Wings Like Eagles

The prophet Hosea worked among the people of the northern kingdom shortly before their fall to Assyria.  He described people as guilty of spiritual adultery.  The marriage of the prophet to Gomer, an adulterer, is used to illustrate the nation’s sinful conduct.  The prophet called on the nation to return  to God.

To further emphasize the sinful condition of  Israel, God calls them to court.  He recites the charges in 4:1: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”  Throughout chapter 4 the charges are elaborated.  The people, to their credit, understand there is a serious problem and cry out, “Come, and let us return unto the LORD” (6:1).

What is unfortunate is the way they attempt to return to God, through ceremonial worship alone.  They saw the return as requiring little effort or time on their part: “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:2,3).

The people were mistaken, for God’s desire was not empty ceremony in a worship setting.  What God desired was a changed life.  God’s response was “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”   God’s desire was a lifestyle that showed covenant their relationship in action toward their neighbors which grew out of personal, intimate knowledge of God.  The people did not know God, they simply knew about Him.

Does the prophet mean God did not want the worship of sacrifice at all? NO!  He did mean that the actions of worship are meaningless without a lifestyle consistent with knowing God.  Hosea was not the only prophet to emphasize this principle.  Listen to Isaiah 1:11-15: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear
them.  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.”

What about today?  Is God’s desire any different?  Is worship important?  Yes, but God finds it pleasing only when it is offered from hearts set on knowing Him and lives that are merciful.

—Denny