Thesis: To instill in the hearers the importance of the true knowledge of God and His attributes, and to show how the state of physical Israel of old is much like the “Israel of God” (Rom 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal 6:16) today.
Text: Hosea 4:1-10
Introduction,
Hosea was a prophet of God in the Northern Kingdom of Israel at about 740 BC, his name means “deliverance” or “salvation,” it is similar to the Hebrew name Joshua, which is the same as Jesus which means “Jehovah is salvation”.
He was commanded by God to take a wife of whoredom (a prostitute); there are differing views on this woman (Gomer), and her state at the time of their marriage, the best evidence concludes that she was raised among idolaters, which would incline her be unfaithful to her husband in the sin of adultery, which it did.
She was to represent the unfaithfulness of Israel to God, and her lover was symbolic of their idol worship, this would also have a profound affect on the prophet himself, as one may well conclude.
Thus through his unfaithful wife, and the children that were not his own, the emotions which God had for Israel in this situation were put into the very heart of the prophet.
Then God commanded Hosea to go and bring Gomer back, even though she loved someone else.
And when she was brought back there would be a time in which she would be denied the normal honors of a wife, God was going to do the same to Israel, they would be without a government, without religion, without their normal lives while in captivity and only a few would return with the Southern tribes.
In this section of Scripture it shows the state of Israel shortly (20 yrs) before the Northern tribes were taken captive by the Assyrians in (722 BC).
We need to keep in mind that God’s purpose behind His judgments are always for the saving of people, to bring them to true repentance, which would bring about obedience from the heart, anything else would be contrary to His nature.
In our section of scripture God through the prophet is laying His charges against Israel.
Things were bad in the Northern kingdom, a perverted type of Jehovah worship was taking place, idolatry and the abominations associated with it were also rampant in the land.
The priests have forgotten the truth of God’s Law, it was made to save the people from their sinful inclinations, but the priests were content with the sins of the people, for they partook of the sacrifices that were brought for said sins, thus the more the people sinned, the more the priests received.
There was chaos in the government, it was a time of political turmoil, there were 6 different kings in 25 years, to be the king at that time, was basically a death wish.
The other rulers of the land also perverted true justice, the poor were getting poorer, and the rich were getting richer, all because a true knowledge of God, His nature, and His will for them was next to nothing.
Thus judgment was on the horizon, a day of reckoning was coming.
The same is true today, and it is all because of a lack of the true knowledge of God and a proper perspective of Him and His attributes, His goodness and His severity (Rom 11:22).
There has been a day of reckoning appointed, the empty tomb of Christ assures us of this fact (Acts 17:31), He is coming back to judge (Mt 25:31-46).
The only question is where will we be? Among the majority, or among the few (Mt 7:14), the remnant that God always seems to keep going, to bring along through thick and thin, His revealed will, the true knowledge of God?
Therefore in this lesson we will look at . . .
1) The charges of God (Hosea 4:1-2)
2) The verdict of God (Hosea 4:3-5)
3) The results of an improper knowledge of God (Hosea 4:6-10)
I. THE CHARGES OF GOD (Hosea 4:1-2)
A. (v 1) Here are the reasons for the present situation . . .
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no (truth) faithfulness or (goodness) steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land;
1. There was no “truth” in the land, seeing that “lying” (KJV) is brought up in verse 2 we should conclude that this is probably speaking of “the Truth” which is God’s word (John 17:17).
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth.
a. Without God’s word, the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11), there can be no faithful children of God, because without seed there is no crop.
b. It is through hearing, believing and obeying that word from the heart (specifically the NT) that one is begotten, brought forth, born again today (Ja 1:18; 1 Pet 1:23).
Jam 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth (begat us) by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1Pe 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
c. Yet with the onslaught of Satan upon this precious seed, through false teachings, a myriad of faiths, and a host of terrible Bible translations, the Truth is well hidden. D.
d. Also in recent times our nation has embraced the spirit of antichrist and is currently taking God’s word out of society, I have read of military personal who have been court-martialed for having bible verses on their computers, bibles are being removed from hotels, and the Ten Commandments are being removed from government buildings around the country.
2. Neither was there any “goodness” (mercy; kindness; steadfast love) in the land.
a. When God’s divine directives are hidden, clouded, changed, or taken away, man tends to move towards a standard of morality which is based upon the majority want.
b. Which is basically bigger and better for me, and a leniency toward sin; that which doesn’t offend or impose physical harm upon others are the main governing factors, it was true then, it is true today, but that which “man” considers morally correct (without God’s standards in view) for the most part ends in ruin (Pro 14:12; Jer 10:23).
Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Jer 10:23 I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
c. Today greed and lust are the accepted traits, to disagree with this is criminal, the abomination of sodomy is considered an alternate lifestyle, fornication and adultery are considered the norm, and the family unit as God intended it, (husband and wife for life, and children) authoritatively, in that order, are scoffed at, and spoken against, a thing of the past, yet the Truth states such (Lev 18:22; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Mk 10:9-12; Rom 7:2-3; Eph 5:22-23; 6:1-3) . . .
Lev 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:9 Therefore, don't let anyone separate what God has joined together."
Mar 10:10 When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this.
Mar 10:11 He answered them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery.
Mar 10:12 If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.(GW)
Rom 7:2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
Rom 7:3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
Eph 5:22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Eph 6:2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
Eph 6:3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
3. In Hosea’s day there was no goodness, no mercy in the land; when God’s word is not respected, harshness will inevitably be shown among the people, when man loses reverence for God, he will soon have little regard for human life, will become selfish, and will be uncharitable in his treatment towards others.
a. This can be seen greatly throughout our land today, road rage, drive by shootings, the killing of babies in their selfish mothers wombs, the tossing of infants into dumpsters; the neglect of the elderly, the rich are all the richer, and the poor are continually growing poorer, one nation under God? Which god? The almighty dollar is the one who most in this country love and bow down to, you cannot serve God and money (Mt 6:24).
4. There was no “knowledge” of (from) God in the land of Israel.
a. Here is the root of the problem, what they knew about God “in truth” was little to none.
b. They did not have Him nor His truths imprinted, implanted in their hearts, they did not recognize the fact that He was watching their every move and knowing their every thought, in hope that He, His goodness, His precepts, would be considered in view of whatever they did; instead they followed idols, and concocted their own type of Jehovah worship, which promoted sin and personal gain, instead of self sacrifice and the love of God and others.
c. In this land the same is true today, for the most part there is no true knowledge of the one true and living God, our society in general has kicked God out of the public sector. And individually, most have created their own, one to “their” liking, that caters to “their” desires, that which “they” believe is best for “them,” sure their god might seem to promotes good, but only when hardship is not put on them and others, when it doesn’t offend those of another faith, another gospel, which is not another (Gal 1:6-9).
d. They are basically like the Jews of Paul’s day, who also attempted to twist and change God’s Way to their own interpretation, of such he wrote (Rom 10:2-3).
Rom 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
e. The “righteousness of God” here (Rom 10:2-3) is Jesus’ imputed righteousness through belief and obedience to the gospel (Rom 1:16-17), it is something that one has to subject themselves to, likened to the comparison of a father to his child, we can see that the father does have the correct knowledge, as compared to the child, and knows what’s best for his child in the long run, of course the same is true in the case of our heavenly Father, we need to trust His commands as being ultimately right and just for us, and be thankful that we have them to guide us to eternal life, therefore (Ja 1:21)…
Jam 1:21 . . . receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
B. (v 2) Here are some of the specific charges . . .
Hos 4:2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
1. Swearing (or cursing) here refers to calling down curses on another, it is the basis or origin for all the profanity we see spewing about us today.
a. And there was lying, the breaking of faith (ASV), a person is supposed to stand behind his word as truth, but these were habitual liars.
b. There was killing (murder), it is God Who gives life, and takes it away, but these made themselves as God in this manner.
c. There was stealing, they didn’t work and give thanks for their possessions, the just coveted others’, and took them.
d. There was committing adultery, they took others’ lives, others’ possessions, others’ wives, thus they broke the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th commandments, that’s not taking into consideration idolatry which included the 1st, 2nd, and 10th commandments, and this was done without the applying of the punishment due under the Law, thus God was going to take over, they would be punished, justice would be done.
