THE NEVER-ENDING LOVE OF HOSEA (3)

GOD IS THE HUSBAND, THE JUDGE, THE DOCTOR AND THE LOVER

Read Hosea 4:1-10. Like a pained and angry husband whose wife has abandoned him for another, God takes His people to court for breaking the covenant they made with Him, to love Him and obey Him. This is God’s complaint: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land”. Truth is vital to any relationship. Rejecting truth, people have become liars, hypocrites and wicked. There is no mercy, love or kindness. There is no knowledge of God in the land. This “knowledge” implies an intimate, experiential understanding of God’s will and character, not just intellectual information. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6). Ignorance of God leads to moral and social decay. Lessons: God holds His people accountable. Examine your life to ensure you are living according to God’s will!

“By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed” (Hos 4:2). God’s people commit terrible sins: by taking God’s name in vain, they curse others to harm them. When sin is not stopped, it spreads, becoming worse, going from evil words to evil deeds. They commit spiritual and physical adultery. Crimes are increasing. Because of Bloodshed, the land cries to God. God always avenges murder. Lesson: Except you repent of it, bloodshed blocks all access to God. “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isa 1:15). Hosea’s message reminds us to listen to God’s warnings through Scripture and contemporary prophetic voices and repent!

What are the consequences of “viral” sins in the society?

*Environmental pollution, sickness and poverty. “Therefore, the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away

With the beasts of the field, And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away” (Hos 4:3).

*Leadership confusion/ spiritual blindness. “You shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night” (Hos 4:5)

*Political and social collapse thru ignorance of God. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6)

*Poverty, and reduced population. “For they shall eat but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lord” (Hosea 4:10). God does not answer their prayers. Worshiping God is only a religious ritual. The true pastors and prophets are ignored or rejected. There is “a famine of the hearing of God’s Word” (Amos 8:11). As sin spreads, the people’s hearts become hardened. Their consciences are not sensitive to warn them to repent. This is a national tragedy that affects everyone.

THE CALL TO REPENTANCE

Read Hosea 6:1-3. This is a call to repent and come back to God. It is not just individual repentance, but a collective one. “God has torn us, but He will heal us”. God leads in both judgement and mercy. “God has torn us” is a picture of severe discipline, like a lion tearing its prey; the attack is strong, deliberate, and real. God likens Himself to a lion (Hos 5:14), showing that the pain Israel feels comes directly from His purposeful action, and it is not random hardship. The shows the seriousness with which God deals with covenant unfaithfulness. Why God sometimes tears us? It is to correct sin; to awake us from the sleep of sin. The shock of discipline restores spiritual sensitivity. The people’s backsliding, their infatuation with idols demanded decisive intervention. This temporary pain prevents eternal loss. This pain is God’s sign of His fatherly love. “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves” (Heb 12:6). God tears and also heals the victims of His discipline. Like a surgeon, God binds the wounds He has made. God is sovereign in His discipline and restoration. These two processes lead to spiritual growth and revival. The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in The Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, who brings spiritual and physical healing to those who believe. Lesson: true repentance involves confessing our sins and turning back to God. It then leads to hope and healing. No matter how far we have strayed, God is willing and able to restore us if we return to Him.

Jesus said: “He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted” (Lk 4:18). See God’s heart behind the pain He inflicts. The same hands that tear also heal. God Himself is the Healer—no rival remedy is needed or permitted. God’s motive for punishment is restorative, not punitive revenge. The discipline is limited and measured. “After two days He will revive us” (Hos 6:2). The timing shows God’s intention to restore quickly once repentance appears. God is jealous over us. God is faithful to the covenant He made with us. God’s love is real and guards the relationship. God’s discipline produces good spiritual fruit in our lives. The pain produces patience and godly character (Rom 5:3-5). Selah!

