Imagine appearing in a court where God serves as both the prosecutor and the judge, and you are unquestionably guilty. Hosea Chapter 4 presents this very scenario.
Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel,
for the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or loyalty
and no knowledge of God in the land. (Hosea 4.1)
God uses three keywords, central to Israel’s history, as a plumb line to judge their response to His covenant with them.
(1) Faithfulness is not just belief, but an active steadfastness or loyalty that is often related to being trustworthy in relationships, whether it’s between people or between people and God.
When God looks for this kind of faithfulness or loyalty, His judgment is, there is none.
(2) Loyalty is a keyword for God’s people.
“Loyalty” is often used in Hebrew to describe a deep, loving, and merciful bond, and is considered a fundamental characteristic of God’s interaction with the world. As such, it is also to be found in God’s people.
As the prosecuting attorney, God searches for faithfulness, kindness, and mercy among His people. Regrettably, He finds none.
(3) Knowledge is more than just intellectual knowledge; it often implies an intimate understanding or wisdom.
It is sometimes used to denote deep, experiential, and relational knowledge, especially in the context of knowing God or understanding His ways.
Loving someone is the deepest and most meaningful way to know them. God’s foremost commandment required this, but His people failed miserably to uphold it.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deuteronomy 6.5).
Substitutes for Faithfulness and Kindness
God’s people neglected faithfulness and kindness and committed clear violations of the covenant He established with them through the Ten Commandments.
Swearing, lying, and murder,
and stealing and adultery break out;
bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Hosea 4.2)
Swearing and lying correspond to the ninth commandment, which isn’t about uttering swear words after hitting your thumb with a hammer or telling a white lie.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20.16).
More often, it involves dishonesty in business and the judicial system for personal gain.
God provided the Ten Commandments to help His people create the best possible world for our well-being. Breaking these commandments disrupts our ability to live peacefully with each other.
Commandments six through eight against murder, adultery, and stealing are essential elements to the well-being of humanity.
Studying Hosea is more than just learning history. Its relevance, as true 2,700 years ago as it is with today’s events in America and globally, shows that breaking God’s commandments endangers us.
Consequently, both humans and the earth suffer.
The Results of a Broken Covenant
When we break our covenant with God, it disrupts not only our relationship with Him but also our relationships with others.
I have officiated several funerals for individuals who died violently. The families endure immense pain and suffering, mourning their loved ones who prematurely died due to violence.
Consider the impact of the broken covenant on just one city, Kansas City. As of November 7, 2023, violence has claimed 225 lives, reflecting one city’s profound suffering.
In the courtroom setting, God acts as the prosecutor, highlighting the significant consequences when faithfulness and kindness are replaced by the sins mentioned in verse 2.
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who live in it languish;
together with the wild animals
and the birds of the air,
even the fish of the sea are perishing. (Hosea 4.3)
When Toni and I visit California, I walk along General Jim Moore Boulevard. To my right, a barbed-wire fenced field with warning signs forbids entry.
This vast area remains unusable because it once served as a testing ground for army munitions.
Reflect on the damage wars in 2023 are inflicting on the earth. Consider the years fields will remain hazardous due to unexploded ordinances.
This is but one illustration of how the earth, like humans, mourns when we violate God’s covenant.
Our Response
Every Bible study should prompt a personal response. Merely recognizing a problem and lamenting the world’s poor state isn’t enough. Instead, we can take action by:
(1) Living in covenant with God ourselves.
(2) Praying for global events and seeking God’s mercy for all people.
(3) Striving to be as good as we can, acting lovingly towards those around us.
These steps represent a starting point for meaningful change.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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