Pleasure is a common pursuit of all people. Noone goes after a short lived pleasure but rather a pleasure that will last a long time. In today’s study we would explore pleasure that lasts forever. Today we would be looking at Hosea 7
In this study, the tools we would use for this study are
- Who, What, When, Where, and How tool
- What does it mean?
- How does it apply to me today?
So let’s dig in and turn the bible to Hosea 7
Who, What, When, Where, and How tool
Israel seems to be a repeat cycle of sinning, God healing them when calamity came on them. And when there is a form of relief, Israel goes back to sinning.
Their practise of deceit has led to the unsafe condition of its people in their homes and on the street of Israel. However, Israel continued in their sin and that sin became exposed. Not only did Israel delight in their sin, they also influenced others to delight in them as well.
They are so inflamed in their sin it’s like a hot oven that needs not to be stoke to heat up. And they find their passion from their wickedness. Their disregard of God’s law entered into Israel’s corridor of leadership. As their kings, and princes join in.
Ephraim ( which is a tribe within Israel) is left weak from their continued sin. Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
They become easily deceived and senseless.Rather than turn to God, in arrogracne Israel seeks help from their long ago enemies Egypt and Assyria.
Their actions brought destruction on them, Israel called out to God with her mouth but her heart was far away from God. As Israel was still calling out to the one true God, she was also sacrificing to Idols.
That which they had received from God, they used to plot evil against God
Their leaders are destroyed and Israel is ridiculed in Egypt where they thought they would find assistance.
What does (this passage ) mean?
As God was healing Israel, the sins and crimes of the inhabitant of Israel are revealed.
Ephraim and Samaria are states within the nation of Israel.
They sin before the Lord. As they celebrate their wickedness and become famous or acclaimed for their deceit. Their leaders do not call on God.
Israel mixed the worship of Jehovah with the worship of idols. Israel idol worshipping breeds wickedness to her own detriment Israel loses her strength and wisdom. They are unaware of their deplorable state. She becomes agrogrance and rather than return to Jehovah on God’s terms, Israel seeks help from her enemies. This is Israel’s downfall.
In the midst, Israel turns to idols rather than to God. Even though it was God who trained them and formed them as a nation they do not turn back to God.
Israel became a flat loaf not turned over. Half baked bread, burnt on one side and uncooked on the other side. Not fit for purpose. This became the state of Israel when they mixed the worship of Jehovah with the worship of idols
How does it apply to me today?
In Hosea 7 in the midst of their troubles as a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God wholeheartedly. They cherished their sin. To seek God would mean to give up their sinful ways.
Like in Hebrews 11:25 & Psalms 16:11b
He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
These scripture points out the choice a person has to continue to indulge in the pleasures of sin or choose of the pleasures that come from the presence of God.
As a nation or a people or a person the question is does the pleasure of sin outweigh the pleasure of God’s presence?
Are you or am I serving God and idols? While people may not necessarily take a clay object and bow to it. Whatever person, thing or pursuit that takes the place of God in one’s life is an idol. That is why the first commandment is that you will have no other God besides me.
As I look, is my pursuit and worship of Jehovah first? Or have I in the pursuit of having a fulfilling life toppled the order of things? It is time to reevaluate those things we pursue. Does God , the pursuit of God, the worship of God take number one place? Are all other pursuits submitted to the decrees of God?
Or has an idol or idols crept into our lives? Are we willing and humble to go back to God and realign our pursuit of our worship of Him, the conduct of our lives according to God’s?
Or are we so wise that we think we can figure this out all by our intelligent selfs?
God longs to heal and be gracious to His children, but we have to come to Him with our hearts and mouth wholeheatherly, Not mixing God’s wisdom and direction with that of the world.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. And may we seek You Lord wholeheartedly. Amen.