We’ve reached the end of Hosea, and God concludes this book not with judgment but with grace. And that grace comes in the form of an invitation to return to Him. This turning away from false gods to the one, true God is picked up in the New Testament with the idea of repentance.
This week we’re right back in the thick of the mire. The people have once again, as expected perhaps, spurned God’s grace and love as they continue to run back to those gods who give no grace. As hard as it may be to come to this recurring theme of rebellion time and again, it is necessary because we tend to be Good-News-forgetful people. We need to hear the truth that we all are sinners in need of a Savior, and we need to hear it again and again and again.
We know God is love. But what does that mean? It cannot be whatever we want it to be. Or at least it shouldn’t be. Whatever we say it is ought to be whatever He says it is. So, scripture must guide our way in that. As we look at this passage, we look at the way in which God’s love displays itself in action toward these Israelites.
In this passage as we might expect, the Israelites have returned not to God but to their rebellion. Their sin is ubiquitous in these 2 chapters. And, as is always the case, sin has consequences. This portion of Hosea shows what sin leads people away from. It is wonderfully glorious and gracious that after all the Israelites have done to turn away from God, He still longs to shower them with righteousness.
The passage this week is very much a cautionary reminder that God’s judgment is real and sure! Yes, God is gracious. He never ceases to be HOLY and this holiness always has and always will include both His gracious loving-kindness, and His perfectly right justice. We will look at some of the false fortresses and the one true fortress in the message.
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.