Rarely Likeable

Hosea :4-6

They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.

Now I do not know about you, but I find this text to be not in the least bit comforting. Perhaps though it is not meant to be. For it is difficult to speak neither good nor bad until what is determined from the Lord is known. You might know how some do, showing up on the scene like Jonah straight from out of the fish's belly. Then too some of you might well know the other side of it having been once possessed with a spirit of whoredoms yourself. That might be an awful strong word; I almost hesitate to use it. But herein is the place of them which once knew not the Lord. See, this text is all about Hosea sent to minister unto God's people and the grace of God. Were it not for that grace, I do not know where I would be today. So also, these people found having once known not the Lord themselves whatever their condition now. It seems then that the whomsoever will became the whomsoever won't. Then too were they as Hosea's wife, married to the backslider, oh so prone to wander. Yet how many of you know the grace of God is always greater. Even when you know him not, yet he knows you. Even from afar off as the prodigal son found in Luke 15:20, he sees you coming and delights in meeting you. So then, the question is raised, the 'have you known me' of God.

And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.

Is it not funny how pride is a multi-faceted complex thing. Here is the sin that brought Satan down I see. Yet here it is seen almost as a mixed bag. It is like saying 'by his neesings does his light shine' of Job 14:18 when really you are not sure if that light is on or off. Thus, pride which felled the angels has crept in upon them; so also, it has in the church which needeth nothing of Revelation 3:17. Yet at the same time pride and destruction go hand in hand. As Isaiah 14:12-14 states, you cannot exalt yourself to the highest position of God and expect to get away with it. Here the iniquity has gone national if you will. So then, it is not difficult to understand at all. God's place is God's place. I should think if he had wanted you to sit there, he would have made room for you too, would he not. But he has not and here we are. Here is destruction determined of the Lord with only one thing left that can turn it around, himself. See Satan's condition then as that of "a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour."

Some of us are feeling rather eaten as in 1 Peter 5:8, I am afraid. For if the zeal of the Lord's house has swallowed him up, what then will your condition do. That is why when sin crouches at the door of Genesis 4:7, take heed that it does not swallow you instead.

How many of you know that when you are down and out it does not always spell the end. See, the story does not have to be left off that way. That is why I praise a living God and not a dead one at all. For he alone can dust us off and keep on going. He alone has conquered in Revelation 5:5, who has been prevailed upon to break the seal and open the scroll. As the old gospel song says, 'the Lion of Judah who conquered the slain.' But oh my friends, he left as a lamb and he is coming back as a lion. See, the Lamb that "had been slain" will not always be defenseless. What then becomes of the pride made in the image of that One and yet so unlike themself. See how this pride affects not only themselves but some others also as such a thing so often does. Notice how it spills over into Israel, Ephraim, and Judah also. Remember the division between them as seen before. Yet here it is almost a completely different matter. For a little bit of leaven has leavened the whole lump and in sin were these conceived as though by a mother as at first. Given the prophetic nature of the text, I find it somewhat difficult to explain. Yet there is no room for self in the house of the Lord. So then, have all fallen at the hands of a lion with nothing but a pride given to explain whither these have gone. There are two things that are mysterious indeed: the ways of sin and the works of the Lord. See, when you come with your pride, you had better be ready for that of the Lord. Here his work speaks for all.

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

For with the Lion of that tribe, he has an awful lot of prides. See, Psalm 34:10 tells how the Lord provides for even the lions which seek his face. I can almost see him now with all his lionnesses surrounding him from every nation, language, and tongue when he brings all things unto himself. These people with a fierce look upon them left with the heart of the lamb. Some flocks came along with them, but how many of you know that they were his all along. How many of you know that if ever you should try to keep ought for yourself, it may be that the Lord requires it of you again. It should be seen then that of all the leaders and rulers, they have merely been granted stewardship in return for their faithful service. Nor is such unreasonable as Romans 12:1 says. Being counted as a faithful shepherd, to me, is worth more than anything this world has to offer. For it is not at all unseemly in return for flocks and herds that one should seek the Lord. In doing so, may he be found of them. Only here in the text he does not, at least not at first. It is not then that the Lord's hands have been shortened or even that sins have separated themselves from him. Rather it should be seen at the hands of Christ himself the faithful shepherd of our souls in 1 Peter 2:25. Sure, the cup is mixed in the hand of the Lord.

But then again, so it was in the beginning with both blessing and cursing as Joshua in Deuteronomy 30:19 found out. It had been all along. It may so be that when he is sought at the last as at the first that he may be found. So often does pride go that way also once it really gets started. It is that thing which says, ' I come oh Lord and bring myself along with me.' But what then shall God be expected to say, besides a 'come sit down on my throne.' Which is pure and utter nonsense for if we could by ourselves, we would have already. So, we too give ourselves unto him that in due time he may be found. For will not even the curse turn into blessing at the hands of the Lord. Nor will he dishonor himself before the nations. It is then of his mercies and for his name's sake that we are not consumed of Lamentations 3:22. When you shall come by pride or even by yourself it shall be that the Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice. 'Why does Hosea 6:6 say that,' you might ask. He just does it that way. Then will they look on him "whom they have pierced" and "mourn for him" as for their only begotten in Zechariah 12:10. Hear now their earnest questions, 'Master from whence have you got these wounds.' Then shall their King answer in as much as you have done it to the least of these my brethren of Matthew 25:40, you have done so even unto me.