epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Friday, August 01, 2008

Hosea 5

The Lord continues His covenant lawsuit against Israel and even Judah as He points again to the guilt of leaders. Here not only are priests mentioned, who should be teaching the Law to the people, but also kings, who should administer justice. They should lead the people in great works of obedience to God, but they are called revolters who go out to slaughter as those who have forgotten to humble themselves before the Lord. Here God tells them that He will discipline them.

As the Lord has been saying through the words and the life of His prophet Hosea, some spirit of whoredom has taken over His people. They do not live as people who have a working knowledge of God and the fundamental truths that are necessary to consider in order to have communion with Him. His people must have an understanding of His glory and holiness. They must see something of their own desperate depravity, and yearn for some Mediator who could bridge this chasm between Him and them. They should then pursue the ways that He has revealed in order to give testimony to these fundamental facts of faith, and draw near somehow with hearts full of repentance. This is nothing like a description of their behavior. They are captivated by other nations, by their power, and by their religions. This is what the Lord means when He points to a spiritual reality of the worst kind of adultery that has captivated His people.

Though Hosea is directing His words especially toward the northern kingdom, Judah is mentioned throughout this chapter as well. They are both stumbling together. The consequence is that the Lord will no longer be found by them. They have rejected the things that God appointed to testify to the truth. Now they are prisoners of a lie. This lie cannot deliver them. The time for their discipline swiftly approaches.

The trouble that is coming is very near. In fact, Assyria would be a tremendous trouble to both north and south, though Jerusalem would survive the assault against her in the days of Hezekiah. Yet God came in judgment against both of them and upon their corrupt leaders. They were determined to go after things that are swiftly gone with the rot of this world, and so they would be overtaken by their decay. Desolation is decreed.

It is very ironic that Israel would think that the answer for them in their regional troubles would come from Assyrian power. They did not understand the nature of their real trouble. They went looking for help from the wrong great king. They could not help but see their sickness and their wound, at least feeling the consequences of their unfaithfulness, but they exhibited no sign of taking to heart the real cause of their disaster. They went to the Assyrians to cure them and to heal them. The Assyrian empire would be the Lord’s agent against them in His discipline.

The One who they need to turn to is the One who says that He will not allow Himself to be found by them any more. The Lord is a lion against them. They would do well to plead His eternal promises, remember their guilt and seek Him even at this late date. In their distress they should not earnestly seek the Assyrians. They are like a condemned murderer who calls for the hired executioner, wondering if he will turn aside from his task of killing long enough to have pity on a man he does not like anyway. Assyria will not save Israel. Assyria will not have mercy.

No power on earth can save them. It is God who is the true lion at the door of both Israel and Judah. He is sovereign in all His discipline. He can tear the prey and carry off the victim in such a way that no one in all creation could rescue them.

It is important for each of us to lay hold of the basic facts of following Yahweh. He is not to be manipulated or ignored. He is a God of justice and of mercy. We must acknowledge His great glory and bow before Him with hearts that are broken for our evil ways. He is not impressed by our great allies among the powerful and beautiful people on the face of the earth. If we challenge Him to a fight, or simply remove Him from the equation of how things work in this world, we will surely regret it.

There is a better way for us. The Lord has a provision for mercy in His covenant of grace. There is a King descended from the house of David who has been appointed as the highest authority in the land. There is a Priest who can yet make intercession for us. This Messiah is our only hope in our desperate need for peace with God. He is God’s appointed answer for our deepest need. We turn to Him and the Lion of the Lord’s righteous wrath is tamed by the abundant mercy of the cross. He has faced our punishment, and we have now received His amazing blessing.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 6:00 AM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home