2. When we look at these charges, where is our nation as a whole concerning these specific charges?
a. We are no longer under the Law of Moses, yet all but the keeping of the Sabbath has been basically restated in the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2; Gal 6:2).
b. When we look at the media today there is ever growing tend to and acceptance of profanity, it started with “oh God this” or “oh God that” and then to the calling of “bm” (crap) holy (set apart to God), to the point that we see Clint Eastwood using the “f” word at a presidential convention and everyone laughing about it, and this is spilling out into the nation as a whole, and many times by those that claim to be followers of Christ! Where do they find this being done by Christ in order that we should imitate such? Who are they following? Surely not the Son of the living God (1 Cor 11:1), His model prayer teaches us God’s name is holy (Mt 6:9), it is to be handled with the utmost of reverence, carefulness, even fear, and Jesus says by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned (Mt 12:38), we need to understand that these words are in us and spewed out by us through unclean spirits that we allow to dwell in us, those apart from Christ cannot battle against these, but we in Christ ought to see them and battle against them through the power of God to save, the gospel, unto God’s glory (Eph 6:12; 2Cor 10:3-5).
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
2Co 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
3. And today lying in order that good may come (so called “white lies” situation ethics) are the norm, even our nation’s msm news anchors and many leaders are open and obvious liars, “all liars” who have not turned from, repented of, and been forgiven of, and battle against this practice will have their part in the lake of fire at the end of time (Rev 21:8).
Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
4. Today, millions of innocent babies are being killed in their mother’s wombs for the god’s of self and lust, in 9/11 3,000 people were killed in one day, and there was a great outrage because of this, yet this same amount of infants are killed every day in this country yet no outrage, but rather the promoting of it by our government, the slicing up of these babies and selling their body parts and actually joking about it by individuals who claim to be human, remember Rev 21:8 . . .
Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
5. People today steal from the government, steal from their employers, steal from each other, steal from God, while God states this (Rom 13:7; Eph 4:28) . . .
Rom 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
6. And there are many today, even in the church, that are propagating adulterous marriages, it took them almost 2000 years to figure out that Bible doesn’t mean what it says concerning this subject. Mt 5:32; Mk 10:11-12; Luke 16:18, Rom 7:1-3; 1 Cor 7:10, 39 all teach “one husband one wife for life,” and if one does divorce, there is either “separation” or “reconciliation,” remarriage with another while your spouse is living is simply not the Christian option (Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:10, 39), it is the practice of adultery.
Mar 10:11 He answered them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery.
Mar 10:12 If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery." (GW)
Luk 16:18 "Any man who divorces his wife to marry another woman is committing adultery. The man who marries a woman divorced in this way is committing adultery. (GW)
a. The practice of something determines whose we are, Satan’s or God’s, as it is written (1 Jn 3:4-10) . . .
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
7. In our text the children of Israel were pictured breaking out of the restrains that God put on them for their own good, and the blood was figuratively flowing from this evil so much, that is was pictured as streams of blood flowing one to another, bloodshed brings about more bloodshed, that figure could also be applied today, God doesn’t change (Mal 3:6), and “His charges” are still pending on the disobedient of our day (Gal 5:19-25; Eph 5:1-8).
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do (practice) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also (walk by) keep in step with the Spirit.
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners (partakers) with them;
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk (live) as children of light
II. THE VERDICT OF GOD (Hosea 4:3-5)
A. (v 3)
Hos 4:3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
Seeing the terrible condition of God’s people, seeing that they have removed God and his true ways from society, not only them, but all people, the land, the animals, the birds, and even the fish of the sea, would have to pay the price, the desolation brought about by sin is often devastating and far reaching.
1. We need to recognize God’s sovereignty over His creation, the LORD gives, and the LORD takes away (Job 1:21), God made us (Gen 1), He hold us up (Heb 1:3), and He takes us out (Heb 9:27).
a. The flood, the captivities, the destruction of the Jewish system in AD 70, the downfall and destruction of various nations throughout time, and also at Christ’s 2nd coming, God’s wrath is yet to be poured out before this is all wrapped up (2 Pet 3:10-11).
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy living and godliness,
b. One can look around and know that this world is not approved of the Most High and Holy, but in That Day, it will be (2 Pet 3:13-14).
2Pe 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, give diligence that you may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
2. Yet even now, we also are paying the price for our trying to remove God and His ways from our society in general.
a. Disease outbreaks, devastating weather, deadly earthquakes, massive sinkholes, innumerable creature die-offs, the continual threats of war, financial collapse, and why?
b. Because when a society gives up on God, He gives them over to themselves (Rom 1:18-32), He removes the hedge He puts around them (Job 1:10), and literally all hell breaks loose, we cannot now and never have existed without God’s help, there is just too much going on in the spiritual realms.
c. We need God’s blessings and power on our side, not against us, for it is in this world working somewhere, bringing people to Himself through Jesus.
d. Where is the hedge, the angel of the LORD, the blessings, the hedge today? I would say Russia and China. Russia is outwardly embracing the church and its ways for all the world to see, and though China’s government rejects God and Jesus, they have the fastest growing group of Jesus followers to date, millions are coming to God through Jesus by way of the underground house church movement, which is almost identical to what we see in the 1st century, basically speaking, its illegal, but no one can stop it, it’s turning that society upside down, while we here in the US are preparing to go into captivity.
B. (v 4)
Hos 4:4 Yet let no one find fault (strive), and let none offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend (strive) with the priest. (NASB)
There was no use in someone attempting to reprove them, the people were “as”, “like”, those that strive with the priest.
1. The priests under the Law on Moses were to be the teachers of the Law (Lev 10:10-11; Deut 17:8-11), thus to “strive with the priest” was to reject the word of God they brought, and was punishable by death (Deut 17:12).
Deu 17:12 The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
a. There is no separate priestly class in the New Covenant, even though some religions of men have concocted such, all Christians are priests (1 Pet 2:5, 9), so people are figuratively “striving with the priests” today when they reject God’s truths that Christians are bringing forth.
b. When they reject us, they reject Jesus, when they reject Jesus, they reject God, as it is written (Lk 10:16; Jn 14:6) . . .
Luk 10:16 "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
C. (v 5)
Hos 4:5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.
With these sins and this lack of reverence for the Almighty’s word in view, the people, the pseudo priests, even Jerusalem, the holy city, pictured as their mother would be destroyed, keep in mind that the Jerusalem above is our mother (Gal 4:26).
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
1. In 606 BC Babylon destroyed the southern kingdom and Jerusalem, the 10 tribe northern nation was destroyed in 722 BC neither would be a nation again, a small remnant returned with Judah under the decree of Cyrus in 538 BC which brought about the rebuilding of the temple (for Assyria was also conquered by the Medes), thus these 10 tribes were not totally annihilated, there are no lost tribes of Israel (Anna the prophetess, Luke 2:36, of the tribe of Asher is proof of this) but they never again became a separate entity,
a. In fact there was no king in Israel until Christ, Palestine basically remained under someone’s thumb;.
b. Even to this day, there is no Law of Moses, no tribal identity, no temple, no sacrificial system, God finally destroyed all these in AD 70.
c. Physical Israel of today is merely another nation among nations, they are no longer God’s chosen people, they are an antichrist, for they don’t believe Jesus is the Christ, thus they don’t have God, as it is written (1 John 2:22-25) . . .
1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
d. Israel is as hard hearted and stiffed necked as ever concerning God and His will, they haven’t changed, “God’s verdict” is still upon them to this day, yet they as any, and all, can come to God through the gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16).
2. What about the US today? What about the false followers of Jesus today that promote adultery, sodomy, abortion, money loving and various worldly lusts? This is likely prophetic also for them, without God’s blessings, day or night, they will stumble, He is over all, and destruction for this nation, and all that side with it, is sure to come (Ps 127:1; Pro 14:34) . . .
Psa 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
3. My belief is that the USA is “mystery Babylon” in the book of Revelation (Rev 17:5)
Rev 17:5 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (ASV)
a. Here is the prophesied end for her (Rev 18) . . .
Rev 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."
Rev 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
Rev 18:5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
Rev 18:7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.'
Rev 18:8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."
Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
Rev 18:10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,
Rev 18:12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble,
Rev 18:13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
Rev 18:14 "The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!"
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
Rev 18:16 "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
Rev 18:17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
Rev 18:18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
Rev 18:19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!"
Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
Rev 18:22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
Rev 18:23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth."
b. This is a picture of the end of the USA without God.
III. RESULTS OF AN IMPROPER KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (Hosea 4:6-10)
A. (v 6)
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
This is the root of all the problems of Israel; this is also the root of our problems today.
1. Seeing that “all things that pertain to life and godliness” come from “knowledge” (2 Pet 1:3), if that “knowledge” is flawed, it only follows that one’s “life and godliness” would also be flawed.
a. God’s will for man has been such, that it is impossible to please Him without “knowing” what He wants, He has never delivered His will in a fashion that it is subjective, that it is up to the individual.
b. Yet people, as they often do, want to put the blame on God, they say “His word can’t be understood” etc., etc. Yet the Scriptures teach this is not the case, we can “read” it and “understand” it, the apostle Paul wrote (Eph 3:3-5).
