Rediscovering Joy.
Hosea 8:4–13
They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will it be till they are pure in Israel? A workman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, aliens would devour it. Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And they shall cease for a little while from anointing king and princes. Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. They love sacrifice; they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but the Lord has no delight in them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.
Why is there so much misery in the world?
It seems like ever since the Pandemic begin back in the beginning of 2020 (over 2 years ago) the world has changed, and dramatically so. One thing that I have noticed is how ready so many people seem to fight, argue, scream, and pull away from any sense of communal life. Wouldn’t it be nice if the world could go back to the “before times”? Maybe we can!
This passage from Hosea above depicts, in a certain sense, where the world finds itself right now. It tells of the reaction God has towards the Israelites in their unfaithfulness. More pointedly, it describes how Israel creates a governing body of power in kings and princes, named outside of the authority and will of God. They created idols, and worshipped them instead of God.
Often times people think of God’s Commands of the Laws of a Church as something that limits our freedom and is meant to hold us down or back. The reality is that these laws should be viewed in the same way the rules of a game are seen. The laws of God are in place to keep us in the boundaries to live the life of beatitude (Happiness). Imagine playing football with no sidelines of end zones; the result would just be chaos. The rules of the game actually set the players free to play the game.
In this passage from Hosea, the prophet recounts the fruitless efforts of Israel to plant and cultivate without the blessing of God. God’s promise through Hosea is that Israel will not reap the benefits and has already been swallowed up. The Prophet describes Israel as a wild donkey, wandering alone, worshiping the golden calf of the Assyrians. Ephraim, not only has been unfaithful to the LORD but has created altars of sacrifice for the expiation of sin, not to God, for he no longer knows Him. To know God is to obey the commands of God. To ignore His commands is to commit infidelity.
This passage ought to instill in us, not a feeling of judgment, curse, and condemnation. Rather, it should fill us with hope, excitement, and a new resolve. Every prophets speaks and writes, not for judgment of God’s people, but to call them back to lives of fidelity. It is union with God that fulfills the heart and completes our nature.
We can go back to the “before times”, by going back to God. Pray to the Lord that His will is done. Pray to the Lord that His people return to Him. Pray to the Lord that I return to him, and you.