WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.759 Gracious Father, as your word is open in front of us now, 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:09.099 we ask that you would send your spirit so that we might meet with you. 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:13.900 Father, we pray that the sins of your people past 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:19.000 might come to their full acknowledgement in our hearts this morning 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:23.740 and that we would be driven back to you, our great God. 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:26.560 And we ask it for your sake. Amen. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:35.739 So husbands, imagine the scenario that your wife is kidnapped on your honeymoon. 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:40.039 A note is left by the kidnappers. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:45.060 A $500,000 payment is required to secure her release. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:49.899 You love your wife and you'll do whatever it takes to get her back. 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:55.120 $500,000 is everything that you've got after you sell the house and the car, 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:01.000 cash in the shares, sell the furniture and the clothes on eBay and empty the accounts. 00:01:02.559 --> 00:01:06.859 You will be destitute, but at least you will have the love of your life back. 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:12.719 The exchanges that take place on a beach at sunset, 00:01:13.259 --> 00:01:16.159 the time comes, the kidnappers arrive holding your wife. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:22.179 You are ordered to leave the suitcase in the middle of the beach and take 50 paces back. 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:31.719 It's a tense moment as they walk slowly holding your wife towards you, towards the suitcase. 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:34.859 Each step seems to take forever. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:48.120 They finally arrive at the suitcase and now any moment they will pick up the suitcase and they will release your wife and she will run into your arms. 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:52.579 And then the biggest concern is how to pay for the hotel bill. 00:01:52.579 --> 00:02:00.500 As you nervously look forward to that embrace, your heart is shattered. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:03.719 They release your wife. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:12.000 She bends down, picks up the suitcase, hands it to her captors and runs back to the cars with them. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:21.300 That's the shocking image of what we discovered last week in Hosea chapters 1 to 3. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.800 It's a shocking image of how God's people, Israel, have treated him. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.900 They have grabbed the salvation that he offers with both hands and then run off with that 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:36.520 and enjoyed it with other gods and idols and treasures and loves. 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:42.660 In Hosea 1 to 3, the state of the relationship between God and his chosen people, Israel, 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:47.240 was played out in the relationship between Hosea and Gomer in their marriage. 00:02:48.660 --> 00:02:52.380 God gave an extraordinary command to his spokesman, Hosea. 00:02:52.580 --> 00:02:53.660 Chapter 1, verse 2. 00:02:53.660 --> 00:02:57.939 Go and take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:03.580 because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:08.200 As we saw last week, it is quite literally the command to Hosea, 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:13.420 go and get a wife of whore, that is go marry a whore, 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:18.120 get children with the whore because the nation is a whore. 00:03:20.760 --> 00:03:24.240 God had called Israel to himself to be his special people. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:29.040 He had powerfully rescued them from slavery in Egypt and made them his very own. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:34.979 He gave them the law that would govern their relationship and frame how his new bride would live with him. 00:03:35.459 --> 00:03:38.519 He made vows and he committed himself to his special people. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.759 But there was nothing special about these people. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:47.419 They were just like any other people. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:53.280 But God mercifully chosen to be his bride, his special covenant people. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:59.699 But three words in chapter 2 sum up the actions and the attitude of Goma to Hosea 00:03:59.699 --> 00:04:02.939 and also Israel to their God. 00:04:03.420 --> 00:04:05.620 Me, she forgot. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:15.620 Israel is guilty of turning her back on her divine husband and running after other lovers. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:22.259 Hosea's marriage to Goma is a living parable designed to confront God's people 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:26.120 with the full horror of how they have treated God. 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:34.439 But it's also a living parable to reveal how not just God's broken heart, 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:38.600 but God's unbroken love for his people. 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:45.939 You see, God's love for his people has never been based on some naive assessment of their character. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:53.280 He called them to himself, even knowing that they were people of great faithlessness. 00:04:55.480 --> 00:05:04.480 And one of the big points of Hosea is that God exalts his mercy by not giving up on his haul. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:10.480 Chapters 1 to 3 contain the message of Hosea in a nutshell. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.240 And as we launch into the rest of Hosea from today over the next three weeks, 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:20.240 we'll notice that there isn't a single mention of Hosea and Goma again. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:25.020 We leave them behind, but we do not forget them. 00:05:25.019 --> 00:05:37.599 We are meant to read the rest of Hosea through the lenses of the raw, heart-wrenching story of their marriage. 00:05:37.979 --> 00:05:43.659 A story of consistent betrayal, of anger and judgment because of that betrayal, 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:48.379 and of unbroken love despite the betrayal. 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:52.219 And so in chapter 4, we enter a new scene. 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:54.200 It's a courtroom. 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.720 The scene has changed, but the cast is the same. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:02.200 The divine husband and faithless bride. 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:08.720 From a marriage in trouble in chapters 1 to 3, we have the divorce courts of chapter 4. 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:13.760 There is silence in the courtroom as the indictment is read. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:16.060 It's there in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:23.560 At the end of it, there is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:27.579 That's the charge that God levels against his people. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:29.300 It's a devastating charge. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:35.639 God had rescued these people from slavery in Egypt and graciously revealed his standards to them, his law. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:42.120 Jesus would later summarise those standards in Mark chapter 12 as love the Lord your God with all your soul, 00:06:42.219 --> 00:06:46.500 with all your mind, with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:49.500 And they said that they would obey it. 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:52.579 They said they would be committed to their marriage vows. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.680 They said they were committed to the covenant, but they didn't do it. 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:02.600 And that is the charge that God now levels against his people in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:09.800 It's not that they just kind of broke their commitment in a few details here and there, 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:18.600 but absolutely and completely and utterly, nine times in two chapters, 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:24.360 God calls their betrayal a spirit of prostitution. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.519 This is not just a one-night stand. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:33.360 This is not just a bit too much alcohol and a bit of forgetfulness. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:41.460 This is a heart entangled and entrenched with other loves. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.939 They didn't love God or their neighbour. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.199 Quite the opposite. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:55.000 In fact, in verse 2, there is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.759 They broke all bounds. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:59.579 And bloodshed follows bloodshed. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:04.600 Basically, they just obliterated the Ten Commandments. 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:09.879 That is the charge that's levelled against God's people. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:14.620 There is no consistency of faithfulness or love or acknowledgement of God. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.740 And as God brings this charge against the nation as a whole, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:22.740 the clergy are sitting over to one side, fairly smugly at this point. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.079 They're feeling a little self-righteous. 00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:29.360 They're thinking, well, yes, that's absolutely right, God. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.519 Those dreadful, dreadful people. 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:33.899 They just have not obeyed you at all. 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:36.539 We've been saying it for years in our sermons. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.720 Tax collectors and sinners, the lot of them. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:49.080 God looks straight at them and says, it's you, O priests, against who I bring this charge. 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:54.840 God's charge against them begins in verse 4 and goes right to the end of verse 14. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:56.680 That is the major section here. 00:08:56.779 --> 00:09:01.480 God is holding the clergy, the priests, the leaders of God's people, 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:05.180 chiefly responsible for the state of God's people. 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:06.479 What have they done? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.799 The end of verse 6, because you have rejected knowledge, 00:09:10.339 --> 00:09:12.719 I also reject you as my priests. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:17.139 Because you have ignored the law of your God, 00:09:17.599 --> 00:09:20.039 I also will ignore your children. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.799 You see, one of the tasks entrusted to the priest was the teaching of God's law, 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.299 and they didn't do it. 00:09:28.359 --> 00:09:30.099 They rejected knowledge of God. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.620 They rejected God's word. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:36.159 And when you cut yourself off from God speaking to you, 00:09:37.560 --> 00:09:41.279 you end up being ruled by any other voice. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:48.960 Where did they go for guidance and help and clarity apart from God's word? 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:50.679 Verse 12. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:57.659 They consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:04.379 If it wasn't so scandalous, it would be hilarious. 00:10:07.459 --> 00:10:09.100 Let's just put the word of God here. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:11.399 Grab a stick, throw it on the ground. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:12.319 Which way does it point? 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:13.319 Let's go that way. 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:22.639 And instead of leading God's people, we have verse 7. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:27.120 The more the priests increase, the more they sinned against me. 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:30.299 What an incredible indictment. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:35.919 They exchange their glory, that is, the glory of their God, their divine lover, 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:38.319 for something disgraceful. 00:10:38.439 --> 00:10:41.860 They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:46.120 And it will be like people, like priests. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:59.879 That's summed the clergy up. 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:07.659 They were simply an echo of the nation and of the nations around in both word and deed. 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:13.360 The rejection of God's word, immorality and idolatry. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:20.159 It is a gruesome list of spiritual decline into spiritual prostitution. 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:29.379 Their failure to put God's word before the people, God's law, his covenant requirement meant that the people just drifted off. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:33.740 Not taking their sins seriously. 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:37.120 And into idolatry and debauchery. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:45.000 And so the heartbroken divine lover has read his case against his adulterous bride. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.279 And now they must face the sentencing. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:48.980 Here it is in chapter 5, verse 1. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.700 Hear this, you priests. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.220 Pay attention, you Israelites. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:55.440 Listen, O royal household. 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:56.879 This judgment is against you. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.399 Notice there, everyone. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.960 Everyone is included in the judgment. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:09.759 And in a nutshell, there are two declarations of sentence against the people of God in chapter 5. 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:12.019 The first one is in verses 1 to 7. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:15.560 And in summary, it says God will withdraw from you. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:16.879 Verse 6. 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:19.220 These words are particularly explicit. 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:24.060 When they go with their flocks and their herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him. 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:26.460 He has redrawn himself from them. 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:34.360 They will go with their sheep, with their cows, with their doves, up to the temple to sacrifice before the Lord. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.280 But God won't be there. 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:46.100 This is one aspect of the solemn judgment pronounced. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:55.320 The Bible talks about this judgment as being very solemn, very severe. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:13:03.660 See, when we turn our backs on God, we can't expect God to carry on as if nothing has happened. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:12.180 God, we live a life of consistent sin, ignoring it, playing it down. 00:13:13.160 --> 00:13:16.620 We turn our backs on his word and what it says. 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.680 We refuse to obey. 00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:19.260 We look at it, but we don't obey it. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:21.460 And God withdraws. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:26.860 And it's quite possible that that might be where you are right now. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:31.280 You've been a confessing Christian for years. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.560 You've been attending church. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:35.440 You've been reciting creeds like we did just a moment ago. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.940 Involved in ministry. 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:39.440 Maybe involved in miraculous and spectacular ministry. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:42.080 Putting money on the plate. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:47.400 But the reality of your relationship with God is no longer there. 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:52.480 You pray and it seems like no one is listening. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.540 You've given up on the reading of the Bible now because it's just so long. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:02.639 It seems so long since God has ever spoken to you. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.699 Could it be that you've drifted? 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:12.279 Could it be that you are treasuring a sin in your heart rather than treasuring Jesus? 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:20.460 And so if the first seven verses speak of a passive judgment with God, we draw, 00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:23.740 then verses 8 to 14 speak of an active judgment. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.860 See it there in verse 8? 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:44.080 Look at me with verse 14. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:15:01.620 Does your view of God cope with verses like that? 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:08.300 The Bible says things like our God is a consuming fire. 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:12.379 And things like it's a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a living God. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:17.399 And one day he will come as he's promised in final judgment. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:23.019 And none of us will have any grounds for confidence on that day. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:27.879 God's charge against Israel applies to us too. 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:32.639 We too have turned away from him and disobeyed his word. 00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:34.519 We don't love God as we should. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:36.440 We don't love our neighbour as we should. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:40.320 We deserve the sentence of God's we draw from us. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:45.280 We deserve the sentence of God's active judgment against us. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:50.440 These are solemn, solemn chapters. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:58.540 But they end with one glimmer of hope in verse 15. 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:03.199 Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. 00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:06.139 And they will seek my face in their misery. 00:16:06.699 --> 00:16:08.819 And they will earnestly seek me. 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.919 There is the glimmer of hope. 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:19.179 God leaves the door open for a return to him, for a union with him. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:24.539 Even in judgment and anger, God remembers mercy. 00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:29.579 And the question that we left with at the end of chapter 5 is, will God's people respond? 00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:30.779 Will they return to him? 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.959 Will they come back to him? 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:34.719 And it seems at the beginning of chapter 6 that they do. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.939 Come, they say. 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.479 Let us return to the Lord. 00:16:37.739 --> 00:16:39.519 He has torn us to pieces. 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.139 But he will heal us. 00:16:41.359 --> 00:16:42.599 He has injured us. 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.460 But he will bind up our wounds. 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.620 And after two days, he will revive us. 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.259 On the third day, he will restore us. 00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:50.659 That we may live in his presence. 00:16:51.040 --> 00:16:52.639 Let us acknowledge the Lord. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:54.759 Let us press on to acknowledge him. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:58.980 It appears that they're finally woken up. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:03.000 The charges have been read. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.799 The sentence has been pronounced. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.140 And they've been convicted of their sin. 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:10.320 And they finally realized their deep unfaithfulness. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.700 That they are, in fact, Goma. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.360 And so they return to the Lord. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:21.280 But that's not what verse 4 says. 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:24.120 God sees straight through it. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:27.440 Your love is like the morning mist. 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:30.000 Like the early dew that disappears. 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.120 Gone. 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:39.980 It's a superficial return to God. 00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:43.880 A shallow love simply meant to appease God. 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:49.780 In chapter 7, we have God's assessment of his people through a whole variety of images. 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.920 Verse 6 of chapter 7. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:56.940 There is a smoldering passion that's just waiting to burst out in decadence. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.320 Verse 8. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.580 They are a half-baked cake. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:05.000 They are half-hearted. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:07.080 They are lukewarm. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.460 Verse 9. 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:12.040 Verse 9 is a man unaware that his hair is peppered with grey. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:18.380 A man who thinks that he's still in his prime. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.520 Hip and cool and young and strong. 00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:24.840 And the best is yet to come. 00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:28.600 And yet he can't see the grey hair. 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.820 He's a 40-something dress like he's a skater kid. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:38.939 They have no sense of reality. 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:44.980 Verse 11 is the image of a frantic dove. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.299 Flapping crazily. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.099 Flapping crazily. 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:49.299 Bang, bang, bang against this window. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:51.019 Bang, bang, bang against that window. 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.720 They've got no picture of Israel. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:56.099 They are silly and senseless. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:59.519 Flapping around with no confirmed conviction. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:02.460 Changing its mind and its allegiance. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.480 Every shift of political whim. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.519 And that is what they've done. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.579 That is what Israel has done here. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.819 They've heard the pronouncement. 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:14.220 They've heard God's sentence. 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.620 And they've gone, oh my. 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.920 We'd better pull our socks up and work a little harder here. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.319 We'd better burn some more sacrifices. 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:30.319 Smouldering sinful hearts of deep unfaithfulness. 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:34.099 Lukewarm about God and half-baked righteousness. 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:36.799 No grasp of the reality of their situation. 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:43.139 The depths and the danger of their situation. 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:47.899 And they're frantically trying to do something about it to make God happy. 00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:54.400 And so, the shrines were packed. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:57.300 The Bible colleges were filled. 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.400 Sunday, attendance went up. 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:01.500 Small groups multiplied. 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:06.160 But remember the charge of chapter 4, verse 1. 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.580 There is no faithfulness. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.700 There is no love. 00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:13.519 No acknowledgement of God in the land. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.839 There is lots of religious activity. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.279 But they missed what God required. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.539 See chapter 6, verse 6. 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:33.339 See chapter 6, verse 6. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:38.920 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:41.500 An acknowledgement of God. 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:44.680 Rather than burnt offerings. 00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:51.000 Even though their religion and ritual were going full-tilled ahead. 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:54.440 They had lost its heart. 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.820 They had forgotten its centre. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:00.220 And see the heart, where the heart of it all is. 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:03.060 Second half of chapter 7, verse 7. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:08.460 None of them calls on me. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.619 Down, verse 10. 00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:15.440 He does not return to the Lord his God or search for him. 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.539 Down to verse 13. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:20.859 They have strayed from me. 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.960 Down to verse 15. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:26.980 They plotted evil against me. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.879 They missed God. 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:36.820 They didn't return to their divine lover. 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:45.840 And so their religious activity is their spiritual prostitution. 00:21:51.780 --> 00:21:55.160 They have the shell, but not the call. 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.380 And let's be frank, friends. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:59.920 You'll find this everywhere amongst God people. 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:04.360 Superficial religious observance. 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:08.080 It can be in the pomp of formal Anglicanism. 