Hosea 8:1-3
Set the trumpet to your lips!
One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord,
because they have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
To me they cry,
“My God, we—Israel—know you.”
Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
Tag: Know God - Know Good
Hosea is God's spokesman to give a message to a nation who rejected their God. Israel had sought after the gods of this world. They were not chasing shinny new cars, million dollar homes on the beach, or corporate board seats, but they were chasing the equivalent of those things in their time. They were chasing what the world presented around them. They forgot they were chosen and redeemed by God. They were His children. In the above passage we see that God is condemning their claim, "My God, we - Israel - know you." Israel, in their despair wanted to claim they "knew" God and therefore should have some favor as a result. The "vulture" in the first part of the verse is referring to the Assyrian army who was bearing down upon them. It is typical of those who had an "experience" with God to call on Him during a time of crisis. They say, "Hey, God, you know me!! Can I get your help, here?" Yet, they reject, or, at least, ignore God under all other conditions. Christ came so that we would "know" God.
John 17:3
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
But, all the "good" God had given to the nation they had rejected it. The last part of the above passage states "Israel has spurned the good." James tells us that anything in our lives that is "good" is from God.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Israel, in trouble, wanted to claim a special relationship with God. Yet, when God had given them gift after gift, they pursued other gods. Our relationship with God can't simply be in a time of crisis. It has to be a seeking to "know" Him and trust Him in all times of our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment