An Ignorant People
2/9/26 Bible Thought (Hosea 4)
Main Idea: God’s people need to know God’s Word.
A Look at the Text:
Israel was supposed to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (see Ex. 19:6). They were called to be distinct from the peoples around them. They were separated unto God as His unique possession, and as such, they were supposed to reflect their God.
Sadly enough, in the days of Hosea, everything had gone off the rails.
There was no faithfulness or steadfast love (Hos. 4:1c), which is the hallmark of Yahweh’s character (see Ps. 103:8). Even more, His people, in their drunken stupor, foolishly inquired of blocks of wood or walking sticks! (Hos. 4:12). The men sought out cult prostitutes (Hos. 4:14), and there was altogether no evidence that God’s people actually belonged to Him by the way they lived. They were a people without understanding, destined for ruin (Hos. 4:14d).
How did things get so bad? What was the root of the problem?
It was with the priests.
The priests were appointed not only for the sacrificial system, but they were also to teach God’s law to God’s people (Lev. 10:11), distinguishing between the holy and the common, the unclean and the clean (Lev. 10:10)
As such, the Lord said through Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6a).
God’s wayward people didn’t know any better because the priests weren’t doing their job. No one noticed that the train had left the tracks, and a crash was imminent.
Bringing it Home:
Certainly, this problem hasn’t gone away. Even today, God’s people can be destroyed through a lack of knowledge.
In many churches, you’ll find a TED talk with just enough Bible sprinkled in to get it to pass inspection as a “sermon.” Yet, the thrust of the text is not the thrust of the message. Preachers can be trapped into wanting people to feel good, but sometimes discomfort is what people actually need in order to grow. There is a great responsibility that comes with teaching (see James 3:1). It’s not something to be done for personal gain, but for the growth of God’s people.
However, while much blame can and should be laid at the pulpit, we likewise must acknowledge that in today’s day and age, there is no excuse for an ignorant people. There was a day when God’s people were utterly dependent upon those who handled the Word because they couldn’t have it for themselves. But today, God’s Word is everywhere.
You can have paper copies in any variety of translations. We have God’s Word on our computers, our tablets, our phones, and for crying out loud, we can have it read to us! Even more, with technological advancements, we can now listen to any number of Bible teaching YouTube videos, podcasts, and read countless Christian blogs. It doesn’t mean it’s all good, but there is certainly good out there.
It has been said that we are living in the most biblically illiterate time; yet, we have unprecedented access to God’s Word like no other generation of human beings that has ever existed. We are without excuse.
If we have an adversary who goes around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour people (1 Pet. 5:8), then certainly we can’t afford to let our swords get rusty (see Eph. 6:17).
There is no greater weapon for fighting against Satan’s schemes or the lies of our world than the truth of God’s Word.
Challenge:
Am I diligent in the study of God’s Word so that I might know what He desires of me?
While we aren’t saved by our obedience to the law, the saved should strive to live God-pleasing lives (2 Cor. 5:9) for we are a royal priesthood and holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9). How do we know how to live a God-pleasing life? We open God’s Word.