1 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,800 So today's teaching scripture comes from Hosea Chapter 11 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,480 verses one through 9. So when Israel was a child, I 3 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:24,280 loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 4 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,000 The more I called them, the more they went from me. 5 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,000 They kept sacrificing to the bales and offering incense to 6 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,720 idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim 7 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,440 to walk. I took them up in my arms, but 8 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,040 they did not know that I healed them. 9 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,880 I LED them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. 10 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,840 I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. 11 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,520 I bent down to them and fed them. 12 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,920 They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be 13 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,480 their king. Because they have refused to 14 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,680 return to me. The sword rages in their cities. 15 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,400 It consumes their Oracle priests and devours because of their 16 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,360 schemes. My people are bent on turning 17 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,520 away from me to the Most High they call, but he does not raise 18 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:28,400 them up at all. How can I give you up, Ephraim? 19 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:31,720 How can I hand you over, O Israel? 20 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:36,000 How can I make you like Adma? How can I treat you like 21 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:40,360 Zeboyem? My heart recoils within me, my 22 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,080 compassion grows warm and tender. 23 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,120 I will not execute my fierce anger. 24 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:51,000 I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and no 25 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,200 mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in 26 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,920 wrath. This is the word of the Lord. 27 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,680 Hi everybody, I've heard before I start I want to give a shout 28 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,800 out to Tori. For preaching last week on short 29 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,920 notice, she did a tremendous job and had. 30 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:15,280 Like 3 days to prepare because my whole. 31 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,080 Family and I had. The Super flu. 32 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,600 So we decided in lieu of sharing that with you all. 33 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,280 We would. We would, you know, bring, bring 34 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,920 somebody in, so well done. Tori, she's with the kids. 35 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:30,040 But just had to. Had to shout that out so as we. 36 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,640 Begin. I want to just take a moment to 37 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,840 name something that I know is present in our sort of cultural. 38 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,240 Moment. There's a lot. 39 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,440 Happening right now in our. World related to. 40 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,600 Immigration and state power and violence and fear. 41 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,240 And some of it is. Very close to home. 42 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:55,080 And for some of you, this has stirred anxiety and grief and a 43 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,360 sense of vulnerability. And I've just. 44 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:58,920 Heard from people this week who are. 45 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,560 Thinking about this, and so, you know, many of us are holding a 46 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,960 mix of all these things all at once. 47 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,000 Others are trying to make sense of what a faithful response 48 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,640 looks like in the moment that we're living in. 49 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:14,800 And I just want every person here at Central Vineyard, every 50 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:19,440 person listening online to hear. This clearly if you feel. 51 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,800 Afraid or confused by the moment that we're in? 52 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,440 You are not alone, and if you feel angry, that does not make 53 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:35,280 you unfaithful in some way. God loves you and sees you, and 54 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,480 the Holy Spirit is not absent in moments like this. 55 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,360 Far from it as a community shaped. 56 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,840 By the way of Jesus. We hold two things together in 57 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,840 moments like this. We're committed to mercy because 58 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,160 every human person bears the image of God and is worthy of 59 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,920 dignity and care. And we entrust ourselves. 60 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,760 To God's justice for the powers that seek to fracture. 61 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,520 And dominate and diminish life in our world rather than restore 62 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:06,680 it. And so my. 63 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,640 Prayer for U.S. Central. 64 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,280 Vineyard is that. We would be. 65 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,520 People who are marked by mercy and who are learning to. 66 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,920 Be people of peace. And courageous presence without 67 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:24,440 becoming in any way cruel or anxious toward our neighbors. 68 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,400 And I would just want to say if you feel angry or confused in 69 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,920 some way, you are not alone. And this is a moment to grab on 70 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,600 to one another in community. To be able to. 71 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,360 Process through this and share and talk together our team is 72 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,120 aware of what's going on in the world our central community 73 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,200 leaders, our. People who can be trusted as as. 74 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,040 Partners in conversation or in prayer, our prayer teams on 75 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,120 Sundays. So just wanted to put that in 76 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,440 front of us. And so as we turn toward today's 77 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:58,160 scripture, I want you to imagine a society that somehow both 78 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,280 feels confident and sort of brittle at the same time. 79 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,520 Strength is projected and sometimes. 80 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:12,440 Exaggerated by those. Who are in power prosperity is 81 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,560 made visible for some people and. 82 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:20,760 For others, the realities of. Poverty and oppression are as 83 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,120 real as ever. Identity Language. 84 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,160 Is everywhere. Public religion continues, even 85 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,400 intensifies, and it becomes deeply entangled with political. 86 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,240 Life. In ways that threaten to 87 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,760 completely. Hollow it out. 88 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,680 And beneath. The surface of all of this. 89 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:45,040 Fear and uncertainty are quietly organizing everything behind the 90 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,600 scenes. Shows of power. 91 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,320 And international agreements are increasingly mistaken for real 92 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,360 protection. And when people feel threatened 93 00:05:55,360 --> 00:06:00,560 or overwhelmed, they don't stop worshipping or loving or 94 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,880 trusting. They redirect their love toward. 