Hosea 4:13-15
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
It is too terrible, the situation that thus has occurred. So let me simply say this. The Lord does not mince words when it comes to the issue. Perhaps if you have knowledge of such yourself personally, it’s time for you to do as it says in the text. Look with me for a moment if you will at the issue. The people have offended the Lord and ran off with idols. Perhaps Rachel gives a more fitting description of the household gods shoved up her rear. The picture is seen of the Godhead clearly seen, as God stands before his people. At the issue of the Godhead though, it trips some people up. Imagine confusing the provision of God for some unreal thing. You know of what I speak. You could exchange his glory for the image of idols made at the hands of a man or you could do as Rachel did and use them as things for her comfort. Perhaps the use of symbols in exchange for his goodness ought not be whispered, not even at all. It is almost like exchanging a lifetime of marriage for a night with a man. Indeed as we see here such a thing has occurred. Just think of the Lord being the Creator, the originator of the one family tree. Here they all are related from Judah on down back up into Israel. After all, are they not part of the twelve tribes that you see. However, not all Israel is Israel as Hebrews plainly declares. Yet with such a thing visible, all are without excuse to be had. Indeed, the families are all sacrificing in villages, under every green tree. I cannot imagine such division as this all in exchange for a shadow. I mean, the Lord was all the shade you could have and with him were life and pleasures found forevermore. But look where it will end up. In times like these it sure is nice to have some shelter from the heat of the day. What only would have happened though, had you just considered the Lord.
After all this time, it’s better not to come home considering now the final position. Going to church then and bringing this mess into the house of the Lord seems to me the ultimate rebuke. God in his mercy has some to keep. So too does he protect and defend the rest of his house.
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Herein is the heart of the Father seen reflected in this. When it comes to the Lord, just know that his silence ought not be taken for weakness. Nor has he happened to have forgotten or just made a mistake. It is we that have erred and gone far off from the Lord. In such a condition as this then, the advice is given to do as Judah and throw the old gods back out of the house. They belong in the forest as part of the wood, not burnt as an offering, a sweet smelling savor to God. So too will the family confusion rest now with this. For the tree has sprung forth into the families and now all the rest of the world is corrupted. Behold is it not even such a similar state as the burning tree Wormwood cast into the waters. So Revelation seems to agree as what sprang forth could not be drunken by any, make no mistake. Perhaps you might be even now saying to yourself ‘how so.’ Just wait and see what God in his mercy will do about the issues presenting themselves now after next. After all, is it not a family affair put quite simply. So Hosea’s marriage to that of a strange woman remains affecting his sons. Well, it affects the daughters too in more ways than you know. But for now, we will only focus on what it does to the sons. Gomer, as we know, is quite an excellent representation of the daughter of his people having committed adultery. So too does the play her part exceedingly well. Yet for all that, there is some grace left that remains to that house. It will be seen all the more clearly when the Lord in his beauty finally appears. Given that you have not seen him or known him just yet, better to leave him alone. Lest in his fury he should arise to smite some such ones as this with a curse.