What should you do when you are disciplined by God? Receive correction humbly, recognizing the Father’s hand. Return quickly; lingering prolongs the pain. Trust the promised healing; His binding up is as certain as His tearing. Walk in renewed obedience, guarding especially against the sins that prompted discipline. These are Practical Steps to Receive His Healing: Return—identify where your heart has drifted and turn back. Confess—name the sin without softening the terms. Believe God’s Word. Reject doubt! Rest in God! Stop striving; let His Word and Spirit do the deep work in you. Walk in faith. Healing is God’s assured response to genuine repentance. His power reaches every are, spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical. Amen!

“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” (PV 6:16-19). God is love. We love that God is the never-ending source of Love. Even those who reject the Christian faith still like to imagine and believe in a God who is Love. But God is not only love. The God who loves must also hate. God who loves all that is good, pure and holy must hate all that is evil and wicked. God’s hatred of sin is rooted in His holy and righteous nature. We must love what God loves and must hate what God hates. So, what does God hate? Pride, lies, murder, wickedness, loving sin, false witness, and division.

1-A proud look means having a superiority complex, looking down on people. In the Bible, pride is always associated with falling. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (PV 16:18). God hates pride because it challenges His rightful position. This was the sin of Lucifer who wanted to be God (Isa 14:12-15). Pride deceives us that we are better than we are. Pride destroys relationships. “By pride comes nothing but strife” (PV 13:10). Pride rejects God’s Grace and Mercy. These are some signs of hidden pride: you make decisions based on people’s appearance, status or usefulness; you habitually reject people’s opinions; it is hard for you to say sorry or thank you; you feel happy when others fail, and when you look better than them. Repent of pride. Humble yourself. Be like Jesus. Do good things in secret so that people do not praise you. Listen more than talk. Encourage others. Remember your own weakness and that you are NOT God! 

2-A lying tongue means to deceive others for personal gain. The lie is in the heart before you speak it. “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45). What goes in will always come out. To stop lying, you must purify your heart. Study the Bible. “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Ps 119: 11). Listen to yourself. Consciously speak truth. Pray that the Holy Spirit guards your heart and tongue. When you lie, confess immediately to God and to man; correct it. Ask for forgiveness. Encourage others!

3-Hands that shed innocent blood refer to murder. To kill a human being is a serious sin. “You shall not murder” (Exo 20:13). This is a fundamental moral law that reveals the sanctity of human life, which is created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). The Hebrew word used here, specifically refers to unlawful killing, distinguishing it from killing in war or capital punishment, which were permitted under certain circumstances in the Old Testament. Jesus teaches that anger or hatred towards another person is the same as murder (Matt 5:21,22), showing the importance of inner purity and reconciliation. This phrase also prophetically points to the ultimate shedding of innocent blood in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who, though innocent, was sacrificed for the sins of humanity.

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy before the foetus can survive outside the womb. It involves human intent and intervention. Miscarriage is not a sin. It can be caused by genetic abnormalities, health conditions of the foetus of the mother. God knows, cares, sees as precious, and has plans for the unborn. “You formed my inmost being; You knit me together…” (Ps 139:13). “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5). There is need for repentance for the women who did abortions, for the doctors that performed the procedures, and for the people who sponsored it. In Christ, there is mercy and forgiveness for people who struggle with feelings of guilt about doing abortion in the past. Amen!

4-A heart that devises wicked plans is about motives and intentions. Wickedness here refers to premeditated sin. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings” (Jer 17:9,10). David prayed to God: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps 51:10). This phrase warns against allowing your heart to be a source of evil.

5-Feet that run swiftly to evil describe those who are in a hurry to commit sin. It is a deliberate choice, lack of self control, and reckless behaviour. The flesh, the world and the devil combine to tempt believers. Knowing this, pray and plan to do good. Memorize scriptures that say “no” to sin. Avoid secret places. Pre-plan escape routes (Joseph ran away from Potiphar’s wife). Choose your friends wisely. Bring your thoughts, plans, and steps to the Lord’s control. Listen for the Spirit’s checks; when He touches your conscience, stop immediately. 