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:11.160 Or the studied informality of the brethren. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.640 Or the ritual of the Roman Catholic Mass. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:17.900 Or the routine of the church prayer meeting. 00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:20.180 Or the silence of the Quakers. 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:22.860 Or the exuberance of the Charismatics. 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:26.099 Even in reformed evangelical churches. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.079 Where we can be outwardly generous. 00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:31.579 Have good insights into the scriptures. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:34.619 In our preaching and in our community groups. 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:39.079 Where we can pray eloquent, theologically correct prayers. 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:43.960 But no personal dealing with God. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.199 We miss God. 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:51.359 We can prepare a sermon. 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.740 We can listen to a sermon. 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.599 We can participate in a community group. 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:58.759 And have a ritualistic daily quiet time. 00:22:59.159 --> 00:23:01.379 And yet never meet with God for years. 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:10.240 Our Lord God is not interested in religion without repentance. 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:13.860 He has no time for belief without behaviour. 00:23:14.780 --> 00:23:18.360 And no delight in ritual without righteous relationships. 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:20.680 With him or with others. 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:31.900 It's quite noticeable that Jesus picks up Hosea. 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:34.980 And especially chapter 6 verse 6. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.880 In Matthew chapter 9. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.600 So flick over to Matthew chapter 9. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:45.440 It's the bit where Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.860 To come and follow him. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:50.500 A little later Jesus is having dinner. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.660 At Matthew's home. 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:55.299 And they are joined by many tax collectors. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:57.220 And openly sinful people. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.359 In society. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.140 Openly sinful people. 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:03.940 Like prostitutes. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:08.859 And the religious elite saw all this taking place. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.299 It's hard to fathom how they saw it taking place. 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.759 With their noses raised so high. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.859 And disgust at what Jesus was doing. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.180 But they lowered their noses enough. 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.259 To look down at them. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.059 To ask Jesus' mates a question. 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:23.700 Why does your teacher eat? 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.440 We tax collectors and sinners. 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.379 Jesus overheard the question. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.559 So he just jumps in. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.640 And answers. 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:33.359 It is not the healthy who need a doctor. 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.759 But the sick. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.940 And then he adds. 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:40.420 Speaking to the religious elite. 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.440 The Pharisees. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.700 But go and learn. 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.279 And learn. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.620 What this means. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:47.440 It's a little formula. 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:49.320 Meant to rebuke. 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:51.360 The teachers of God's people. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.440 You see. 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.759 These teachers of God's people. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.299 Had prided themselves. 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.559 Of their knowledge. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:58.039 And understanding of the scriptures. 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.279 And their conformity to the scriptures. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.259 But Jesus says to them. 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.200 In this rebuke. 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.200 Go away. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.840 And look at the scriptures again. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.820 Because you've missed it. 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:12.220 And then Jesus quotes. 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.799 What they need to go and learn. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.799 And conform to. 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.759 It's Hosea 6. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.099 6. 00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:19.059 I desire mercy. 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:21.099 Not sacrifice. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:25.099 In saying that. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.460 Jesus aligns. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:28.019 The religious elite of his day. 00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:28.799 With the people. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.539 And the leaders of God's people. 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.159 In Hosea's day. 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.139 These. 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.500 Who had turned away. 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.519 From the living God. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.619 God. 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.500 These Pharisees. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:41.160 Had a great looking shell. 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.680 But it was rotten. 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.920 On the inside. 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.980 But they thought. 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:48.160 They were okay with God. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.200 Self-deception. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.519 And judgmentalism. 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.859 Were their great skills. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.279 Remember. 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:54.940 The story. 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.759 That Jesus told. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.539 About the Pharisee. 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.500 And the tax collector. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.559 They were at a temple. 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.639 Where the Pharisee. 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.539 Looks down his nose. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.339 At the tax collector. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:03.680 And God. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.180 Just God. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.299 I thank you. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.519 That I am not like that man. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.159 I thank you. 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:13.460 That I'm just so much better. 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.440 I thank you. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.259 That I'm not a sinner. 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.359 Like he is. 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.779 I thank you. 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:24.940 You could just imagine him saying. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:25.819 God. 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:28.259 That person just so reminds me of Goma. 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:32.000 I read her about her this morning. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.220 God. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.039 In my quiet time. 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.539 In fact. 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:36.279 Thank you that I'm not like Goma. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.420 Like this tax collector. 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.140 That's a great thing. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.759 Thank you. 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.779 And they missed the point. 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.900 That they were. 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.600 They missed the point. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.400 That they were. 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.700 The tax collectors. 00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.640 And the sinners. 00:26:47.800 --> 00:26:48.800 Gathered around the table. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.519 With Jesus. 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.779 They were people. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.940 Of deep. 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.539 And enduring. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.440 Unfaithfulness. 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.440 Like the rest of us. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:27:06.600 and the good news of Matthew 9 is that Jesus' love for us isn't based on some naive assessment 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:15.720 of our character he says in Matthew chapter 9 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:21.240 now Jesus isn't saying that there are two kinds of people in the world those who are righteous 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:26.059 and those who are not he is in fact saying there's only one group of people that is the 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:35.519 unrighteous just sinners just gomers all of us but the difference is between those who know it 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:46.240 those who don't between those who return to God for mercy and those who don't think they need to 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:55.919 and so it turns out here in Matthew 9 that the people who think that they are worthy of Jesus 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:05.039 attention are no more worthy than the socially repulsive people that they despised their sin 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:11.680 like ours only ever looks good in the darkness of self-deception 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:21.420 sin looks best when it is barely considered quickly indulged and never reflected on 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:24.800 against the light of God's word 00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:29.240 but the work of the Holy Spirit 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:32.840 drags it out into the open 00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:37.240 and exposes the true ugliness of it 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:40.080 under the spotlight of God's word 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:42.320 by thought 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.720 reflection 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:45.279 and prayer 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.279 prayer 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:52.879 the new testament teaches us to not just examine our hearts for sin when we first 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:54.220 come to Christ 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:57.339 but to continually labor 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.720 to know 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:01.119 the remaining corruption 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.859 in our hearts 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:08.039 my friends be absolutely 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:10.079 certain of God's grace 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.399 and acceptance of you in the Lord Jesus 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:16.240 but be absolutely uncertain 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:18.559 of your own heart 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:24.059 our heart and its fruit need continual examination 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:27.259 listen to God's word in Hosea here 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.659 identify your sin 00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.399 consider it 00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:30.079 confess it 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.799 and repent of it 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.099 turn away from it 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:35.960 do not make the mistake of God's people past 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.319 who made little of it 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.740 because their assessment of it 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:40.100 was their own standards 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:41.340 and not God's word 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:45.960 when we diagnose our sin 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.180 by our own standards 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:50.039 