July 9, 2023
Hosea 9 & 10
“Sow Righteousness, Reap Love”
Service Overview: Israel was special to God. He had chosen her from among the nations to be a holy people, a nation of priests. And at first, it looked as if good fruit was on the horizon, but alas, the people’s hearts soured. What was supposed to be good fruit turned out to look more like weeds, poisonous ones at that, and because of their state, hope of good fruit from Israel looked increasingly dim.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Hosea mentions Egypt thirteen times in his book, and these references fall into three distinct categories: past—the exodus of the Jews from Egypt (2:15; 11:1; 12:9, 13; 13:4); present—Israel’s unholy alliances with Egypt (7:11, 16; 12:1); future—Egypt as a symbol of their impending bondage to Assyria (8:13; 9:3, 6; 11:5, 11). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 36)
- “Appointed day” is synonymous with “feast of the Lord” (cf. 2:11), probably the autumn festival, established around 930 B.C. by Jereboam I as a counterpart in the northern kingdom to the festival celebration in the southern kingdom. In Hosea’s day it had become an occasion for harlotry instead of thanksgiving. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, 133)
- Gibeah was three miles north of Jerusalem. It stood out in the minds of the Israelites as the gas chambers of Auschwitz haunt modern Jews. Here a Benjamite raped a priest’s wife. A dreadful war of revenge followed and the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out. (Judges 19, 20) (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 85)
- In the previous chapters the targets had been idols, altars, and sacrifices; in the present chapter he chooses the most culpable example of cultic apostasy: a harvest festival. Most likely this was the autumn festival of Tabernacles or Booths, also known as the “feast of the LORD” (v. 5; Judg. 21:19-21; Deut. 16:13-15; Lev. 23:39-43). The surroundings, with their constant reminders of the Baals and of the fertility ideology, inevitably produced, as we have noted, some of the themes and thinking of the earliest chapters in Hosea. (H. D. Beeby, Grace abounding: A Commentary on the Book of Hosea, 111)
- There can be little doubt that Hosea’s own suffering over the lot of Gomer and their children contributed to the unparalleled insight he gives us into the heart of Yahweh. (David Allan Hubbard, Hosea, 186)
- “the days of Gibeah” (Hos. 9:9; 10:9). The reference is to the awful sins of the men of Gibeah and the tragic civil war that followed (Judg. 19—21). The men of Gibeah practiced unnatural lust and killed an innocent woman in a gang rape episode. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 37)
What do these chapters contribute to our understanding of Israel at this time?
- How their prosperity bred overconfidence.
(vv. 9:1, 6, 11, 10:1, 13 | Deut. 8:18; 1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 3:26; 8:13; 16:5; 28:25; 28:26)
Nothing fails like success—if we attribute our success to anything or anyone other than God. (Ogilvie, 131)
Fundamentally, sin is a matter of our hearts, for as fallen creatures our ruling desire is to remove God from His throne and to sit there instead. (Michael Lawrence, Biblical Theology, 135)
The references to Israel’s past history—Baal-Peor (Hos. 9:10) and Gibeah (9:9; 10:9)—show that “the only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history.” Both of these events brought the judgment of God on the nation, yet later generations turned a blind eye to this fact. (Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 1402)
- How overconfidence bred wickedness.
(vv. 9:9, 10, 10:2, 4, 13 | Psalm 10:4; 94:4; Proverbs 16:18; 18:12; Isaiah 13:11; James 3:16)
Society set free from God is its own worst enemy. (Robert Mounce, Revelation, 274)
From the people’s point of view, Hosea was “Public Enemy Number One”. They enjoyed their orgies too much to give this loud-mouthed kill-joy a hearing. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 74)
God planted His people in a special land, but they polluted the land with their idols (Hos. 9:13). The more prosperous they became, the more they turned away from God. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 37)
- How wickedness would reap enslavement.
(vv. 9:15, 10:6-7, 14-15 | Ps. 5:4; Is. 5:20; 58:6; Rom. 6:6, 16; 1 Cor. 7:23; 2 Peter 2:19)
Israel was poor. She needed help from Assyria who operated an international monetary fund for its slave nations. Rumors of doom were the last thing she wanted, so Hosea was about as welcome as a saint in a brothel. (Kevin Logan, Hosea, 74)
The prophet contrasts the past exodus from the bondage of Egypt with the impending “exodus” into the bondage of Assyria, the new “Egypt.” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 36)
Trying to barter with the Assyrians only brought Israel closer to complete domination and eventual destruction. The people ended up with a broken relationship with Yahweh and no calf idol in the shrine of Bethel—the sorry results of a divided heart. (Ogilvie, 146)
Conclusion… what principles should challenge our discipleship journey in light of this?