Eph 3:3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
Eph 3:4 whereby, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
Eph 3:5 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it has now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
c. Only when a person tries to shove the doctrine of men in it (figuratively portrayed as the doctrines of demons; 1 Tim 4:1-2), does it start to get complex.
d. If I would try to force Calvinism or premillennialism into the Bible, I would never be able to have a clear understanding of God’s word, when someone tries to make the Bible says something it don’t, there are a lot of twist and turns, thus it seems almost impossible to get a handle on.
e. The same goes with about every other false teaching, from ethical lying to ethical fornication, adultery, sodomy and lesbianism being approved alternate lifestyles, the murdering of babies in their mother’s wombs, God says NO! and I believe Him, so should you, for if you don’t, one day, That Day, the Last Day, you will! If you reject God’s knowledge, He will reject you! Jesus said (John 12:48; Mt 13:40-42 ) . . .
Joh 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken (Mk 7:21-22) will judge him on the last day.
Mat 13:40 Just as the weeds (tares) are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
Mat 13:42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2. Seeing that these priests were following the doctrines of men (Jeroboam instated false Jehovah worship through golden calves at Dan and Beth-el and appointed these so called priests who were not of the tribe of Levi; 1 Ki 12:31) and they taught lies to the people, not truth, thus they could not be, nor never where they priests to Jehovah.
a. There are some religions of men today that claim to have a special priestly class, yet the NT does not teach of any such class, but rather that all Christians are priests (1 Pet 2:5, 9) . . .
1Pe 2:5 you (Christians) also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9 But you (Christians) are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
b. Therefore seeing that they do not recognize nor abide in the doctrine of Christ as seen in the scriptures, can they possibly be in fellowship with God? Can those that bid them Godspeed (2 John 9-11)?
2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
2Jn 1:11 for whoever greets him (bids him Godspeed) takes part in his wicked works.
3. And since they (God’s people) have forgotten God’s Law, “God would also forget their children,” in other words, God considers His Law likened to His child, remember “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as the only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), God’s Word, Jesus, is His Child, and “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7).
a. Therefore if we think that we can change God’s ways and not suffer the consequences thereof we are sadly mistaken, for it is written (Pro 15:3; Rom 2:5-11, 12:19b; Heb 12:29) . . .
Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Rom 2:5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
Rom 2:6 He will render to each one according to his works:
Rom 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Rom 2:8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Rom 2:9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
Rom 2:10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
Rom 2:11 For God shows no partiality.
Rom 12:19b "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
B. (v 7)
Hos 4:7 The more they increased (multiplied), the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.
As the people and the priests multiplied numerically in the Northern kingdom, they in like manner followed in this perverted religion and idolatry and were glorying in it, thus the sins were building up all the more, their cup of iniquity was being filled.
1. Many people today glory in their pseudo religions, attempting partial obedience (the case of king Saul shows us that this is clearly not acceptable; 1 Sam 15), and twisting the rest of God’s word to their destruction (2 Pet 3:18), God will one day also change their glory to a shame.
a. For the human race’s cup of iniquity is getting fuller and fuller, day by day, all the while getting closer to the inevitable, “That Day” which has been appointed (Acts 17:31).
Act 17:31 inasmuch as he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
b. Jesus’ tomb is empty, the Judgment is coming, demons tremble, but not man! One day everyone will know the truth, but for many, sadly, it will be too late (Rev 20:15).
Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
C. (v 8)
Hos 4:8 They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for (set their heart on) their iniquity.
There was a scam going on, instead of the priests rebuking sin, and exhorting to obedience, which produces holiness unto God, they were content in the situation.
1. The priests would be given a portion of the sacrifices, thus the more the people sinned, the richer the priests got, thus the priests set their hearts on the iniquities of the people, they looked forward to them, this was a terrible situation as anybody could well see.
a. A form of this is actually practiced by the Roman Catholic church it is know as “indulgences” and is that which was one of more prominent features of the apostate church that brought about the Protestant reformation.
b. In fact these indulgence funds were used to finance the construction of St. Peters Cathedral in Rome, there is much that is money based in the Catholic system today, all you have to do is look at their buildings, and all the pomp and ceremony in their will worship, (gold candlesticks, expensive ornaments everywhere, giant stained glass windows, flowing silk robes, ect) and see it is such.
c. Yet the same is seen by many supposed followers of Christ today outside of the Roman church, instead of seeking the lost, they seek their money and promote their lusts, they have made the Father’s house a unholy place, a house of merchandise (John 2:16), a den of thieves (Mt 21:13), a habitation for every unclean thing (Rev 18:2), instead of a place where God walks and dwells among His people (2 Cor 6:16).
