No one who has walked the Earth spoke truer and more profound words than Jesus. Yet it was His words, along with His actions, that led to His execution on a Roman cross.
Jesus assured His faithful followers that they would also face persecution for their words, just as prophets such as Hosea did.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5.11-12).
Hosea – Typical of the Prophets
In today’s political climate and frequently on social media, when someone cannot refute another person’s logic, they often attack the person’s character, motives, or other attributes instead of addressing the argument itself.
This also happened to Hosea, other prophets, and Jesus. They said this about Hosea.
Israel will cry out,
“The prophet is a fool;
the man of the spirit is mad!”
Because of your great iniquity,
your hostility is great. (Hosea 9.7)
Some critics of Hosea may have attracted followers by claiming that the prophet was a fool or insane. However, God was aware of the truth: they attacked the prophet due to their own significant iniquity.
When we read or hear the vitriol of public figures, we should pause and question: Do these statements stem from a thoughtful understanding of life, or are they born out of the wickedness in their hearts?
While we are not their judges, we also are not obliged to echo their outlandish remarks.
Join the Prophets
The unique characteristic of the prophets lay in their departure from the city’s noise and culture to find a place where they could clearly see and hear God’s actions.
The prophet is a sentinel for my God over Ephraim,
yet a hunter’s snare is on all his ways
and hostility in the house of his God. (Hosea 9.8)
A sentinel stood guard at the perimeter of the city, looking outward to spot the approaching enemy and warn the inhabitants.
Fulfilling the job of a sentinel and joining the noise and activity of the city simultaneously is impossible. They must be willing to live apart from the noise of the crowd.
We would do well to follow the prophets’ example, seeking a quiet place to comprehend God’s works, allowing us to join Him in His activity in the world.
Necessarily, the Prophet is not involved in the community’s affairs. Instead, the Prophet discerns God’s will and warns the community about issues they might be oblivious to.
Tragically, the community often dismisses the Prophet’s words, labeling him a fool, instead of listening and aligning their lives with the truth revealed by God.
Today’s verses from Hosea urge us to align ourselves with the Prophet rather than with the surrounding world.
Let’s read the words of the Prophet and the teachings of Jesus, and let’s communicate with God about current events to ensure we are on the right path.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 