Take Two: Hosea 9, Proverbs 12

Chapter 9 continues with the statements of judgment against Israel for her "harlotry"...that is, her forsaking of the worship fo Yahweh exclusively (as He revealed). A couple of interesting verses jumped out at me.

In v.1, Israel is told that they are not to rejoice with exultation like the nations. It is a difficult concept as written, but likely means that Israel CANNOT rejoice like the nations around them. Here is why. They were the chosen (elect) people of God. As such, they could not just abandon God and try something else. It would bring no joy. As we discussed before, God loves us too much to allow us to be satisfied with substitutes. He will insure that the substitutes never bring real happiness.

Sometimes, I talk with "Christians" who tell me they have given up on "the faith." As we discuss their situation, I discover that they are miserable. They left the faith because they were "put out" with something that happened and they thought the solution to getting over it was to abandon it. Once you have experienced the reality of the faith, however, nothing else will be able to satisfy. You find yourself constantly having to justify your actions in your mind. You find yourself constantly under conviction for your conduct.

V.4 is also very interesting. They will not pour our wine to the Lord. Their bread will bring defilement and will be for them alone. It will not be brought to the house of the Lord.

This verse is strangely constructed in the original. The best way to understand it is: They will pour out wine (offering) before the Lord but He will not receive it (offering). They will bring bread (offering) but He will not accept it (offering). In other words, they will go through the motions of worship to a degree but God will decide on the acts of worship based on the condition of the worshipper's heart. One cannot worship God and defile himself on the altar of false religion...expecting that God accepts his worship. Worshipping God is an "all or nothing" situation.

That being said, let me clarify a point. Worshipping God is an "all or nothing" situation. However, we do not do it as designed all the time. Because we do not do it "all right" ...does not mean that God "hates" us and refuses everything. It does not mean that we have to get it perfect or just not try. It means that we must be progressing closer to God's design. We will experience grace as we progress toward God and His design. The closer we get, the more fulfilling the relationship will be.

vv.8-9 are statements of judgment against the priestly leadership of Israel. They have failed to fulfill their responsibilities as God's watchmen; therefore, judgment will come against them for their sins.

In v.10 we see a beautiful picture of God delight in His people. When Israel was "young" God delighted in her as a wanderer would take delight in finding wild grapes in the wilderness. He delighted in her as a man delights in finding the sweetest of the first harvest of figs (fruit). BUT, Israel turned from delighting in God and, as such, they became detestable. The remaining verses are statements of the resulting judgment. Famine, captivity, wandering, and lack of blessing.

One final observation on the passage. Judgment is in store for them but it could have been avoided...if they had only trusted God and worshipped Him as He deserved. Their consequences are due to their actions...and theirs alone. One cannot reasonably charge God with being unkind or "mean" when He has only acted justly toward His people who chose substitutes over Him and His righteousness.

Proverbs 12:11 is the takeaway for today. "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."

A couple of impressions:

First, God's provision comes, often times, through our effort. Yes, God will meet all of our needs; however, there is not reason to say that He must meet them supernaturally. By the diligence of tilling, sowing, cultivating, harvesting, milling, and cooking...man will have bread to eat. No man can reasonably expect that (except in special/unusual circumstances) he can sleep through the harvest and God is somehow still obliged to feed him.

Second, the opposite of tilling the land is to pursue worthless things. the pursuer of worthless things lacks sense...or, (literally) "lacks heart." In my own observation, one of the elements that seems to be lacking in people I meet is "work ethic." I watched my dad work his job and a couple of extra jobs most of my life growing up. This was not so that we could have "extra," but in order to provide necessity. In his example, he taught me work ethic. I pray that I will teach the same to my sons and not come to embrace what is becoming increasingly popular in the modern era: to encourage him to just accept whatever comes his way without striving to improve his circumstance in life.

Grace,