D. (v 9)
Hos 4:9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Yet no one is going to be exempt, priests and people, all, are accountable, as the Lord said (Mt 15:14)
Mat 15:14 . . .they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.
1. No one will be excused, for any type of reason, all the accountable today, will be judged by the same standard, the word of the Living God (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12), no on will be exempt (Rom 14:12).
Rom 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
Rom 14:12 So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
E. (v 10)
Hos 4:10 They will eat, but not have enough; they will play the harlot, but not increase; because they have stopped giving heed to LORD. (NASB)
This is a picture of an appetite that is never fulfilled,
1. Only the one true God, following His ways based upon the knowledge He has revealed can satisfy the hungry soul (Ps 107:9).
Psa 107:9 For he satisfies the longing soul, And the hungry soul he fills with good.
a. There are those that claim to follow the truth, yet many of these are looking for contentment elsewhere, fleshly desires, money, leisure, possessions, fame, their desires are never fulfilled, the child of God should not have this attitude (Phili 4:11; 1 Tim 6:8).
Phi 4:11 . . . for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.
1Ti 6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;
1Ti 6:8 but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.
2. These of Israel played the harlot, they engage in sexual acts associated with idolatry, they served the god of self, therefore they get not the increase that they were seeking.
a. When those today who partake of the sins of fornication, adultery, sodomy and lesbianism, that thirst, that hunger, which God gives one’s spirit, will never be filled through these things (Gal 5:24; Col 3:5).
Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
b. It is either because they have “stopped” following the true knowledge from God, instructing them to take heed, to harken, to hear and obey, as seen in the case of Israel here.
c. Or they never “knew it” to begin with, thus they are without God, and without hope in the world (Eph 2:12), it is easily seen how essential the “true knowledge” of God, His will, thus His goodness is, to a person’s temporal and eternal state.
d. There are but 2 classes of accountable people that are going to inherit eternal punishment, destruction today . . . Those that “know not” God, and those that “obey not” the gospel (turn to 2 Thess 1:7-9).
2Th 1:7 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
2Th 1:8 rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:
2Th 1:9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
e. Thus without “true knowledge,” and a “proper response” to that knowledge, one cannot enter into the process of being saved and avoid eternal punishment/destruction.
Conclusion,
But God in His great love, has set up a plan (John 3:16), and brought it to pass over the ages, His eternal purpose, the church, the kingdom, the body of Christ (Eph 3:10-11), it is not within a building, but within you (1 Cor 3:9; Lk 17:21).
And the commands given to those therein are perpetual, and aggressive, to spread the gospel continually as they go about as salt and light (Mt 28:19-20; Mt 16:15-16).
Thus no one on earth should live their life without at least having a chance, to believe in and respond to the soul saving gospel of Christ.
It’s contained in God’s word, the sum of it is sufficient to enable one to come to a complete knowledge of God’s will for them (2 Tim 3:16-17), and a specifically laid out plan of salvation (Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Tit 3:5).
What is it, it’s laid out time and time again in the book of Acts, there are 9 examples in order that one would have no doubts,
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17) this is where we find God’s true knowledge, and it is essential, it is the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11), it guides us through these commands . . .
One is to . . .
Believe that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, and that we have a living hope of following Him (1 Cor 15:1-4; 23; 1 Pet 1:3-4), belief (faith) is the crossover point (Jn 5:24) wherein one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15)
One is to . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), the sins of sodomy, lesbianism, adultery, murder, greed, and various other lusts, one must leave that old person behind, don’t try and drag him along, but rather put him to death through God’s power to save, the gospel (Eph 4:22-24).
One is to . . .
Confess Jesus as the Christ to others (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), if you are ashamed of Christ and His words, He will be ashamed of you on That Day (Luke 9:26).
One is to . . .
Be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34) unto (for) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
And finally one is to . . .
Live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15), and “knowing” what being “holy” is; “separated” “from” the ways of the world and “to” the Way of God (2 Cor 6:14-7:1), being determined to follow that true knowledge of God (2 Pet 1:3-11) . . .
2Pe 1:3 seeing that his divine power has granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
2Pe 1:4 whereby he has granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.
2Pe 1:5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 For he that lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never stumble:
2Pe 1:11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.