Hosea 9-10 – Sowing & Reaping

Hosea 9-10 – Sowing & Reaping

2004064

Topic # 688

Introduction:

A. After harvest every year, there was a celebration in land of Israel.

1. people commanded to come together for worship/praise.

2. a time of singing, feasting, and expression of gratitude for the grain & produce harvested.

3. Some speculate that it was in the midst of one of these celebrations that Hosea marched in uninvited & preached the contents of Hosea 9-10.

B. 9:9 – Israel had become a corrupted people.

1. important to understand that they didn’t start out this way.

2. But, through a long, gradual process – they sank deep into corruption.

3. When Hosea mentions Gibeah in 9:9 – people would know exactly what he talking about.

a) Judges 19-20 – Gibea was sight of extreme lewdness & obscenity.

b) Mentioning its name would have triggered memories of humiliation in Israel’s national history.

4. 9:7 – Hosea says the time of punishment has come, judgment has been declared.

a) there will be no more chance to worship God in liberty & joy.

b) Feasting & family life will be taken away.

C. 9:10 – Israel had not always been this way.

1. 10a – at one time Israel was fruitful & life-giving.

2. they were ready to serve God & followed through w/His expectations. (Full of opportunity and potential!)

3. But it changed: 9:10b

a) 600 yrs before – they joined themselves to Baal in wilderness in Moab.

b) Numbers 25 – could it be argued that Israel preferred Baalism to their own covenant with God?

1) a “fun” religion – filled with drunkenness; feasting; and illicit entertainment.

c) a strong effort made by Moses to stamp out this religion (24K died) but Israel never fully overcame it’s temptation w/Baalism.

4. In these chapters, Hosea says Israel’s rejection of God & rebellion against His law are nothing new. They were part and partial to the nation’s entire history.

D. 10:12-15 – Israel has reaped what they sowed.

1. 10:12 – they had been instructed to sow righteousness.

a) live lives demonstrated by kindness.

b) Seek the Lord.

2. 10:13 – Instead they plowed wickedness; ate the fruit of lies; and trusted in their own way.

3. They reaped injustice & would be destroyed.

4. 10:15 – great wickedness – shouldn’t be unnoticed. Hebrew: intense evil

E. There are powerful lessons for us here.

I. 9:7 – We must not reject God’s revealed truth & reject God’s messenger.

A. We can so easily see Israel’s patter & gradual descent away from God.

1. scary thing: happened so gradually – that some never saw God’s judgment coming.

2. lived in a pattern of self denial, “glossing over” the situation.

3. resented those who stood up for God’s way.

B. 9:7b – Hosea’s message was trivialized & discounted.

1. They could not acknowledge their guilt & reacted to their accuser w/anger.

2. Are there things we don’t wish to hear?

3. Don’t we claim to go by bible authority?

a) biblical authority doesn’t just apply to religious practice & standing up against denominationalism!

b) Applying Bible authority means we must let God’s word permeate our life. Soak in our heart. Thoughts must be molded by influence of the HS.

C. Do we always want to hear of need to serve God w/our best & not just offer up minimal service?

1. need to properly deal w/anger? Forgive others who hurt us?

2. instructions on putting away worldliness? Selfishness?

3. Do we resent those who approach us out of love w/corrective discipline?

a) Do we trivialize & discount their message?

b) Do we remember they are coming w/love of our soul?

4. Rom. 13:11-14 – Wake up! Many of us are lulling our spiritual lives to sleep.

D. We will reap what we sow.

II. 10:1-2 – Physical Blessing is not always a sign of God’s approval.

A. Look around & say…wow! God has really blessed me! Look at all physical blessings. He wouldn’t allow this if I weren’t doing right.

1. Really? Look at what happened here.

B. Prosperity led to proliferation of false religion rather than true worship.

1. God had provided 1 altar in Jerusalem - & yet they created multiple altars w/a corrupt priesthood mingling in Canaanite religion w/worship to God.

2. 10:2 – God would break down their altars.

C. God’s complaint was the false manner that Israel used its prosperity.

1. what people do with their prosperity is indicative of the direction of their heart

D. We’ve been immensely blessed. Financially. Education, Etc.

1. How are we using the resources God has provided?

a) Do we always remember we are stewards of God’s property? Given to us by Him.

b) Why we stingy w/our resources? Have our resources b/c the idols of today?

c) Look at the god-given resources you bring to the table.

2. God is calling you to respond in faith & put them to use!

a) does no good hoarding talent, money!

3. 2 Cor. 8-9 – Corinth delayed in sending assistance to saints in Jeru.

a) 8:7 – Paul urged them to abound in this.

b) 8:10-11 – must act/follow through on their desires.

c) 9:6-15 – sowing & reaping. We must respond in faith! Knowing that God will be there!

d) Must use our blessings & prosperity for His glory!

