We've officially ushered in a New Year and a new decade. And, maybe like me (or not), you're nearly a week into your resolution or your word. I pray that whatever you're "resolute" about, you continue to be courageous in the fight of faith. 

Over the holiday, I created a new Facebook group for Divinely Interrupted. After some prodding from all of you (thank you, btw), I decided to create a space where we could have a bit more meaningful connection and digest the Word further. 

As a recap, we've worked through Hosea 1-3, which is an "action sermon" between Hosea and his prostitute wife, Gomer. This story provides a vivid picture of what the people of Israel had done to their God by prostituting themselves and committing "spiritual adultery" (Wiersbe). The 3 primary sins we've focused on are ingratitude, idolatry, and hypocrisy. I've more familiar with these sins than I care to be, but it makes me grateful for God's redeeming love. 

This week, we enter a new chapter, and it takes a twist. The sadness of this week's chapter is that God wanted to forgive His people, but they weren't ready. They didn't even want to admit they had sinned. Rough. So God conducted a trial to show them the sin. Not because He wanted them to live condemned, but because He desired for them to experience His redemption and confession is part of that redemption process.

It's a basic spiritual principle that until people experience the guilt of conviction, they can't enjoy the glory of conversion.

- Wiersbe

Before we head into the courtroom, I'd like to provide a few thoughts about this text. We know, as believers, there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). We also know that Jesus is our Advocate for when we do sin (1 John 2) and that this text is addressed to God's people who refused to admit their wrongdoing. Keep this in mind, especially if you struggle with Satan's lie that you're not "good enough" to be loved. Ironically, you aren't good enough (and neither am I). Which is why Christ became holy for you. Andrew Murray once wrote, "Your nothingness is your highest blessing." If you think you need to be something to be loved, then you've now succumbed to one of Satan's favorite sins: pride. You are nothing, and that is precisely what God needs to use you for His glory.

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,

    for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.

There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,

    and no knowledge of God in the land;

2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;

    they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 Therefore the land mourns,

    and all who dwell in it languish,

and also the beasts of the field

    and the birds of the heavens,

    and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

• God uses the Ten Commandments as the "measuring stick" of holiness. After all, the Law given at Mt. Sinai was the covenant God established with His people, and He's merely holding them accountable to it. 

• As I read these characteristics of sin, I see so much of these transgressions today. No faithfulness, love, or knowledge of God. Swearing, lying, murder, stealing, committing adultery. Oy. Specifically, look at the second half of verse 2 that says, "They break all bounds..."

• I want to talk for a moment about boundaries. It's counter-culture to discuss limits in a society that's riddled with mantras like, "no boundaries" or "be limitless." This is the exact opposite of the Kingdom mindset. In God's economy, boundaries are established not to constrict us, but to bless us. 

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers" (Proverbs 22:28).

• God establishes boundary stones via His Word. Specifically, the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments. The Law was never made to make us sinless, but to show us our sin (Romans 7:7). God created parameters because it's within those parameters where His grace abounds. He desires to bless us, but as we wander from the fold of His safety, we become vulnerable. His voice begins to fade in the background, and the shadows close in. Yet, over and over again, He leaves the 99 and looks for the wandering sheep (see Matthew 18). I've been that one sheep before. Some days, I still am. Nevertheless, He is a Good, Good Shepherd and His sheep know His voice. If you've roamed outside those boundary stones, friends, know that He's ready to bring you home again. 

4 Yet let no one contend,

    and let none accuse,

    for with you is my contention, O priest.

5 You shall stumble by day;

    the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;

    and I will destroy your mother.

• Sadly, the ones who have made the people stumble are the priests. "Worldly and ignorant spiritual leaders produce worldly and ignorant people, and this brings destruction on the land" (Wiersbe). 

• This is a stern warning not just for men who are pastor-teachers, but also for those of us who are leaders at work, teachers at school, parents at home, friends, siblings, and so forth. We each have a role (or multiple roles), and when we are not walking whole through Christ, we break others in the process. 

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;

    because you have rejected knowledge,

    I reject you from being a priest to me.

• When we don't have a knowledge of the things of God, we are tossed to and fro. We don't know what true knowledge is because we're so accustomed to counterfeit knowledge. That's why we must be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, which reads, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Just because you're taught it on Sunday doesn't make it true. Be certain you're studying God's Word and examining Scriptures every day to see if it aligns with the truth of God. 

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;

    I will change 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 cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine,

    which take away the understanding.

12 My people inquire of a piece of wood,

    and their walking staff gives them oracles.

For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,

    and they have left their God to play the whore.

13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains

    and burn offerings on the hills,

under oak, poplar, and terebinth,

    because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters play the whore,

    and your brides commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,

    nor your brides when they commit adultery;

for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes

    and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,

and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

• This section continues to speak to the priests and the foul and sinful work they've produced in the lives of the Israelite people. These priests were to lead the people to God, and instead, they sacrificed to idols, practiced cultic activities, and continued to feed sin. The priests own daughters, and daughters-in-law became shrine prostitutes!

15 Though you play the whore, O Israel,

    let not Judah become guilty.

Enter not into Gilgal,

    nor go up to Beth-aven,

    and swear not, "As the Lord lives."

16 Like a stubborn heifer,

    Israel is stubborn;

can the Lord now feed them

    like a lamb in a broad pasture?

17 Ephraim is joined to idols;

    leave him alone.

18 When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring;

    their rulers dearly love shame.

19 A wind has wrapped them in its wings,

    and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

• Remember that at this time, there were two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. The southern kingdom of Judah was carefully watching the events that were taking place in the northern kingdom of Israel. The people of Judah were to worship in Jerusalem (a city within Israel), yet there were shrines, high places, and sin at each turn. Life can feel like that sometimes. We desire to worship God, yet everywhere we look, there are these "sin mines" waiting to destroy us. Fortunately, God has given us the light of His Word to illuminate our path and protection and defense for the battle. As it tells us in Ephesians 6:11, each day, we must "put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

• Are you ready to put on ALL the pieces of armor and to stand within the boundaries God has established in your life through His Word? Let's practice putting on our armor today:

1. Your belt of truth buckled around your waist.

2. Your breastplate of righteousness arrayed.

3. Your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

4. Your shield of faith to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one.

5. Your helmet of salvation.

6. Your sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. 

7. Now, stand.