Jesus told His followers, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (Matthew 5.13).
Salt cannot lose its saltiness without giving up its fundamental nature.
When followers of Jesus fail to represent His teachings, attitudes, and actions in the world, we lose the defining characteristics that identify us with Him.
What Hosea said in the 8th century B.C. remains appropriate for today. Let’s first explore Hosea’s message and then apply it to today’s followers of Jesus.
Prophets and Priests are Guilty
The clergy is supposed to know God’s will, live by His will, and teach it to the people. When we fail to do that, we stand condemned before God’s justice.
Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.
You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night,
and I will destroy your mother. (Hosea 4.4-5)
Lack of Knowledge
The clergy are condemned because they no longer possess the knowledge of God that they are supposed to give to His followers. They no longer have it, not because it’s unavailable, but because they have rejected it.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge!
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me;
and since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4.6)
Paul makes this point clear: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
“For though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless hearts were darkened” (Romans 1.19 and 21).
Why did they reject knowledge and forget the law of God? Fundamentally, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him. They no longer possessed the knowledge of God or understood His plan and purposes for them.
The Profit Motive
Several behaviors practiced by the clergy are at the root of forgetting God and being unaware of His will.
The more they increased,
the more they sinned against me;
they changed their glory into shame.
They feed on the sin of my people;
they are greedy for their iniquity.
And it shall be like people, like priest;
I will punish them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.
They shall eat but not be satisfied;
they shall prostitute themselves but not multiply,
because they have forsaken the Lord
to devote themselves to prostitution. (Hosea 4.7-10)
In Hosea’s time, prophets and priests tailored their messages to suit the desires of royalty and the wealthy.
They instructed the people and implemented ordinances that enabled royalty and the wealthy to further enrich themselves.
Years ago, I heard the saying that after a pastor has been in a church for three years, his theology becomes that of the congregation. I always saw that as a warning and a push to remain faithful to the Lord.
Hosea observes that the people have adopted the clergy’s self-serving ways, straying from their duty to serve God.
The clergy, including prophets and priests, are expected to devote themselves to God. However, they have instead chosen to align themselves with Baal, betraying their commitment to what Hosea calls, “prostitution.”
Our Response
I have been a member of the clergy since 1968. I take personally what God said through Hosea for my self-reflection. The best way I can respond to His words is to slowly go through the Gospels.
Recently, I’ve been reading the Sermon on the Mount. It is a great place for us to look at what God wants us to know and how He wants us to respond. As I walk through that, I’ve found there are ways that He wants to adjust my life to His will. I would encourage you to do the same.
Even though you may not be a clergy person, you have a role of representing God with people in your circle of influence.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage from Hosea on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 