95 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,080 Things that they can touch and see, things that they can hang 96 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,360 onto and feel even more real to them than the presence of God. 97 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:18,040 Our trust shifts toward. Whatever promises us clarity or 98 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,760 certainty or control and. Voices that. 99 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:26,520 Sound decisive or systems that claim that they can fix 100 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,480 everything. We sort of think that somehow 101 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,760 they can. Hold all of this together. 102 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,560 The things that offer security to people become. 103 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,360 Sort of objects of devotion, national symbols, phrases, 104 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,000 particular leaders. And in the case of ancient 105 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,160 Israel in the text. That we just read. 106 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,560 The gods and the idols of their neighbors, these things are 107 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:58,880 trusted and clung to in ways that were once reserved only for 108 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,760 God. What I'm describing to you is 109 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:08,720 the nation that Hosea was writing to was prophesying to in 110 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,400 the 8th century BC. And if it sounds. 111 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,360 Familiar at all? I think that's one of the the 112 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,640 reasons that the prophet has something to say to us right now 113 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,720 in our day. And so the central question that 114 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,000 I want to ask this morning as we look at the Prophet Hosea in our 115 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,520 minor. Prophets series is this. 116 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:35,760 What do we attach ourselves to? When love becomes costly. 117 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,840 Even this week I sort of noticed this in myself. 118 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,320 With a little. Bit of an overloaded nervous 119 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,640 system coming back from illness, feeling a little bit anxious 120 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,360 about everything that needs done and my. 121 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:49,720 To Do List that had. Grown. 122 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,120 While I was away and the state of the world, I caught myself, 123 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:55,680 sort of. Reaching for things that 124 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,360 promised. Control or relief? 125 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,760 In some way, not dramatic things, just small things, but 126 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,520 distraction, busyness, checking the news one more time, the 127 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,600 illusion that if I could just manage a few more small details 128 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,240 well. I'll, I'll feel OK. 129 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,400 Again, I'll sort of feel steady again. 130 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,440 Nothing terrible, nothing shocking, just familiar. 131 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,000 Ways of. Coping that quietly ask 132 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:30,680 something other than God to sort of hold my life together. 133 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:32,520 Can you relate to that? At all. 134 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,080 Have you ever found yourself in that? 135 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,880 Place two or three people. That's good. 136 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:43,320 The things that we reach for can be as concrete as money or 137 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:47,600 pleasure, or as abstract as control or productivity. 138 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,600 Or approval. And. 139 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,400 This is exactly where Hosea. Begins speaking to the people. 140 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,240 Hosea. Is writing to, just for a little 141 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,640 bit of context, the northern Kingdom of Israel during the 142 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,720 reign of King Jeroboam, the second in the 8th century and on 143 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,080 the surface. This was a a period. 144 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:11,480 Of strength and expansion. For the people of Israel, so. 145 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,600 In other words, they would have been looking around going this 146 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,160 seems. Pretty all right, like. 147 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,920 Things seem stable. We're going to be OK. 148 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,520 The economy grew, national confidence was on the rise, and 149 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:30,320 from the outside it. Looked like stability but Hosea 150 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:34,560 as a prophet. Is preaching from inside the 151 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:37,000 underbelly of a prosperous nation. 152 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,280 He has some insight. He has some ideas from. 153 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,760 God about how this whole. Thing might not actually be 154 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,280 going as well as it seems like it is. 155 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,800 And so beneath the surface of what's happening, injustice was 156 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,600 deepening and worship was becoming increasingly entangled 157 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:01,200 with national identity, and the surrounding Pagan worldviews 158 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,320 were sort of encroaching on the way that. 159 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:06,640 The Israelite people. Understood themselves and their 160 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,720 faithful devotion to. Yahweh was sort of 161 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,880 deteriorating. Over time, Hosea is preaching in 162 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,480 the decades. Just before Israel's 163 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:18,440 destruction. And we hear just a little bit of 164 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,080 a hint of. That in the passage that. 165 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,800 Thomas read this morning. The Assyrian Empire to the north 166 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,240 and to the east is is sort of pressing. 167 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,640 Closer and closer to Israel. And Hosea can see what many 168 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,920 others refused to acknowledge, that the strength Israel is 169 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:42,320 relying on is brittle. It will not ultimately save them 170 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,440 the alliances that they're pursuing with other nations. 171 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:51,640 They won't sustain. And within a generation, as 172 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:56,120 Syria will sweep in and completely dismantle the 173 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,000 northern Kingdom, take the people into captivity and in the 174 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,600 passage that Thomas. Read the prophet refers. 175 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:05,560 To the Northern Kingdom. Of Israel also as. 176 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:08,320 Ephraim So when you see that in the text, that's that's the same 177 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,280 thing, but the the people living there will be. 178 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,440 Effectively. Decimated Hosea insists that the 179 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:19,240 tragedy here is not simply. Because Israel made bad 180 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,240 political. Decisions it's that they 181 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,120 misunderstood their identity as a people. 182 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,200 They misunderstood where everything that they. 183 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Had. Everything that they were was 184 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,040 coming from. And so at one point. 