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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. SINFUL MAN FORGETS GOD (8:1 – 9:6)
A. RESULTS OF FORGETTING GOD
>>1. AUTHORITY – SIN #1: Reject God’s authority
Hosea 8:1-3 Put the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture [or eagle] hovers over the house of the Lord, because they have broken My covenant and rebelled against My law. To Me Israel cries, “Our God, we acknowledge You.” But Israel has spurned what is good; an enemy will pursue him. (also Mt 7:22-23)
>>2. AUTONOMY – SIN #2: Make self autonomous
Hosea 8:4a They made kings, but not by My consent. They chose princes, but I did not approve.
>>3. ADORATION – SIN #3: Continue spiraling into idolatry
Hosea 8:4b-6 With their silver and gold they made idols to their own destruction. I have rejected your calf-idol, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long can they seem incapable of purity? For a craftsman made it; it is from Israel, not from God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.
>>4. ALLIANCES – SIN #4: Looks to any promise of help
Hosea 8:7-10 For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. The grain stalks have no heads and will not produce flour. Even If it did, foreigners would devour it. Israel is swallowed up; she is already considered among the nations as a useless vessel. They have gone up to Assyria like a she-donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers. Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. The king and princes shall soon writhe under oppression.
>>5. ALTARS – SIN #5: Form a new man-centered religion
Hosea 8:11-13a Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, these have become for him altars for sinning. If I write My laws ten thousand times for him, it would be regarded as foreign. As for My sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. (also I Cor 2:14)
B. RESPONSE OF GOD
>>1. DESTRUCTION
Hosea 8:13b-14 Now He will remember their wickedness and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built [pagan] temples, and Judah has fortified many cities. But I will send a fire on the cities, and it shall devour her strongholds. (also Is 37:33-36)
>>2. DEFEAT
Hosea 9:1-3 Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not be jubilant like other nations; for you have been unfaithful to your God. You have loved a prostitute’s earnings on all threshing floors. Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them. They shall not remain in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and eat unclean food in Assyria.
>>3. DEFILEMENT
Hosea 9:4-5 They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the Lord, and their sacrifices shall not please Him. It shall be like mourners’ bread to them, defiling all who eat it. For their bread shall be for personal hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the Lord. What will you do on the day of the appointed festival, on the feast day of the Lord?
II. RIGHTEOUS GOD WILL NOT FORGET (9:6-17)
A. REAPING THE WRATH OF GOD
>>1. PROOF
Hosea 9:6 For behold, they are running away from destruction, but Egypt will be their prison; Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious silver; thorns shall be in their tents.
>>2. PUNISHMENT
Hosea 9:7-9 The days of punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred. The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim with my God; yet a fowler’s snare is on all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness; He will punish their sins. (also Judges 19)
>>3. PAST
Hosea 9:10 Like grapes in the desert, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they arrived at Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to a shameful idol and became as detestable as the thing they loved. (also Num 25)
B. REJECTION BY GOD
>>1. PICTURE
Hosea 9:11-13 Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird – no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! Even if they bring up children, I will bring grief until none remain. Woe to them when I turn away from them! Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow; but Ephraim will lead his own children to slaughter.
>>2. PRAYER
Hosea 9:14 Give them, O Lord – what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.
>>3. PROCLAMATION
Hosea 9:15 Because of their evil at Gilgal, I began to hate them. Because of their wicked actions, I will drive them out of My house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. (also II Kings 2-4)
>>4. PROHIBITION
Hosea 9:16-17 Ephraim is stricken; their root is withered; they yield no fruit. Even if they give birth, I will kill their beloved children.
My God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; they will be wanderers among the nations. (also Deut 30:15-17; Heb 8:12; 10:16-17)