As the sermon title not-so-subtly alludes, this passage is quite political. But not in the way folks might assume. While it does discuss political policies that the Israelites have embraced, ultimately the text shows God to be critical of those policies. In many ways this passage is a polemic against domestic and foreign dealings that don’t defer to God and yield to His way. But that doesn’t mean God is apolitical. It would seem from this text and elsewhere that He is anything but!
In our passage this morning we see the Israelites wandering once again from God. The hard truth, however, is that everyone in some way or another has strayed or wandered from Him. But because of who He is and what He’s done, He is still God and He is still good! God is still God even when His people wander. But the idea is never that we continue to wander away from Him.
Whereas God’s love was front and center last week, humanity’s sin comes to the front this week. Yet, as is always the case, God’s enduring love never moves from the center. God is always clear about the depth of our depravity. While this reality is bad, such bad news is no match for the Good News!
God’s love flows throughout this passage! But this chapter is honest about the brokenness of the ones (Israel in the immediate context and all people by extension) God loves. Even though humanity’s sin is great, His love is greater! It is helpful as well to recognize that there are aspects of His love in this chapter that are not often emphasized when we talk about God’s love.
One day … God will set, as NT Wright loves to say, “the world to rights.” This passage speaks of that most glorious day! Interestingly, we actually know a bit about that day. Has that “day” been fully realized. No. But in the coming of Jesus, we have a foretaste of that day! It is in a sense both now and not yet.
Only One God is awesome. It is not insignificant that the sermon title has a little “g” god in it. The people of Israel had come to believe other gods were awesome, rather than the One true God. The truth is, though, people today (even church folk) have a tendency to love people or things more than God. This misplaced love is consistently referred to in scripture as idolatry. But these false gods fail. Only Jesus, the One true God, is worthy of our deepest devotion. In the message I will be unpacking the ways idolatry fails, but also reminding folks that forgiveness is still offered to idolators.
Last week’s passage made clear that judgment is coming for the Israelite people. God has said so, and what He says will be so. But God continued to talk through Hosea, and what He says in Hosea 1:10-2:1 brings HOPE, even in the midst of impending judgment. So, based on what is said here, we can be hopeful in a number of ways. Namely, that God will keep His words of promise as much He keeps His words of judgment; that judgment can be reversed; and that He has a good plan for His people.
When God calls on/commands Hosea to marry “a promiscuous woman” this marriage is a literal relationship as well as figurative for the relationship God has with His people. He is a faithful “husband,” whereas His people are the unfaithful “wife” going after other “lovers.” But this story can (and should!) reorient us toward better understanding who we are as His people (His bride) and what our idolatry really is (whoring after other lovers). This is strong but biblical language for idolatry.
This week we introduce the series on Hosea. It’s not primarily the prophets who speak but God. This book is not just for the Israelites but us as well.
God continues to do NEW things by revealing Jesus to the World