185 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,800 God says they set up. Kings without my consent and 186 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,320 they choose Princess, but I do not acknowledge them in Hosea 187 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:39,920 chapter 8. In other words, Israel is 188 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:44,000 organizing its life around powerful people, around power 189 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,640 and strategy and control, and it's sort of masquerading as 190 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,360 faithfulness. And so, in the ancient world, 191 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,800 political alliances were never just. 192 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,800 Political. They always carried religious 193 00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:00,640 expectations so to align. Yourself with other powerful. 194 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,520 Nations meant accommodating the. Worship of their gods. 195 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,280 And so. People. 196 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,040 Who had been called into? Exclusive fidelity. 197 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:16,120 Exclusive faithfulness. To Yahweh found themselves 198 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:21,120 necessarily worshipping other gods as well, to maintain their 199 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,080 sort of political strength and to understand why that mattered 200 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,600 so much. We have to remember why Israel 201 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,240 exists. In the 1st place so. 202 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,320 Over the the the course. Of the entire Hebrew Bible. 203 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,360 We see that Israel. Was not chosen because they were 204 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:41,560 stronger or wiser or more righteous or more important than 205 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:43,880 the other nations around them in any way. 206 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,640 From the very beginning. They were chosen to be 207 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:52,360 different, not for an end unto. Itself, but actually for the 208 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,840 sake of the world. For the sake of the nations, for 209 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,680 the sake of their neighbors, and so when God. 1st called. 210 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:03,800 Abraham, the father of these. People, he said through. 211 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,600 You all the families of the earth. 212 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,080 Will be blessed. And so Israel's vocation, 213 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,080 Israel's job in the world was to be. 214 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,040 People who were shaped by their trust. 215 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:19,320 In God, so that the nations might come to know. 216 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:24,600 What this God was like, the whole idea of their life 217 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:29,240 together was to sort of have a. Society a way of being that 218 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,440 would. Put on display for the peoples 219 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,280 of the world. The kindness and the grace and 220 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,000 the goodness of God. And so when the people. 221 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,440 Of Israel start to give up their worship of Yahweh. 222 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,280 In favor of other Pagan gods. This is why the prophets take 223 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,240 such issue with this, because they're. 224 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,400 They're selling out. They're selling out. 225 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,160 The very reason? That they had to exist. 226 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,120 In the 1st place and so we'll see. 227 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:55,920 As we teach through these prophets. 228 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:58,120 Over the next couple of months. This. 229 00:13:58,120 --> 00:13:59,920 This God, this. Pagan God. 230 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:05,280 Baal or Baal keeps? Showing up and and Baal 231 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:10,360 represents something very different the name itself means 232 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:16,160 Lord or master and this this Pagan God was tied to fertility 233 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,000 and rain and agricultural abundance and so these. 234 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,840 Forces determined whether a society would succeed or 235 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,560 collapse. Keep in mind Yahweh has already 236 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,800 promised. The people of Israel that he'll 237 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,680 care. For them in this way, he'll give 238 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:38,760 them what they need. But Israel looks elsewhere for. 239 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,480 Something that's a little bit easier to see for something 240 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,760 that's a little bit easier to hang on to. 241 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,680 Hosea names the. Tragedy with clarity, God says. 242 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,680 She did not know. That it was I who gave her the. 243 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,520 Grain, the wine and the. Oil, therefore I will take. 244 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,360 Back my grain. In Hosea too, so early. 245 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,080 In this book God. Starts to kind of lay out his 246 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,760 case. Against the people and says. 247 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,920 All these ways. That you've been provided for 248 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,600 all the things that you have, they've come from me, but you've 249 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,680 attributed them to this other God. 250 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,000 And so the issue wasn't ignorance, it was a misdirected. 251 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,800 Trust Israel had. Taken the gifts of God and 252 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:25,560 credited them somewhere else and when Israel loses its 253 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,400 distinctiveness, the. World loses its. 254 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,240 Sign pointing to the kindness of God. 255 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,480 It's important to keep coming back to this because. 256 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,760 This whole issue that the prophets have with Israel. 257 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,280 It's not about. Rule. 258 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,560 Following It's not about legalism, it's about putting the 259 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,520 love and power of God on display for the world in a. 260 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,200 Particular way that would draw people to the love of God. 261 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,840 Does that make sense? OK. 262 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,000 And so? That's why Hosea. 263 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:57,360 Opens what becomes known as the. Book of the 12 to expose this 264 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,880 relational rift. Between Yahweh and His people, 265 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:06,560 Hosea is teaching Israel and teaching us how to understand 266 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,600 God's. Jealousy. 267 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,800 God's. Wounded love for their affection 268 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,400 and God's justice through the lens of the love and the mercy 269 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,640 that's extended to them rather than than legalism or rule. 270 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:25,000 Following the deepest crisis that we see in Israel isn't 271 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,920 their bad behavior. It's not that they don't know 272 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:28,600 how to. Behave. 273 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,680 It's that they have forgotten who they're supposed to. 274 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,480 Be in the sight of. The rest of the world they have 275 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,440 forgotten. Who they are and what they're 276 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,320 meant to show the world. And that's why Hosea. 277 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaks the way that he does. And friends, this to me is. 278 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,920 Where this text becomes so. Relatable. 