Hosea 9-10

Hosea 9-10

Joy Not Judgment

I.                    Only abiding in Christ results in joy instead of judgment in life; so we must submit obediently to the truth of God’s Word     (9:1-17)

a.       Israel is celebrating at harvest time, where they should’ve been celebrating the blessings of God’s mercy, grace, and provision, but they weren’t. They had ceased relying on the Lord, but in their hypocrisy they religiously acted out many of the requirements of the law, but they mixed, diluted, and polluted God’s rightful worship with that of foreign gods, disgusting and depraved rituals, and rampant idolatry. So, in the midst of their celebration, Hosea broke in and delivered this message to the people reminding them of their wicked past, their ingratitude and idolatry, and their unfaithful prostitution of themselves religiously, socially, and politically, in the face of God’s complete faithfulness to them. They should stop their fake and empty rejoicing because they’re not experiencing real prosperity and joy; they’re only attaching themselves to anyone and anything they think will give them the material and worldly things they’ve come to value. They’ve acted in their own self-interest, and have taken God and His grace for granted. The weeds of the world have contaminated the produce that God intended for their good and His glory, and now His judgment and chastening of them will undo what He’s done. But their sin had become too great to face, so when confronted with the truth of God’s Word, they rejected it, called Hosea a fool, and treated him with hostility. Israel was once as refreshing to God as unexpected fruit in the desert, but because they refused to face their sinfulness and repent their iniquity has only grown deeper, and now He must hold them accountable. Instead of choosing to submit obediently to God’s Word, they chose vain and wicked idolatry, and so they became like that which they worshiped. Because they didn’t listen to Him, God will give them what they’ve earned as a consequence of their own choices. They sought their joy by desiring all the wrong things, and now they’ll live an empty, fruitless, frustrating, tragic, and wandering existence. (9:1-17; Numb. 25; Deut. 32:35-39; Judg. 19-21; Ps. 16:11; 115:1-8; Isa. 28:9-13; Jer. 29:26; Amos 7:12-13; 8:11; Matt. 4:4; 5:10-12; John 7:15-20; 8:30-36; Acts 26:19-25; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 2:14-16; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; Heb. 4:12-13;  Jas. 4:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:1-18)

II.                 Only abiding in Christ results in joy instead of judgment in life; so we must see that God’s judgments are meant to turn us to the only source of true joy, Him (10:1-15)

a.       God had set Israel up in a fertile land and given them everything they needed to live well, worship Him, glorify Him, and testify of Him to the nations. But as they saw their land and lives produce in abundance, their hearts were turned continually more towards themselves, and they become more convinced of their own strength, ability, and self-reliance. Instead of thanking and glorifying God for His blessings on them, they became entitled and their attitudes towards God, each another, and others was poisoned and overgrown with weeds. They had no respect or understanding of God or His Word, and so there was no moral objective impartially governing the strong or the weak, and justice and joy were lost to the thoughts, desires, and policies of the moment. With God rejected and justice lost, the people clung hopelessly and helplessly to their idols, only to be carried away by the currents of life into a lost and joyless existence. Their king can’t save them, their empty shrines can’t help them, and the people will be so overcome in guilt and judgment that they’ll see death as a better alternative to life. The people had yoked themselves to the wrong masters, followed after foreign gods, and prostituted themselves to foreign kings, and now God would justly hold them accountable for their choices; they would reap the fruitless and joyless lives they had sown. But there’s always hope with God. God executes His just judgment on the people in order that they’ll turn to Him. If they’ll break up and soften the hard soil of their hearts, God will sow His Word in their hearts and lives, move them to repentance, and they’ll sow in righteousness, hope, joy, and love. If they’ll submit to Him and serve Him, He’ll provide the unchangeable foundation for the desires of their hearts which yield true joy! God hasn’t changed, nor has His Word and His promises. The troublesome events, lack of true justice, and difficult circumstances we all face today are a litmus test for our hearts, where our devotion lies, and where we seek our joy. We must see that God is turning us, all of us, to Him for His glory and our greatest good. (10:1-15; Deut. 25:4; 1 Kgs. 12:16-33; 2 Kgs. 17:6, 24-41; Ps. 36:1-9; Isa. 5:1-7; 59:1-15; Jer. 2:21; 4:3-4; Matt. 11:28-30; 13:3-23; Luke 23:26-31; John 15:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:21; 7:1, 8-10; Heb. 5:8; 12:4-11; Jas. 1:13-25; 1 John 2:7-8; 15-19; Rev. 6:16)