June 25, 2023
Hosea 6 & 7
“Fauxpology”
Service Overview: Although Israel seemed to acknowledge their need, their “repentance” was like that of the morning dew; there for a while, but gone when the heat was on. Their continued evil and corruption exposed their “repentance” for what it was; a simple desire for God to save them from their troubles without truly turning their hearts back to him.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- During the last twenty years of its existence, the Kingdom of Israel fell into social chaos. The biblical account of the story is a mere outline (2 Kgs 15:8-31 and 17:1-6), but it is highly indicative. King Zechariah was assassinated by Shallum ben Jabesh after six months on the throne. One month later Shallum was murdered by Menahem ben Gadi. Menahem managed to hold the throne for about ten years by means of Assyrian support. He was remembered as the one who butchered the men, women, and children of a city in his own kingdom, because they refused to acknowledge his sovereignty! (2 Kgs 15:16). His son Pekahiah succeeded him for two years and was then assassinated by Pekah ben Remaliah. Pekah is best known for his misguided attack upon the sister Kingdom of Judah (2 Kgs 16:5; Isa 7:1-9). He was assassinated in his turn by Hoshea ben Elah. Hoshea renewed Israel’s vassalage to Assyria, but caused the kingdom’s final destruction by conspiring with Egypt. Such is the sorry tale of the last days of Israel. This is the immediate background of Hos 6-7! (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 73)
- The question is whether 6:1-3 is the speech of the people that the Lord longs to hear while waiting in his place (5:15), and is thus composed by Hosea to represent true repentance (if only Israel would embrace it!); or whether 6:1-3 is something that Israel is proposing but in an inadequate way. A decision between the options is difficult. With regard to the witness of the book, the result is crystal clear: whether repentance is inadequately expressed or offered as advice to Israel, the people failed the loyalty test. (J. Andrew Dearman, Hosea, 191)
- It is important to define our interpretation of Hosea 6:1-3 as either a further appeal from the prophet for a return of the people to the Lord or a response of the people to the prophet’s preaching. If it is the former, Hosea takes for granted the need for authentic repentance and reconciliation. But if it is the latter, the response lacks the radical dimension of true contrition. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 96)
- God said that his bride had become mixed up with foreign lovers as thoroughly as yeast is stirred into flour in breadmaking. The yeast loses its identity in the flour. In the same way, Israel was totally absorbed into the life-style of other nations. She ends up half-baked. She was charred on one side and raw on the other. In other words, she was useless. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 65)
What do these chapters contribute to our understanding of the unfolding drama in Hosea?
- The people wanted God’s “goods” without actually being good.
(vv. 6:1-4 | Lev. 19:2; 20:26; Prov. 27:19; Jeremiah 17:10; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16)
Their concern was for healing and not for cleansing. They saw their nation in difficulty and wanted God to “make things right,” but they did not come with broken hearts and surrendered wills. They wanted happiness, not holiness, a change of circumstances, but not a change in character. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 30)
Israel’s love always promised much but never delivered the goods. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 59)
- God wanted the people’s hearts, not merely their religious habits.
(vv. 6:6, 7:14 | Ps. 51:17; Prov. 11:20; 21:2; 27:19; Jer. 17:10; Ez. 36:26; Amos 5:21-24)
Yahweh wanted something more than a legalistic, ritualistic return to the traditional worship of Him. These sacrifices, efficacious as they were, would be only substitutes for knowledge of God. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 101)
Real return to God involves “steadfast love and the knowledge of God” (v. 6). These personal relationship words are set over against the acts of “sacrifice” and “burnt offerings. What God desires is faith and obedience, not a religion of rituals. (Billy K. Smith, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Vol. 13, 32)
Obedience to instruction is a sign of fidelity, as are proper sacrifices and offerings, but the emphasis on Israel’s returning in Hosea is upon the people’s return to YHWH. It is personal and not simply a matter of obedience to instruction. Moreover, a return to the Lord is not based on Israel’s strength to change, but on the resolve of the offended Lord to enable and to accept them. (J. Andrew Dearman, The Book of Hosea, 191)
- The lack of heart or holiness served only to make the people impotent.
(v. 7:16 | Matthew 7:15; 15:7-9; Luke 12:2; 2 Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4)
Israel has become a faulty bow, a slack bow unable to propel an arrow to its target. They are totally ineffective in battle. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 112)
Being masters of deceit (6:7; 7:1), they had no difficulty deceiving themselves. (David Allan Hubbard, Hosea, 131)
Conclusion: What should we ask ourselves in light of this?