6-A false witness who speaks lies. This refers to a person who deliberately lies or provides misleading information, especially in a legal or communal setting. Truth is foundational to trust and justice. We are called to speak truth in all our dealings, reflecting God’s nature. Lies can cause great harm, not only to individuals but to communities. Lies damage testimonies, reputations and relationships. Be vigilant against lies and seek to correct them. Think before you speak. Don’t embellish the truth. Speak only what you know. Don’t gossip. If you’ve made a mistake, repent and correct it quickly. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Exo 20:16). Lying against another can lead to wrongful punishment like when Potiphar’s wife lied against Joseph. It can also free a guilty man who is supposed to be in prison. The ultimate false witness is Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44), contrasting with Jesus, who is Truth. 

7-One who sows discord among the brethren. Discord means lack of unity, harmony, order and peace between people, leading to division and strife. The unity of the Spirit must be maintained in the family and the local church. God commands blessings when there is unity (Ps 133). Bitterness, jealousy and pride cause divisions and blocks God’s blessings. Be humble. Be careful with your words. Don’t speak harshly. Don’t insult people. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). Solve matters quickly. Use social media to encourage others not to vent your anger. Discord grieves the Holy Spirit. The unity of the Spirit in the church is a factor in evangelism. Jesus prayed for all believers: “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jn 17:21). Breaking the unity of the Spirit is an attack against God’s will for the church.

PRAYER FOR MERCY

“Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord” (Psalm 25:6,7). David’s prayer is a model of humility and repentance. He prays that God remembers His mercy and Love and the covenant that He has made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to be their God, to provide, protect and bless them, like a parent loves his child. God’s love and compassion are not temporary but “from of old”, evident from generation to generation. “For I the Lord do not change!” (Mal 3:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). God’s agape Love was visibly displayed on the Cross, when Jesus died for our sins!

“Remember not the sins of my youth”. Youth is often associated with foolishness and inexperience. David acknowledges his past sins and prays that God forgives him, shows him mercy and overlooks his sins. Lessons: Reflecting on the mistakes of our youth is a strong reminder of God’s grace. It encourages us to grow in wisdom and avoid repeating past mistakes. David asks God to remember him according to His Love and not his sins. This teaches us to find our identity in God’s love and grace rather than our past failures. This prayer reminds us of the prodigal son who returns to his father after a period of rebellion (Lk 15:11-32) and desires a relationship with God unhindered by past sins.

God’s goodness leads to true repentance (Romans 2:4). Repentance means radically turning away from sins and turning towards God!

*Repentance begins with an honest Memory. It does not excuse or minimize sins. David remembers specific sins from his youth.

*Repentance pleads God’s character not our record of works. Even deep regret cannot erase sins. Only God’s covenant mercy can do that.

*Repentance desires complete removal of sins, not just the guilt. In Christ, God forgives and wipes away our sins. “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb 10:17)

*Repentance trusts God to redirect His memory towards Grace. David prays: God, remember me differently, thru the lens of Your Love!

LORD, REMEMBER ME WITH LOVE

Jesus was crucified between two robbers (Lk 23:32-43). They both insulted Him at first. The people mocked Jesus. Suddenly, one of the robbers rebuked his colleague saying: “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” When did this robber started to fear God? He was a hardened man. He has killed people. He did not fear God. Suddenly, he changed. How? When? He did not see Jesus when Jesus was teaching, doing good works, or healing people. He only saw Jesus beaten and bloodied, naked, with a crown of thorns, hanging on the Cross, punished to die, just like him. It was not the inscription the Romans wrote on the Cross for Jesus saying: “This is the King of the Jews”. He did not go to synagogue to hear a sermon. When then did he start to have faith in Jesus? It is when he heard Jesus praying from the Cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”. The robber knew that only God’s Son, the King of kings, the Savior of the world, can love, forgive and pray like this. His faith was born as he was dying. He repented before his last breath. Jesus died before him. For the reminder of his life, alone, hanging on that cross, with broken legs, he looked above his pains, seeing the Hope of his glory. Jesus promised to wait for him and welcome him in heaven. That is all that matters. Worship the Lord!