279 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,320 I mean, I don't know about you. But it is so. 280 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,320 Easy for me in the. Course of my regular everyday 281 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,480 life to sort of look. Around and be knocked off. 282 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,720 Course. And and forget what kind of a 283 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,720 person I'm supposed to be in the world like. 284 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,599 What is supposed to? Be in the very forefront of my 285 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:10,319 mind as I interact with my neighbors, as I think. 286 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:14,040 About just the the the. Situation in the world around me 287 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,520 and how I ought to respond as a faithful person and what are the 288 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,200 things that knock me off course, the things that are a little bit 289 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,079 more tangible, the things that are a little bit more real, 290 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,600 whether it's the balance in my bank account. 291 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,480 Or how secure I feel? In one thing or another. 292 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,640 Or, you know, taking care of of my own before looking to take 293 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,320 care of my neighbors. Whatever it is for you. 294 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,040 I know what some of the things are for me that just sort of 295 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:47,280 distract me from from the the fundamental invitation that 296 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:51,200 comes to me from God to be a person who puts the love and 297 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,240 the. Character of Jesus on display. 298 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,320 In my everyday life. And so this brings us to one of 299 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,680 the most important things to understand about Hosea that. 300 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:01,880 What? What the prophets? 301 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,760 Are calling out as idolatry is not primarily about violating 302 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,760 commands. It's about misplaced attachment. 303 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,840 It's about giving. Our hearts over to powers. 304 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:18,000 That cannot love us in return. And we'll just continue to take 305 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,920 and take and take until we've got nothing left to give. 306 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,800 And so Israel is seeking security and prosperity and 307 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:30,240 identity apart from the God who loves them, apart from the God 308 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,720 who calls them. And in Hosea chapters. 309 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:37,160 One through 3 there's this Fascinating, interesting, 310 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,880 confusing. Story about the prophet God asks 311 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,240 the prophet to embody israel's story through his. 312 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,480 Own life. And so God actually tells Hosea 313 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,480 to marry Gomer, which becomes a living parable. 314 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,320 Gomer is an unfaithful wife to Hosea. 315 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,280 And there's lots of different. Sort of interpretations and 316 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:57,920 ways. That. 317 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:00,280 Commentators. Will will work their way through 318 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,720 this text, but the the. Central important thing to 319 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,120 understand. Is that Gomer? 320 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:08,680 'S unfaithfulness is not just. Personal betrayal. 321 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,080 It mirrors Israel. Turning away from Yahweh and so 322 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:14,160 the. Prophet has this. 323 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,960 Intimate experience of. Sort of the the. 324 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:19,800 The thing about? God's heart, that's. 325 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,520 That's being communicated. Here is this. 326 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,840 This experience of being. Betrayed by his very own. 327 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:29,760 People. This is a God who who stays 328 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:35,320 nonetheless at great cost. And this reveals something. 329 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,240 About God's posture toward. People longing. 330 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,960 For restoration and so. Early in the book. 331 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,120 In the 4th chapter God. Brings what amounts to a legal 332 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:48,960 case against Israel, and so we read. 333 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,160 This. Story about Hosea and Gomer and 334 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,160 what the Lord speaks in there and then we. 335 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,240 Get to chapter 4 and we see that there. 336 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,040 Is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the 337 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,240 land. God says there is. 338 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,320 Only cursing and lying. And bloodshed. 339 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:11,920 But even here, the charge is not just moral. 340 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:17,080 Failure, It's relational. Chapters 4 and. 5 Go on to talk. 341 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,000 About how Israel. No longer knows. 342 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,920 God. And the Hebrew word for knows in 343 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,880 this context. Is yadah it's this. 344 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,480 This like intimate relational knowledge. 345 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:31,400 It's not a it's not a an intellectual ascent. 346 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,960 It's not, oh, we know some some facts about God. 347 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,760 We know what we've been taught about God from from our. 348 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,640 Teachers through the years. It's it's this this deep. 349 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,800 Relational knowledge one of another. 350 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,960 And that broken relationship shows up everywhere. 351 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:55,440 So Israel continues to worship. Yahweh sacrifices are offered. 352 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,560 All the festivals are kept. The religious calendar is. 353 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:05,160 Full, but Hosea exposes the. Emptiness underneath all of it. 354 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,040 And God says in Hosea. Chapter 6. 355 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:12,760 I desire steadfast love. And not sacrifice the knowledge. 356 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,680 Of God. Rather than burnt offerings and 357 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:18,280 I think. The Prophet offers. 358 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:22,920 Something timely to us here as well, friends, you know, we look 359 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,080 around and and I. Love the church. 360 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:26,680 I believe God loves the whole. Church. 361 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:33,520 But I think we can agree that all around us we can sort of see 362 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:38,120 displays of empty religious devotion that are just. 363 00:21:38,120 --> 00:21:41,520 Devoid of the heart of God that are devoid of. 364 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:43,600 What we know of the love of Jesus. 365 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,720 And I don't want to be so arrogant to think that we can be 366 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:52,000 exempt from that in this House. And so when I read this text, I 367 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,880 just become. Aware of the ways that. 368 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,640 You know, our attention can so easily be drawn toward making 369 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,840 sure that, that the program is just right or making sure that 370 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,240 that this thing gets done just and listen, you know, I'm I'm 371 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,320 here for doing a good job. I'm all about that stuff. 