and restoration - getting back to normal as opposed to confession and cleansing. Their nation was in difficulty and they sought God only make things good again. They came with no remorse over their sin against God - they were not broken nor were they humbled. They were inconvenienced and sought happiness over holiness.
They desired a quick fix - after two days and on the third day we will be back. Looking for a quick fix can display a lack of remorse and false repentance. There is a price to pay for deep hurt and a severe price to pay to cleanse.
6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Also consider they saw restoration and redemption as automatic - it was a system and would be automatic. It was mechanical instead of relational to them. If we seek Him, His blessing will surely be ours just as automatic as the dawn comes each morning and the rains in the spring and winter. It makes God like a vending machine - the right amount of money and the right sequence of buttons pushed and out it comes - but the Lord desires relationship and relationships are not formulaic.
Remorse is not displayed through words but shown by actions. Broken hearts cost something - the cost is the change necessary to fix what was broken. Words are cheap - God desires something of sacrifice - ourselves and our devotion.
When we repent without remorse we do not change permanently we change temporarily - when things improve we are back to our old selves again. It may look lovely but it is worthless if it is not lasting - if it does not endure. When it comes to our relationship with the Lord we must be half-baked but instead thoroughly in and all about Him - no unbalance or turning within us.
Take inventory of where you are at? Are you playing games with God? Is your repentance Academy Award worthy - but lacking any real substance? Or are you coming to the Lord repenting full of remorse broken over your sin - because that is when He will redeem, restore and revive.