A. Be mindful what you sow, and ask if you really want what that thing will reap.
(Job 4:8; Prov. 11:18; 22:8; John 4:37; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:7-9; James 3:18; 1 Peter 2:16)
Virtue and vice may not be transmitted from one generation to another, but their consequences often are. (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 79)
If [God] were not wrathful against sin, we would question whether He is personally good. What would it mean for Him to say that He is committed to oppose evil if He refused to judge it? (Mark Dever, It Is Well, 125)
B. Be cautious your confidence doesn’t become arrogance.
(Prov. 11:2; 12:15; 16:5; 18:2; 27:2; Luke 18:9-14; Rom. 12:3; 12:16; Phil. 2:3; James 4:6)
The primal sin of pride pervades and pollutes our whole being. That puts the awesome atonement of the cross in perspective. God did not just forgive our sin and leave us with an old nature. He has made us new creatures in the new creation of Christ. All because “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). (Ogilvie, 140)
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)
Branches are to roots, and children are to parents, as deeds are to hearts. As the mind, motives, attitudes, affections, loyalties, and habits go, so go behavior and social relationships. We are known by our fruits, but those fruits issue from our inner selves. (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 83)
C. Be careful to avoid compromise for the sake of security.
(Prov. 25:26; 1 Cor. 7:23 ; Eph. 5:11; Heb. 13:5; James 1:21-22; 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8)
It sounds really spiritual to say God is interested in a relationship, not in rules. But it’s not biblical. From top to bottom the Bible is full of commands. They aren’t meant to stifle a relationship with God, but to protect it, seal it, and define it. (Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, 45)
Israel’s turning to the Canaanite cult in order to secure fertility of flock, field, and womb is constantly frustrated by God; but he does not stop there. He never leaves his people to their own devices; they are not allowed to go their own way. There is always the whirlwind harvest to be reaped. The people have corrupted Yahweh’s festivals; they shall go where none can be held. (Beeby, Hosea, 112)
Gospel Connection…
Jesus came to not only save, but to sow righteousness in order to reap love.
(v. 12 | Romans 3:23; 6:13, 18, 22-23; Galatians 6:7-9; Titus 2:14; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:16)
[Jesus was] led to slaughter in the greatest act of injustice from a human standpoint ever enacted to achieve the greatest act of justice from a divine point ever accomplished. (John MacArthur, Sermon: “Approaching the Cross with Determined Anticipation – part 2 (www.gty.org/Resources/issues/520))
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 are some reasons why the Israelites wouldn’t admit they had sinned? What makes a person or nation ready to return to the Lord?
- How had the people of Israel reneged on their promises to God? What was the fruit of their rejection of God’s covenant?
- Why do you think the people of Israel turned to political maneuvering instead of repentance when they were in trouble? How are we sometimes similar today?
- What’s an experience you have had or witnessed where you or another person wanted to be rescued from suffering but not necessarily cleansed from sin?
- What are some ways people are tempted to compromise in order to preserve security?
Quotes to note…
The plow of conviction must first break up hard hearts before the seed of the Word can be planted and the gracious rain be sent from heaven. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Amazed: Minor Prophets, 38)
Israel was in for a rude awakening. She might have kings but she was no better off. Her kings were all talk and no action. They were like many a politician. They promised the world, but delivered only a whirlwind — of hot air. (Kevin Logan, What is Love? Hosea, 82)
Over abandoned altars, thistles grow (10:8). This image of deserted temples, which was conjured up by Hosea in the eighth century B.C., can be matched in our own time by the real images of deserted abbeys in England and boarded-up churches in the inner cities of America. T (James M. Ward, Amos, Hosea, 83)
The people had called the prophet a fool and said that he was mad. Hosea retorts that he is a watchman who is neither foolish nor mad. He is the opposite of what they think. Fools are dull and unreasonable; watchmen are supremely alert and reasonable. Madness is a threat to society; watchmen are guarantors of its security. (H. D. Beeby, Grace abounding: A Commentary on the Book of Hosea, 118)
God’s name is the epitome of who and what He is, and He says His name is Jealous. Jealousy is not merely a passing mood with God. It is the essence of His person. He cannot be other than jealous. Since He is the highest and greatest being there is, infinitely holy and glorious, He must be passionately committed to preserving His honor and supremacy. He must zealously desire exclusive devotion and worship. To do less would make Him less than God. (Richard Strauss, “A Jealous God”, www.bible.org)
God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 195)
Hosea presented the possibility of a new beginning for Israel (10:12). But the nation would have to meet certain conditions for that possibility to become a reality. They had to sow the seeds of righteous living if they wanted to reap God’s loyal love. God’s refreshing rain of salvation would follow Israel’s earnest search for God. (Billy K. Smith, Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Vol. 13, 53)
God’s law is an expression of His grace because it is also an expression of His character. Commands show us what God is like, what He prizes, what He detests, what it means to be holy as God is holy. To hate all rules is to hate God Himself who ordained His rules to reflect His nature. The law is God’s plan for His sanctified people to enjoy communion with Him. (Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, 54)
Just because things are going well at a particular point in our lives does not necessarily mean we are right with God. In fact, our success may have come as a result of complicity with some very beguiling false gods. (Ogilvie, 131)
