Hosea 4:6 – Knowing God

Introduction:

God has always been moved with love, care, and compassion for His people. Very often, God does more for His people than they possibly realize. God calls upon Hosea to prophecy and to experience the essence of betrayal – unfaithfulness in a marriage relationship. Because of Hosea’s personal experiences, he, better than anyone, could relate to God’s pain because of the spiritual condition of the people. It was through the pain of Hosea’s personal experience that God would emphasize the dismal spiritual condition of the times.

I. The Times of Hosea

A.       Hosea’s ministry began in prosperous times of the reign of Jeroboam II and ended just before the northern 10 tribes were destroyed in 722 BC.

1.        True religion during the days of Hosea continued to deteriorate. While many superficially worshipped God, their main concern was with idolatry.

2.        Politically, things were in a state of upheaval.

B.       The nation was on the edge, the verge of collapse.

II. Getting to Know Hosea

A.       One of the most memorable facts in Hosea – is that he was directed to marry a wife of harlotry, 1:2-9.  Hosea’s wife: Gomer.

B.       God could be characterized as a woman of the age. Brought up under the influence of idolatry.

C.        Gomer’s 3 children:

1.        1:3-4 – son – Jezreel. (God will scatter.) God was going to scatter the people from Him.

2.        1:6-7 – daughter – Lo-Ruhamah (No mercy.) God would have no moer compassion for Israel.

3.        1:8-9 – son – Lo-Ammi (Not my people). This symbolized God’s utter rejection of Israel for repeated spiritual adultery.

III. We must pursue a relationship with God.

A.       Nothing more important than knowing God in a deep, personal way.

B.       4:1 – 2 accusations here

a)      4:1c – a lack of integrity or obedience to the Father. They willfully turned away from God’s expectations.

b)      Israel lacked an intimate, personal relationship. Spiritual oneness with God – as husband/wife relationship was designed.

IV. There are consequences for not knowing God.

A.       4:6 – 2 accusations in this verse.

1.        4:6b – rejected knowledge. God said they rejected the personal, intimate relationship God called them into.

2.        4:6c – forgot the law of God.

B.       Consequences of rejecting God.

1.        4:5 – we end up being an embarrassment.

2.        4:5-6 – we will be destroyed.

3.        4:6c – God will ultimately let us go. I will also forget your children.

V. Do we really know God?

A.       Do we have a relationship w/the savior?

1.        Jesus is the redeemer, the reconciler, and restorer of man to God.

B.       Our knowledge of & relationship with God begins and never ends with Jesus. (John 14:6)