Get closer to God.

[The Four Stages Storytelling Sermon: Proposition-Problem analysis-Gospel presentation-Consequence]

Hosea 4:6-10

Get closer to God.

 

A. We must get closer to God.

{My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge...}(Verse 6).

God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The word ‘knowledge’ comes from ‘to know well, to become intimate relation.’ This is not just to believe that God exists, but to have a close relationship with God. The Lord said, “The Father and I are one”(John 10:30). It is the essence of a religious life to get close relations with God every day.

 

B. The more prosperous, the more careful you should be.

{The more they increased, the more they sinned against me...}(Verse 7).

But Israel had kept away from God as the number of people increased and life became more prosperous. “The more they increased, the more they sinned against me.” The more grace they received, the more they should thanks to and go near to God. But Israel forgot Him. They turned the worship into a means of prosperity. They interested in offering rather than worship. God warned them that He would turn their glory into a disgrace.

 

C. The Word of God should be the standard of living.

{And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children}(Verse 6).

Then what is the way to get closer to God? In the text, ‘the law’ means ‘to go on the right path, to lay the foundations of life.’ We are made as God's people when we are on the right path by obeying the law. Remember that Jesus said “I am the living bread. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever”(John 6:51). Every day we make ourselves by the Word, the Word sets the standard of our life.

 

D. We shall be judged as we did.

{I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds}(Verse 9).

To live according to the Word of God means to make the Word my standard of thought, words and deeds. The text states, “I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.” God the Judge must judge our lives. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock”(Matthew 7:24). Those who live by the Word of God as the standard of life will be blessed.

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Hosea 4:6-10 (NRSV)

6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

7  The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; they changed their glory into shame.

8  They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.

9  And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.

10  They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply; because they have forsaken the Lord to devote themselves to whoredom.