A. Do I merely want what I can get from God, or do I want God?
(Ps. 34:18; Prov. 12:22; 21:2; 27:19; Mat. 6:1; 6:21; John 4:24; 14:6; 1 John 3:18; 4:20)
God thirsts to be thirsted after. (Augustine)
The central concern of all scripture is mankind’s relationship with God. (H. D. Beeby, Grace abounding: A Commentary on the Book of Hosea, 73)
It is, in fact, a law of the spiritual life that the further you go, the more you are aware of the distance still to be covered. Your growing desire for God makes you increasingly conscious, not so much of where you are in your relationship with Him as of where as yet you are not. (J.I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness 138)
B. What is it in my life that reflects the genuineness of my faith?
(1 Sam. 15:22-23; Mic. 6:6-8; Mat. 6:1; 9:13; 12:7; John 14:15; James 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:15-16)
Superficial ritual can never take the place of sincere love and faithful obedience. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 32)
The modern definition of faith eliminates repentance, erases the moral elements of believing, obviates the work of God in the sinner’s heart, and makes an ongoing trust in the Lord optional. Far from championing the truth that human works have no place in salvation, modern easy-believism has made faith itself a wholly human work, a fragile, temporary attribute that may or may not endure. (John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, 172)
C. Am I willing to distance myself from what may be making my faith ineffective?
(Ps. 119:9; Rom. 12:1; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:20-24; 1 Thes. 4:7; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:3)
O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire Thee with our whole heart; that, so desiring, we may seek, and seeking find Thee; and so finding Thee may love Thee; and in loving Thee, may hate those sins from which Thou hast redeemed us. (Anselm)
Getting well spiritually or psychologically involves recognizing the underlying causes of our sickness. God does not bind us up with Band-Aids; rather, He wants to heal us. His healing necessitates praise for His love that forces us to see ourselves as we are. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 97)
Indeed, there is no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against. In general, what to (humans) seems a small offense, to Him who knows the heart may appear a heinous crime. (John Wesley, Wesley’s Notes on the Bible, 1 Sam. 13:14)
Gospel Connection…
Jesus not only came to save from sin but to transform hearts into ones that passionately seek to love him and reflect his character.
(Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:4; 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:7)
Hosea 7:3-7 is an example of uncontrolled, unchanneled fire that destroys. It vividly depicts why Christ had to come to transform us. The raging fires of our natures have to be transformed. Regeneration by Christ into a new creature does that. The fire of His Spirit burns out the chaff and sets us ablaze with radiance, a will to do His will, emotions that are channels of His love and compassion, and minds aflame with His truth. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 107)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What examples exist in our day where people seem to want something from God, yet offer him little in return?
- Take inventory of your relationship with Jesus. How lasting is it? How deep is it? How strong is it? How serious is it? How dependable is it?
- When you come to worship, do you come to worship Jesus, or merely to get something out of the experience?
- If someone were to look at your every-day life, what evidence would they see that you belong to Jesus?
- How has Jesus transformed your heart and life lately? What did that cost you?
Quotes to note…
In one sense saving faith is the easiest thing in the world – as easy as being clay in the potter’s hands. But in another sense it is the hardest thing in the world, because human clay hates being shaped and formed by Christ so that He gets all the glory for what we become. (John Piper, O, That Christ Would Be Formed in You sermon, Galatians 4:12-20, May 15, 1983)
When we truly repent, our words will come from broken hearts and they will cost us something. Hosea considered words to be like “spiritual sacrifices” brought to the Lord (14:2), and we must not give Him something cheap (2 Sam. 24:24). Words can reveal or conceal, depending on the honesty and humility of the sinner. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 31)
The more we die to our tenacious control, the more He is able to resurrect His best for us. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 98)
The love of a doting grand-daddy is a love that often spoils. God’s love is a love that sometimes spanks. It is a love that cares so much that it is prepared to hurt to help. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 63)
Love is not static and mechanical, but dynamic and personal. It is responsive, creative, living. God in his love requires our commitment to love others, which means, among other things, obedience to the moral principles of the covenant and concern for social justice. Without these, there can be no corporate fulfillment for the people of God. (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 73)
We can build Godlike character only upon the foundation of a whole-hearted devotion to God. God must be the very focal point of our lives if we wish to have godly character and conduct. This point cannot be overemphasized. Too many of us focus on the outward structure of character and conduct without taking the time to build the inward foundation of devotion to God. This often results in a cold morality or legalism, or even worse, self-righteousness and spiritual pride… Godly character flows out of devotion to God and practically confirms the reality of that devotion. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 54)
When we deal seriously with our sin, God will deal gently with us. (C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Psalm 51)
The foundation of our love for the Lord lies in the recognition of His holiness, our sinfulness, and His grace…those who are forgiven much, love much. (Sinclair Ferguson, A Heart for God, 93)
True salvation brings with it a desire to be made holy. When God saves us through Christ, He not only saves us from the penalty of sin, but also from its dominion. (Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, 34)
Holy affections do not have heat without light. (Jonathan Edwards)
God never made a promise that was too good to be true. (D.L. Moody, Christian History, n. 25.)