372 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,280 But what a helpful. Reminder directly from. 373 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,840 Hosea God desires steadfast love, not empty. 374 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,160 Sacrifice the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 375 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,080 And So what a helpful check right on our process, on our 376 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:23,440 day-to-day. Our week to week. 377 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,240 Why is it that we're doing what we're doing? 378 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,400 Why is it that we're showing up in the spaces that we're? 379 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,920 Showing up in. Is it for steadfast love of God? 380 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,960 I hope so. So religious. 381 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:39,360 Activity among these. People has replaced faithfulness 382 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,080 and. Israel is still doing God 383 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,080 things. But their. 384 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:49,040 Hearts are no longer oriented. Toward God himself, Hosea. 385 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,880 Will not allow. Israel to reduce this to a 386 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,360 behavioral issue. I appreciate how often the 387 00:22:56,360 --> 00:22:59,000 prophets keep. Returning to speaking about the. 388 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,000 Heart of the People. You know, so often we can kind 389 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,280 of get tricked into thinking that. 390 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,280 The Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, right? 391 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,640 It's about the law or it's about rules, or it's about you know. 392 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,320 This thing or that? But what it's about is just. 393 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,320 God becoming king of these people, God consistently calling 394 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,600 them back to devotion and faithfulness to to God and. 395 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,960 So the problem is is. Who and what they're loving, who 396 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,360 they're turning to when fear rises up in them and life. 397 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:31,880 Feels a little bit fragile. Is it? 398 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:34,840 Is it a? A wooden or stone or gold idol 399 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,760 that they can touch with their hands and feel some kind of 400 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:41,280 security and sort of run the the test, right? 401 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,240 We made the sacrifice. We did the thing, we prayed the 402 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:45,920 prayer. And so now we're going to watch. 403 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,200 And you know, if the rain comes, then we know it worked. 404 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:49,880 And if it doesn't, then it didn't. 405 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,720 But God calls them to something that's. 406 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:54,640 Actually a little bit harder to track. 407 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,440 It's a little bit harder to sort of. 408 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,720 Measure. Because it's about an attitude 409 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,520 toward the love of God. And so as God continues. 410 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,840 To lay out the case. Against the people of Israel. 411 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,360 We see this stuff. About political alliances, Hosea 412 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:13,880 names. The ways that this rupture shows 413 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,000 up. Politically, we'll see this on 414 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,760 an even deeper level when we look at the prophet Amos next 415 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,360 week. But Ephraim feeds on the wind, 416 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,360 God says, and pursues the east wind all day long. 417 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:28,600 What's that mean? That's weird. 418 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:33,880 They're not eating the wind. They're looking to the stronger 419 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,080 kingdoms to the east. That's basically what he's 420 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,480 trying to say is that. There's there's a force. 421 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:40,960 To the east of the Northern Kingdom. 422 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,680 That they have, sort of. Aligned themselves with for 423 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,560 security and and it goes on to say. 424 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,000 They make a treaty. With Assyria and send olive. 425 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:50,920 Oil to. Egypt. 426 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:54,560 So the striking image Israel is restless. 427 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,480 And anxious and constantly shifting from 1:00. 428 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,040 Source of authority to another Syria. 429 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,360 To to the northeast and. Egypt to the southwest. 430 00:25:03,360 --> 00:25:06,200 Looking to these stronger kingdoms to sort of protect them 431 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:10,480 and give them something that ultimately God says only I can 432 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:16,160 give you rather than trusting. Yahweh Israel is. 433 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:20,840 Hedging its bets against what might come against them. 434 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,600 These alliances are not strategic decisions only. 435 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,760 They're acts of trust. It's a people literally saying. 436 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:31,600 This we're we're. Pushing all of our chips in 437 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,920 here. Not, not Yahweh. 438 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:37,800 Not the grace of God. That's come to us through the 439 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,320 centuries, but actually. These these other outside 440 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:42,760 forces. That we feel like will. 441 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,160 Be more faithful to protect us. Than the God who loves. 442 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,960 US. And beneath God's. 443 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,160 Critique all the way. Through the reason that I I 444 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,240 picked this passage from chapter. 11 That we read as our 445 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:02,080 key text is God's heartbreak. When Israel was a. 446 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:06,240 Child, I loved him, God says. But the more I called them, the 447 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,120 more they went from me. So this is not the. 448 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:13,520 Voice of a detached ruler. This isn't the voice of. 449 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,600 An angry, distant God speaking to the people. 450 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,280 This is the voice. Of a parent who's watching a 451 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,280 child. Slowly drift away from them. 452 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,880 Israel has taken the gifts of God and credited them. 453 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,120 To Bale's. Account they've mistaken 454 00:26:31,120 --> 00:26:34,560 provision for permission to walk away. 455 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,840 From a way of life. That they've been called to and 456 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,280 God names. This to tell the truth about 457 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:40,920 what's happening to their hearts. 458 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,320 But God does not abandon the. Relationship with his people, 459 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,480 God. Is not interested in surface 460 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:52,040 level reform or religious performance, and that's why 461 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,560 Hosea is so honest about the human condition. 