When God Responds With Chastening
Hosea 6:4-7, "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me."
God's dealings with His children are always righteous and just. Psalm 19:9, "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether." God responds to Israel's remnant who is suggesting returning to the LORD (Hosea 6:1). He states: "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? He knows their walking in righteousness is short-lived (as a morning cloud or morning dew). He has dealt with them based upon His Word "...I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth..." So what did God desire from them as He spoke to them through His Word? The answer is found in verse six. "...I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Why such a desire? I believe it is because man can go through the motions of worship without his heart being right. Man can go through the motions without being real and genuine. Clarke's Commentary on the Bible states: "I desired mercy, and not sacrifice - I taught them righteousness by my prophets; for I desired mercy. I was more willing to save than to destroy; and would rather see them full of penitent and holy resolutions, than behold them offering the best and most numerous victims upon my altar."
If our heart isn't right with God, then ultimately, He must chasten us. I'm thankful for God's grace, but it isn't a license for us to live in sin. Israel had come to the place where judgment was a necessity. How sad a condition for any of God's children.
May we walk in humble obedience to the Lord and enjoy knowing Him experientially in our lives.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Is your worship real and genuine? Explain your answer.
2. Why might our worship become stale and mundane?
3. How might you improve upon your worship and daily experience with God?