then the remedy that we prescribe 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:54.140 will be just a little bit more religious activity 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:56.319 to appease God 00:29:56.319 --> 00:30:00.819 sin breaks God's heart 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:03.460 but repentance gets his love back 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:07.259 chapter 5 verse 15 00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.779 is the glimmer of hope 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:12.420 and chapter 5 verse 15 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:13.960 takes us back 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:16.000 to chapter 3 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:18.340 verse 3 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:22.319 it's when Hosea says 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:24.680 to his unfaithful wife 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:26.500 Goma 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.319 he has 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:30.000 gone 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.259 as God said 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.640 paid the price 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.700 redeemed her 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.920 and brought her back 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:36.160 out of slavery 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.860 taken her out of the arms 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.620 of another lover 00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:41.920 brought her back home 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.380 and then Goma 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.759 Hosea says to her 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:47.000 you are to live with me many days 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.480 you must not be a prostitute 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.780 or be intimate with any man 00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:51.500 and I will live with you 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:54.920 the best translation 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.580 of that last phrase 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:58.020 I will live with you 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:59.480 is in fact 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:01.740 I will wait 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.920 for you 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:06.299 it's a beautiful statement 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:08.920 Hosea has paid the price 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:09.660 he's redeemed 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.980 his unfaithful bride 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.539 she's now back 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.879 in the family home 00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:16.400 but Hosea 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.920 not just other men 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:19.220 but Hosea 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.819 is not going to her 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.599 to be intimate 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.299 with her 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:25.339 he's actually waiting 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.000 for her 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.720 to come 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.459 to him 00:31:27.459 --> 00:31:31.000 she might 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.199 share the same home 00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:32.919 but she does not 00:31:32.919 --> 00:31:33.859 share his bed 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:35.079 full intimacy 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.740 is yet to be restored 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:39.019 the relationship 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.819 between Hosea 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.299 and Goma 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.199 isn't going to be 00:31:41.199 --> 00:31:41.720 repaired 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.839 by Goma going 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.439 oh my goodness 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:44.519 I feel so guilty 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.639 what I need to do 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.259 is cook him 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.279 his best meal 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.179 his favourite meal 00:31:48.179 --> 00:31:50.419 I feel so guilty 00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:51.000 I need to keep 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.699 the house clean 00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:52.759 I need to massage 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.379 his feet 00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:53.939 and go and get 00:31:53.939 --> 00:31:54.879 the paper for him 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:57.460 that is not 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.160 what Hosea 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.380 is looking for 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:01.740 Hosea 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.580 is waiting 00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:05.600 he has paid 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.680 the price of redemption 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.480 and now 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.580 he is waiting 00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.940 for his bride 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.980 to return 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.960 to him 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.740 to come 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.400 to him 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:18.540 waiting 00:32:18.540 --> 00:32:21.100 for the knock 00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:21.640 on the door 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:25.060 for her to come 00:32:25.060 --> 00:32:25.360 in 00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:26.660 and say 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:27.259 Hosea 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:29.759 I am sorry 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:33.920 I am so 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.440 sorry 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:41.020 return to the Lord 00:32:41.020 --> 00:32:41.520 your God 00:32:41.520 --> 00:32:42.600 for he is 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.320 gracious and 00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:43.860 compassionate 00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:45.320 slow to anger 00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:46.160 and abounding 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.680 in love 00:32:46.680 --> 00:33:13.160 for him