E. With prosperity comes responsibility!

1. as individuals; as a congregation.

2. 9:6-7 – remember this principle.

III. 10:11-13 – We must not reject a lifestyle of serving God.

A. 10:11 – Israel compared to a young heifer cherished by the farmer & lovingly trained to thresh out the grain.

1. such animals were allowed to eat at will from threshing floor. Well fed, sleek, fat. Fair neck speaks of strength as well as beauty.

2. Israel had been chosen by God for a purpose.

a) in earlier times, they delighted in serving God. At one time, they were fulfilling God’s purposes. God had given preferential treatment to Israel.

b) God had a right to expect them to serve faithfully & called them to disciplined responsibility.

3. 10:11 – basically God is saying instead of having it fat & easy on the threshing floor – they would now be harnessed to the plow.

B. Consider 10:12 – in light of what God expects of us!

1. We’ve received preferential treatment! Anyone deserve salvation?

2. sow w/a view to righteousness. reap loving kindness

3. seek God/know Him/LIVE for Him!

4. this involves a lifestyle of serving God!

C. Lifestyle – everything in our life must revolved around God & His service.

1. Reflected in the decisions we make. Made in view of God’s will.

2. Col. 3:1-2

a) career; marriage; friends; application of His will to our life.

D. In short, a lifestyle living for God will be radically different from the person outside of Christ.

1. 1 Peter 4:1-5

2. 1 Peter 4:6 – live in the spirit according to the will of God.

3. This lifestyle described in 4:7-11

a) those who seek to blend the lifestyle of Christ w/that of the world will fail miserably!

E. Blending = rejection! It is an unwillingness to obediently serve God!

1. Gal. 6:7-8 – we reap what we sow.

2. Must be aware of the danger of thinking unwillingness to serve isn’t a big deal.

a) God can get along without me. He can.

b) We can’t get along without Him!

3. Hos. 10:15 – if we refuse to be what He has called us – it is evil rebellion!

Conclusion:

A. We’ve been called be servants – like Jesus.

1. everyday, everywhere we care called to be servants & glorify Him.

2. start out everyday: Lord, how can I serve you today by serving others?

B. Our spiritual lives are going to be full of struggle, strain, and stress until we accept our calling to servanthood!

1. Too many limp pitifully behind the façade they’ve created – pretending everything’s OK – denying the unalterable truth – we reap what we sow!

