“Sin Exposed and Repaid”

Series: God Speaks

Text: Hosea 6:11b-7:12

Introduction: (What?)

When a person or a people try to cover their sin, they must be aware that one day God will expose every word, attitude or action that violates His law. We can choose to confess and be forgiven or be exposed by God and punished until we repent. If we pay attention to how God dealt with Israel, we can avoid a lot of heartache and suffering.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Exposed! (6:11b-7:2)

In some translations, this half verse is attached to 6:11, in others it is used as part of 7:1. The context seems to favor the latter.

Hosea 6:11b-7:2 “When I return my people from captivity, 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.

The sins of Ephraim (Israel) and Samaria (the capitol city of the Northern Kingdom) are exposed when they are set free from captivity. God, through Hosea, spells out those sins.

fraud (wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.)

thievery/break-ins

raiding parties that destroy property.

We have the same sins running rampant in our nation today. You only have to watch the evening news to see examples of all of these. Law suits are being brought against those who have committed fraud, but for every one that is prosecuted, there are ten that get by with it. The proliferation of the video doorbells reveal break-ins in even the most secure neighborhoods. So-called “demonstrations” quickly erupt into raiding parties that destroy property.

What God said to the Northern Kingdom, He is still saying to us today.

“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.”

We, like Israel, have become so brazen in our sin that we don’t even consider that God knows what we are doing. And if we do consider that He knows, we just don’t care. Many who are caught red-handed in their sin show no remorse or “godly sorrow which leads to repentance”.

2. Corrupted! (vv 7:3-7)

Hos 7:3-7 “They (the king’s advisors) please the king with their evil, the princes with their lies. 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. On the day of our king, the princes are sick with the heat of wine— there is a conspiracy with traitors. 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. 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.”

The kings of Israel delighted to hear the profane, immoral counsel of those who advised them. They readily accepted their advice, not realizing that there was a “conspiracy with traitors” that would lead to their downfall. Those elected to leadership today are often profane and immoral and openly flaunt their sins. Those who are in their “cabinets” so to speak, urge them on in such behaviors only to abandon them when they are banished from office. The same is true with many musicians, sports figures and entertainers. They are followed by adoring fans who emulate their evil behaviors. They surround themselves with “groupies” who follow them and urge them on in their behaviors.

Hosea used the analogy of a baker’s oven which was so hot that the coals would not have to be stirred all night long for there to be enough heat for baking the next morning. This he likened to the evil lust of the leaders in describing the simmering political situation in Israel. Both the leaders and the people egged each other on in evil behaviors. Hosea said that all of these kings would fall. And he laments that “not one of them calls on Me.” John McArthur notes that “Four of Israel’s six kings were murdered by usurpers.”

In Jonah’s day, repentance began in the house of the king in response to the message that God had Jonah to deliver to Nineveh. When the leaders turn to God, the people will follow. That is why Paul urged Timothy to pray for those in leadership. 1 Tim 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” In addition to voting for leaders whose principles stem from scripture, we need to pray for those who are elected, even if they were not the one we voted for. Without such prayer, not only the leaders, but the country will fall.

3. Repaid! (vv 8-12)

Hos 7:8-12 “Ephraim has allowed himself to get mixed up with the nations. Ephraim is unturned bread baked on a griddle. Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice. 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. So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria. 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.”

The leaders of Israel, here called “Ephraim”, made alliances with pagan nations, and like the frog in the kettle, were soon destroyed by those they considered to be allies. Hosea described the leaders of Israel as those who became old and feeble and didn’t even know it. In our day we try to make alliances with godless nations like China, North Korea, Iran and Russia while they are rapidly outstripping us in development of weapons and in training of troops. When they do something that violates the mores of the people, our leaders make feeble threats to impose economic sanctions unless they straighten up. In many cases it is like a parent saying to a child, “if you do that one more time, you’re going to be in trouble” and then not following through on their threat. Hosea said the Ephraim did not seek the LORD. The same is true today. We are willing to try everything except seeking the LORD. God specifically said in 2 Chron 7:14 “and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Also in Jer 29:13-14 “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.””

If we continue to try everything except seeking the LORD, we will, like Israel, “become like a silly, senseless dove;”. What did they do? They sought help and deliverance from the godless nations of Egypt and Assyria. God’s response was to trap them. “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.”

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

We must pray for those in leadership across the world.

We must seek the LORD “while He may be found”.

We must repent of our arrogance and pride.