Read Hosea 4:1-10
Questions from the Scripture text: What is commanded in Hosea 4:1a? Who is commanded (verse 1b)? What is He speaking, that they must hear (verse 1c)? What two things re missing (verse 1d)? Why—what else is missing (verse 1e)? What five habits demonstrate this (Hosea 4:2a–b)? Which is especially unchecked (verse 2c–d)? Therefore, what will mourn (Hosea 4:3a)? And who will waste away (verse 3b)? And what (verse 3c–e)? What mustn’t anyone do (Hosea 4:4a)? Why, what are they like (verse 4b)? So who stumbles, even when (Hosea 4:5a)? And even who stumbles (verse 5b)? And what will the Lord do to whom (verse 5c)? Why are the people being destroyed (Hosea 4:6a)? How have they come to the point where they do not know Him (verse 6b)? How will the Lord respond (verse 6c)? What have they forgotten (verse 6d)? Whom will He forget (verse 6e)? What had God done for them (Hosea 4:7a)? And what did they respond by doing to Him (verse 7b)? So, what will He now do to them (verse 7c)? What do they eat up (Hosea 4:8a)? Upon what do they set their heart (verse 8b)? Who will share in the same response from God (Hosea 4:9)? What will He take from them (Hosea 4:10a)? What will He frustrate (verse 10b)? Why (verse 10c)?#
What does forgetfulness of God deserve? Hosea 4:1–10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that forgetfulness of God deserves to be forgotten and given over our sin, but God is gracious when, rather than giving us over to our sin, He frustrates us in our pursuit of it.
The Court Calls to Order, Hosea 4:1a. The first half of the verse appears small and insignificant. This is all the more reason to draw it out on its own. Otherwise, we might miss what a grave thing is going on here. What will follow is not news-reporting. It is not even “point of view” at the end of the news cast. These are not social comments made by an appalled, upstanding citizen. This is the Word of Yahweh, and He begins by declaring that there is a formal dispute between Himself and the people.
The Charges Read, Hosea 4:1b. The words translated “truth” and “mercy” have a much broader meaning. Most importantly, they are two singular attributes of YHWH. The “knowing” here has at least three aspects. We are quite familiar with objective knowledge, knowing about something. There is also personal, intimate knowledge, seen in its most intense example when the word is used to describe marital intimacy—a use made frequently in Scripture and not to be ignored in this context, where YHWH is Israel’s husband. Thirdly, the verse gives a sense that knowledge of YHWH (or the lack of it) may be equated to imaging His own character.
The Evidence Brought Forth, Hosea 4:2. Here we see what the evidence of not knowing YHWH looks like. When we speak of “just wanting to know” Him, let us remember that such knowledge involves not so much mystical, sentimental experience, but rather eradication of sin.
The Judgment Pronounced, Hosea 4:3. The penalty for lack of knowledge, and rampant violence (Hosea 4:2c–d, cf. Genesis 6:11) is complete and utter destruction. The intentional highlighting of the destruction of fish may be meant to declare that this destruction will be greater even than that in the time of Noah, when the fish were preserved. There is no greater sin, and no greater judgment, than to fail to know the Lord (cf. Romans 1:21, 2 Thessalonians 1:8).
A Reminder of Man’s Place, Hosea 4:4-5. People are not in a place to argue with God (cf. Romans 9:20-21). Yet, the people are like a priest who instead argues with Yahweh. He should be a mediator between others and YHWH, but he contends with the Lord instead. How instinctively our flesh bristles against providence, or God’s Word, or sound doctrine. We are so easily contentions. May the Lord give us sweet, gentle humility toward Himself.
A Reminder of the Covenant, Hosea 4:6-7. In Hosea 4:6, all the “you”s are singular. YHWH is speaking to Israel as if they were a priest (continuing the metaphor begun in Hosea 4:4). We have two explicit covenant references. First, Israel was to be the mediator of God’s grace for all nations by virtue of the Abrahamic covenant (Hosea 4:6c, cf. Genesis 12:3). Second, remembering the Law (Hosea 4:6d) was an explicit, covenant command, and the blessing of descendants the most basic covenant blessing (Hosea 4:6e). The command is transgressed, and the blessing is revoked. Finally, grievously, Deuteronomy 8:18-19 has come to pass. It is a great privilege and blessing to be God’s covenant people, who draw near to Him as priests. Let us not take it for granted or squander it.
Grace in Judgment, Hosea 4:8-10. The image of v8a is of a people who sustain themselves with evil, desiring it like food, and then are even gluttonous for it. The same verdicts declared against the priest in Hosea 4:4-7 are now declared to apply to the people in Hosea 4:9, making clear that Israel as a whole was that priest. Yet, Hosea 4:10 is really a word of grace. YHWH will frustrate their desires, which is chastening, but not judgment! Instead of giving them over to their sin (which would be judgment indeed), YHWH declares that He will frustrate their sin. What is the reason for this grace? That it was Himself Whom they had forsaken. This seems like strange logic to us, but His relationship with them is so important to Him, that rather than give them over to sin, He will frustrate their efforts. May the Lord so do to you, with your sins, dear reader.
In what times and ways are you most prone to forgetfulness of God? What use do you make of your privilege of drawing near to Him and interceding for others? How has He frustrated your sin? (or, more alarmingly, how has He permitted you to persist in it?)
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have been like Israel in Hosea’s day, failing to image Your faithfulness and steadfast love. Rather than knowing You in all our ways, we have often been forgetful of You. We ought to draw near to You in sweet submission, but instead we have stiffened our necks against Your Word and providence. We have deserved to be forgotten, together with our children. Do not give us over to our sin, we pray, but frustrate all our sinful pursuits. Forgive us, and restore us to repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
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