2. Don’t do it anymore!

C. Give yourself to Jesus!

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Hosea 9-10 – Sowing & Reaping 2004064 Topic # 688 Introduction: A. After harvest every year, there was a celebration in land of Israel. 1. people commanded to come together for worship/praise. 2. a time of singing, feasting, and expression of gratitude for the grain & produce harvested. 3. Some speculate that it was in the midst of one of these celebrations that Hosea marched in uninvited & preached the contents of Hosea 9-10. B. 9:9 – Israel had become a corrupted people. 1. important to understand that they didn’t start out this way. 2. But, through a long, gradual process – they sank deep into corruption. 3. When Hosea mentions Gibeah in 9:9 – people would know exactly what he talking about. a) Judges 19-20 – Gibea was sight of extreme lewdness & obscenity. b) Mentioning its name would have triggered memories of humiliation in Israel’s national history. 4. 9:7 – Hosea says the time of punishment has come, judgment has been declared. a) there will be no more chance to worship God in liberty & joy. b) Feasting & family life will be taken away. C. 9:10 – Israel had not always been this way. 1. 10a – at one time Israel was fruitful & life-giving. 2. they were ready to serve God & followed through w/His expectations. (Full of opportunity and potential!) 3. But it changed: 9:10b a) 600 yrs before – they joined themselves to Baal in wilderness in Moab. b) Numbers 25 – could it be argued that Israel preferred Baalism to their own covenant with God? 1) a “fun” religion – filled with drunkenness; feasting; and illicit entertainment. c) a strong effort made by Moses to stamp out this religion (24K died) but Israel never fully overcame it’s temptation w/Baalism. 4. In these chapters, Hosea says Israel’s rejection of God & rebellion against His law are nothing new. They were part and partial to the nation’s entire history. D. 10:12-15 – Israel has reaped what they sowed. 1. 10:12 – they had been instructed to sow righteousness. a) live lives demonstrated by kindness. b) Seek the Lord. 2. 10:13 – Instead they plowed wickedness; ate the fruit of lies; and trusted in their own way. 3. They reaped injustice & would be destroyed. 4. 10:15 – great wickedness – shouldn’t be unnoticed. Hebrew: intense evil E. There are powerful lessons for us here. I. 9:7 – We must not reject God’s revealed truth & reject God’s messenger. A. We can so easily see Israel’s patter & gradual descent away from God. 1. scary thing: happened so gradually – that some never saw God’s judgment coming. 2. lived in a pattern of self denial, “glossing over” the situation. 3. resented those who stood up for God’s way. B. 9:7b – Hosea’s message was trivialized & discounted. 1. They could not acknowledge their guilt & reacted to their accuser w/anger. 2. Are there things we don’t wish to hear? 3. Don’t we claim to go by bible authority? a) biblical authority doesn’t just apply to religious practice & standing up against denominationalism! b) Applying Bible authority means we must let God’s word permeate our life. Soak in our heart. Thoughts must be molded by influence of the HS. C. Do we always want to hear of need to serve God w/our best & not just offer up minimal service? 1. need to properly deal w/anger? Forgive others who hurt us? 2. instructions on putting away worldliness? Selfishness? 3. Do we resent those who approach us out of love w/corrective discipline? a) Do we trivialize & discount their message? b) Do we remember they are coming w/love of our soul? 4. Rom. 13:11-14 – Wake up! Many of us are lulling our spiritual lives to sleep. D. We will reap what we sow. II. 10:1-2 – Physical Blessing is not always a sign of God’s approval. A. Look around & say…wow! God has really blessed me! Look at all physical blessings. He wouldn’t allow this if I weren’t doing right. 1. Really? Look at what happened here. B. Prosperity led to proliferation of false religion rather than true worship. 1. God had provided 1 altar in Jerusalem - & yet they created multiple altars w/a corrupt priesthood mingling in Canaanite religion w/worship to God. 2. 10:2 – God would break down their altars. C. God’s complaint was the false manner that Israel used its prosperity. 1. *what people do with their prosperity is indicative of the direction of their heart* D. We’ve been immensely blessed. Financially. Education, Etc. 1. How are we using the resources God has provided? a) Do we always remember we are stewards of God’s property? Given to us by Him. b) Why we stingy w/our resources? Have our resources b/c the idols of today? c) Look at the god-given resources you bring to the table. 2. God is calling you to respond in faith & put them to use! a) does no good hoarding talent, money! 3. 2 Cor. 8-9 – Corinth delayed in sending assistance to saints in Jeru. a) 8:7 – Paul urged them to abound in this. b) 8:10-11 – must act/follow through on their desires. c) 9:6-15 – sowing & reaping. We must respond in faith! Knowing that God will be there! d) Must use our blessings & prosperity for His glory! E. With prosperity comes responsibility! 1. as individuals; as a congregation. 2. 9:6-7 – remember this principle. III. 10:11-13 – We must not reject a lifestyle of serving God. A. 10:11 – Israel compared to a young heifer cherished by the farmer & lovingly trained to thresh out the grain. 1. such animals were allowed to eat at will from threshing floor. Well fed, sleek, fat. Fair neck speaks of strength as well as beauty. 2. Israel had been chosen by God for a purpose. a) in earlier times, they delighted in serving God. At one time, they were fulfilling God’s purposes. God had given preferential treatment to Israel. b) God had a right to expect them to serve faithfully & called them to disciplined responsibility. 3. 10:11 – basically God is saying instead of having it fat & easy on the threshing floor – they would now be harnessed to the plow. B. Consider 10:12 – in light of what God expects of us! 1. We’ve received preferential treatment! Anyone deserve salvation? 2. sow w/a view to righteousness. reap loving kindness 3. seek God/know Him/LIVE for Him! 4. this involves a lifestyle of serving God! C. Lifestyle – everything in our life must revolved around God & His service. 1. Reflected in the decisions we make. Made in view of God’s will. 2. Col. 3:1-2 a) career; marriage; friends; application of His will to our life. D. In short, a lifestyle living for God will be radically different from the person outside of Christ. 1. 1 Peter 4:1-5 2. 1 Peter 4:6 – live in the spirit according to the will of God. 3. This lifestyle described in 4:7-11 a) those who seek to blend the lifestyle of Christ w/that of the world will fail miserably! E. Blending = rejection! It is an unwillingness to obediently serve God! 1. Gal. 6:7-8 – we reap what we sow. 2. Must be aware of the danger of thinking unwillingness to serve isn’t a big deal. a) God can get along without me. He can. b) We can’t get along without Him! 3. Hos. 10:15 – if we refuse to be what He has called us – it is evil rebellion! Conclusion: A. We’ve been called be servants – like Jesus. 1. everyday, everywhere we care called to be servants & glorify Him. 2. start out everyday: Lord, how can I serve you today by serving others? B. Our spiritual lives are going to be full of struggle, strain, and stress until we accept our calling to servanthood! 1. Too many limp pitifully behind the façade they’ve created – pretending everything’s OK – denying the unalterable truth – we reap what we sow! 2. Don’t do it anymore! C. Give yourself to Jesus! D. I N V I T A T I O N