462 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:59,360 He's never simplistic, but Israel's unfaithfulness and 463 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,920 political alliances aren't treated as unique moral 464 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,160 failures. They're presented as emblematic 465 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:09,000 of something that's deeply human that we can all sort. 466 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,360 Of relate to over and over and over. 467 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:16,040 Again, God names the pattern underneath Israel's wandering. 468 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:22,160 My people are determined to turn from me, God says in Hosea 469 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,720 chapter. 11 They they call out to the most high. 470 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:29,680 But he is not exalted among them, and so Hosea gives us one 471 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:33,520 of the most vivid images. When he describes Israel as a 472 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:37,720 dove, easily deceived. And senseless now calling to 473 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,720 Egypt, now turning to Assyria. And it's this image of 474 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:46,720 restlessness, people sort of unable to sit still, unable. 475 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,680 To really. Trust anything in a deep way, 476 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,400 just flitting from one source of security to another, never 477 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,040 settling, never resting, always sort of scanning the horizon for 478 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,120 the next thing that might keep them safe. 479 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,440 And so again, you know, this can sound really distant from our 480 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,080 everyday lives when we read this sort. 481 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,560 Of stuff a prophet. To an ancient nation, but I mean 482 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,520 for me. Like I've talked about, Rita's 483 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,480 frozen. Custard on Henderson Rd. before 484 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:20,720 and. This is this is like really how 485 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:22,720 how it? Gets us, you know, like that's. 486 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:23,920 Where? That's where I go. 487 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:25,880 To find a. Little bit of security or a 488 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,800 little bit of peace. So I don't know about you, but 489 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:30,560 you know, maybe it's just like the the quick. 490 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:35,840 Doomscroll on the toilet. Maybe it's, you know, whatever. 491 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,440 I don't. Know I don't know what it is for 492 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:41,360 you, but this is the attitude of the heart that the Prophet is 493 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,240 talking. About and so you know. 494 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:44,840 I get. That you're probably not making 495 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,880 political alliances in your day-to-day life. 496 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:52,000 Maybe you are, I don't know. What you're into, but the things 497 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,120 that sort of take our attention from one thing to another, think 498 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:00,440 about the things that keep you from concentrating on something 499 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:02,600 that you really want to sort of focus on. 500 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,520 Whether it's like. Reading a book or doing some 501 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:08,280 meaningful deep work or whatever it might be in your mind just 502 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:09,960 sort of goes from one place to another. 503 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,680 Feeling reminded of this thing and that in the news or in your 504 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:14,680 in your. Life. 505 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:17,520 These are the things. That sort of pull. 506 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:19,560 At our, at our attention, at our heart, and. 507 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,560 Keep us from really. Being able to lean in and. 508 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:24,960 Hear what it is that. God might be saying to us. 509 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,000 And so this is how Wandering works and one of my favorite 510 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,960 novels of all time. Jaber Crow by. 511 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:38,040 Wendell Berry. I don't know how many. 512 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,560 Wendell Berry. Readers, we. 513 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,040 Have in the room but. Just incredibly worthwhile. 514 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,720 Do do read it, he says. The world is full of preachers. 515 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:51,880 That have never learned to be satisfied and you know when when 516 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:58,000 fear rises in us when some kind of insecurity rises in us, our 517 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,000 trust. Doesn't disappear, it just 518 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,720 relocates. We just sort of move it to the 519 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,680 the thing that. Feels the closest, feels the 520 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,120 real estate to us we attach ourselves to. 521 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:13,760 Systems, ideologies, identities, coping mechanisms that promise 522 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:18,240 certainty and protection even if they can't love us in return. 523 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:26,200 Hosea says Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning in 524 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:27,840 chapter. 8IN other words, Israel. 525 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,440 Keeps building more. Places to put their hope. 526 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:33,960 You know, you can just sort of imagine this kind of frantic 527 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,920 ancient society that's. Building altars to other gods. 528 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:39,640 Thinking you know if. We just go over. 529 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:43,280 Here and we build another altar. Like maybe the crop will be 530 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:48,080 better next year. And there's just more, more 531 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:52,760 strategies to manage their anxiety, more structures to try 532 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,040 to guarantee outcomes for themselves. 533 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,320 We haven't changed. As people, there's, there's. 534 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:02,280 Very little that's different about them and us, apart from 535 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,960 our place and time. And so really, what's. 536 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,080 Striking to me. About all of this is how God. 537 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,360 Ends up responding. To the people. 538 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:16,480 There is no detached disappointment, there's no cold 539 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:20,480 resignation in the response that we hear from God. 540 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,880 God speaks with grief. This isn't the. 541 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,080 Voice of a God. Who's fed up and angry with the? 542 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:31,360 People or. Lashing out in some way. 543 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:33,800 It's the voice of a God who's heartbroken. 544 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,240 God is. Grieving because Israel no 545 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,200 longer knows. Where to rest their trust? 546 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,320 And they don't see. Why it is that they're? 547 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:47,280 Wandering away and so when? Hosea calls Israel to return. 548 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,920 He's not calling them. To try harder. 549 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:54,440 Or to clean. Themselves up or to adopt 550 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,560 another new strategy. For trying to get themselves. 551 00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:00,640 Back on track. He's not issuing a demand for 552 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,960 moral improvement. He's naming A relational 553 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,680 movement toward the One. Who they have slowly. 554 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,360 Drifted away from. Come, let us return to the Lord. 555 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:14,240 For He has torn us, that he may. Heal us he has. 556 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,960 Struck us down and he will bind us up. 557 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:22,280 That sentence alone tells you what kind of return from the 558 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:24,680 people. That God is really after this is 559 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,600 a God who is offering. Healing who is offering 560 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:35,040 nearness, restoration, attachment to the people, not 561 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:39,240 abandonment, not rejection. All. 562 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:44,720 Of this is in service. To restoration and notice how 563 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:47,440 close. God is in this invitation, in 564 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:51,920 the language that's used. God doesn't stand at a distance 565 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,160 waiting. For Israel to fix itself. 566 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:57,320 God does not stand at a distance waiting for you. 567 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:01,560 To fix yourself, God moves toward the people. 568 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:05,360 God speaks, God allures, it says. 569 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,960 One place in the text God makes the first move return in. 570 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,840 Hosea is not climbing your way back to God. 571 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:14,960 It is. Responding to a God. 572 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:19,080 Who is already near? And so when Israel does return, 573 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,320 even imperfectly, God leans in immediately. 574 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,160 I will. Heal their waywardness and love 575 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:29,320 them freely. It says, For my anger has turned 576 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,640 from them. The initiative belongs to God. 577 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,120 The healing belongs. To God the love. 578 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,680 Of God is given freely, it's not earned by the. 579 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:38,960 People. And so this. 580 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,040 Is why Hosea keeps. Circling back to the same. 581 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,240 Truth that the work that. God's doing is. 582 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:46,760 Deeper than behavior modification, it's. 583 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,000 Deeper than just doing a better. Job, God is not interested. 584 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:57,320 In surface compliance, God is healing the things inside of us. 585 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,080 That are sort of disordered. That are aimed in the wrong 586 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:03,560 direction Israel needs. A restored. 587 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:07,760 Attachment A secure attachment to someone they can trust, We 588 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:09,920 need. A restored attachment and a 589 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:13,880 secure attachment. To someone we can trust and when 590 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,280 I. Look out at the world. 591 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,280 And I consider my life and I. Consider the story of the. 592 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:25,920 Scriptures the one sure thing. Is the love of Jesus. 593 00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:29,520 Who puts on? Display this God who absorbs. 594 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:34,960 The betrayal of the humans. So at this point you might be 595 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:39,920 thinking this is a compelling expose on Ancient. 596 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:43,080 Israel. But what could this possibly 597 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:47,760 have to do with me and I just? Want to invite you to lean into 598 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:49,560 that question. As we teach. 599 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:50,480 Through the minor. Prophets. 600 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,440 Because that's actually a really. 601 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:54,719 Easy and sort of common thought to have. 602 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,600 There's a lot of weird. Stuff going on in the prophets 603 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,240 and when we read them, it can kind of be like what? 604 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:03,080 Like what this is? Really weird, like I have no 605 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,320 idea why I would be. Reading this ancient text from 606 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:08,760 an ancient society on the. Other side of the world. 607 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:12,440 That's dealing with their, you know, political alliances, and 608 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:14,000 they're worshipping other. Gods and. 609 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:18,040 All of this stuff but one of the most compelling things to me. 610 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,920 About Hosea right at the. Beginning of the Minor Prophets 611 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:23,440 right at the beginning of the Book of the 12. 612 00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:28,600 Is that it? Closes with this this line at. 613 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,040 The end of the book after all the. 614 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:33,120 Poetry and the accusations, the grief, the longing. 615 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:37,360 Hosea closes with what sounds like, and most commentators 616 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,000 agree is actually an editor's note. 617 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,760 So Hosea is like a. Collection of Think of. 618 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,320 It as like Hosea's greatest hits. 619 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:47,840 So a lot of people would say this is like. 620 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:51,760 You know, he had a long career prophesying to Israel, and this 621 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:54,480 is a collection of. Some of his greatest prophecies. 622 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,440 And one of the. Scribes who collected. 623 00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:59,720 All of these sayings. Together likely added this 624 00:35:59,720 --> 00:36:02,040 little. Addendum to the end of the book 625 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,720 and it. Says those who are wise. 626 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:06,880 Understand these things. Those who are. 627 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,160 Discerning know them for the. Ways of the Lord are right and 628 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:11,560 the. Righteous walk in them, but 629 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:17,840 transgressors stumble in them. Why would we have? 630 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,400 Added this to the. Very end of the book. 631 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:22,560 What we? See. 632 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:27,680 Is that the intent of? I would say this prophet. 633 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:30,760 And all the prophets. Is to. 634 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,000 Teach us how to recognize. The. 635 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:35,680 Ways of God when we encounter them in our own lives. 636 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:39,960 Hosea's poetry is not locked in the past. 637 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,080 And what I think this passage is saying is it's it's revealing 638 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:44,920 something about. The character of God. 639 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,520 That we're being invited to discern alongside. 640 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:51,200 The prophets as we read. These books. 641 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,200 So, you know, there are like little parts of the scriptures I 642 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:55,560 don't know if you've ever heard it said. 643 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,120 Of the Bible, You know it. Was it was written for? 644 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:02,560 Us, but was not written to us. In other words, the intended 645 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:04,600 audience of most. Of these texts was. 646 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:08,440 You know people in a different place and time, and so while 647 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:11,360 it's written for your benefit, it's not written to you. 648 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,560 But then there are like little bits like this. 649 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,400 That I actually think are written to you. 650 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,800 And so I just think it's really fascinating to consider, you 651 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:21,000 know? Whoever this was, that would 652 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:22,400 have collected. Hosea's writings. 653 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,120 Together, whether it was Hosea. Himself or one of his students. 654 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,520 Thought it necessary to just. Say, right here at the very end 655 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,680 of this book. This is This is for you. 656 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,560 This is for your benefit. As you consider this. 657 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:37,600 Sort of across space. And time. 658 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,680 There's something timeless. There's something universal. 659 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:44,320 About God's character. That you ought to learn from 660 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:48,040 what's written here. And so throughout this book, God 661 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:50,560 speaks as a. Grieving parent A. 662 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,320 Betrayed lover, A faithful spouse. 663 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:56,640 God doesn't say I'll tolerate you if you behave better. 664 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,760 God says I will betrothe you to me forever. 665 00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,360 And the. Betrayal of the people. 666 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:08,840 It doesn't get erased. God absorbs it and the witness. 667 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:11,520 Of the New Testament makes this pattern even clearer if. 668 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:15,880 Hosea shows us God's heart. Jesus shows us God's heart. 669 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:20,160 Embodied Jesus doesn't contradict Hosea in any way. 670 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,760 He. Fulfills what Hosea has to say 671 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:24,600 about the character of God. And so. 672 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:28,320 Where Hosea reveals a God. Who is wounded by 673 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:33,400 unfaithfulness? Jesus reveals that that same. 674 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:37,480 God stays present to unfaithfulness. 675 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,280 All. The way to the end. 676 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:41,680 Quoting from the Prophet. Isaiah. 677 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:45,240 Matthew's Gospel. Says of Jesus here. 678 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:49,240 Is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom 679 00:38:49,240 --> 00:38:50,880 my. Soul is well pleased. 680 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:55,320 I will put my spirit upon him and he will proclaim justice to 681 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:56,960 the Gentiles. He will not. 682 00:38:56,960 --> 00:39:00,440 Wrangle or cry aloud nor. Will anyone hear his voice in 683 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:01,640 the streets? He will not. 684 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:05,800 Break a bruised Reed or. Quench A smoldering Wick until 685 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:07,800 he. Brings justice to victory. 686 00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:13,440 And in his name, the Gentiles will hope so, rather than 687 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:17,560 retaliating against the betrayal of the humans. 688 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:22,320 God in Christ absorbs it. Rather than abandoning 689 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:25,600 unfaithful. People God stays because the God 690 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:28,680 who speaks. In Hosea is the same God that we 691 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:31,640 meet in. Jesus, as we read the Gospels 692 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:36,400 and the cross, is the clearest word that he has ever spoken. 693 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:40,080 About his character and so. Hosea teaches us that the. 694 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,040 Ultimate reality underneath what the. 695 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:46,000 Prophets have to say about. Judgment and betrayal and 696 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:50,000 wandering is not some kind of divine withdrawal. 697 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,120 It's not some kind of distant God. 698 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:57,560 It's God's relentless love finally revealed in. 699 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:03,720 Jesus Christ who absorbs betrayal rather than returning. 700 00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:09,040 It and so as we come to the end of the text, I'm going to invite 701 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:13,320 our worship team back up and I just want to invite you to pause 702 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,960 for a moment and reflect. With a. 703 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:24,280 Little bit of honesty where your loves might be misaligned right 704 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:28,200 now, what kind of attachment might? 705 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:31,760 God be just. Gently loosening, not to punish 706 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:33,920 you in some way, but to come really. 707 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:35,280 Close. And to. 708 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:40,120 Free you. Where are you bruised? 709 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,120 Love that. Where where does your? 710 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:49,400 Where does your? Flame feel like it's barely 711 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:54,560 burning, like a smoldering Wick. Like a bruised Reed, Hosea. 712 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:56,920 Reminds. Us that God isn't surprised. 713 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:00,440 When we wander away, when we sort of reach for other 714 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,600 attachments, when we look for other things that make us feel a 715 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:08,400 little bit more secure. God meets us precisely in those 716 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:14,000 places where our love has. Grown tired and so. 717 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,240 As we prepare to worship, I just want. 718 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:18,720 To invite you to stand if you're able. 719 00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:26,320 And I want to pray for. All of us together if if you 720 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:30,800 where faith. Feels thin in some way right 721 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:32,880 now. I want you to know that you are 722 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,200 not. Disqualified. 723 00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:37,080 From experiencing the love and the presence of God. 724 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,280 If you. Feel conflicted if you're not. 725 00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:44,840 Quite sure where your trust is. You're not alone, and the 726 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:47,320 invitation is not to fix yourself. 727 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,920 It's not to do better. It's not to make promises that 728 00:41:50,920 --> 00:41:53,680 you're not sure you can keep. It's simply. 729 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:57,920 To return return your attention, return your affection your. 730 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:02,640 Trust your love back to the. God, who has never stopped 731 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:05,720 turning toward you. So. 732 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,640 Come, Holy Spirit. Lord, I pray just as we, as we 733 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:14,360 worship, as we pray together, that you would be. 734 00:42:14,720 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaking that you would be moving, you'd be giving us 735 00:42:17,960 --> 00:42:20,400 everything we need. You know the intimate. 736 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:26,120 Details of our lives. You know where we wander, where 737 00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:28,680 we feel insecure, where we feel unsure. 738 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:33,480 Where our faith is weak, thank God. 739 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:36,200 I pray that you would come and. You would give. 740 00:42:36,240 --> 00:42:39,840 Each person in this room. Who needs the? 741 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:44,040 Assurance of your kindness. Taste of that this morning.