We’re going to hear a very clear message from Hosea this morning, which is that we’re to seek the Lord. We’ve been making our way through the book of Hosea and over and over we’ve seen how God loves you, and desires to bless you, if only you’ll turn to him.
So again, in our reading you’re given a warning and a choice.
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered at Bromborough Evangelical Church Wirral in October 2024. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
Don’t trust religion or politics (v1-10)
Hosea has had quite a bit to say about empty religion, and he does it again here. Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 a number of times because what Hosea says is so pointed, so helpful. Read Hosea 10:1.
Israel were called a “vine” in a few places in the Old Testament. (It’s why Jesus calls himself the “true vine” in the New Testament.)
Imagine a lush vine growing up, producing lots of lovely fruit. The problem with Israel’s fruit was that it was sin and idolatry! God planted the vine in a lush land. He blessed Israel in so many ways. And as they grew and progressed, they ignored God and followed after their own ways.
Much as you do yourself, really. You’ve been blessed by God so very deeply, and yet you don’t honour him with your life.
It’s possible to have a kind of “parody faith” – something that looks like the real thing, and even says you worship the God of the Bible, but it’s not the real thing.
Parody religion
Israel had set up a golden calf in Bethel. Bethel means “house of God”. The idea was that you could worship the God of Israel in Bethel rather than go to Jerusalem – the place God said you should go to. Today, God calls you to go to Jesus to come to him. But you prefer a vague semi-religion of your own design. But that’s false religion. You’re making God suit you.
Some people trust in politicians. Read Hosea 10:3.
They did have a king, but they didn’t respect him or God. The king lived in the city of Samaria, and he did rule even though people lived in rebellion. Again, not unlike our own society.
So what happens if you trust in religion or politics? Read Hosea 10:5-7.
He calls Bethel, Beth-aven. Instead of “house of God”, it’s become “house of empty idolatry”. That calf will be taken by an enemy empire, the Assyrians. And the king will float away like foam on water. Vanished.
Judgment yet to come
In case that all sounds like ancient history, you need to know that God repeats these warnings throughout the Bible. Still today people enjoy their cosy, fuzzy religion. Still today, people trust in politicians to fix things. And still people find them disappointing, and keep on trying different versions – without ever turning to God, who stands with arms open wide to all who will come.
The false religion and ungodly kings and rulers of Hosea’s time would all be swept away in judgment. Everyone who followed them was swept away too. And judgment is awful. Read Hosea 10:8.
They’d rather have mountains and hills bury them than face the judgment of God.
So here’s the point: Their day of judgment did come, and it’s given to you as a warning of what’s coming to the whole earth.
Revelation tells us of the judgment of God when Christ will return to the earth. He will harvest the earth. He will separate all humanity, keeping his own people safe and bringing judgment on everyone else. Read Revelation 6:12-17.
You will see and experience that day. Will you be able to stand?
It is time to seek the Lord (v11-15)
We’re given some harvest imagery in these verses. And in particular, you’re given a choice to make. It begins with God bringing a yoke of trouble. Read Hosea 10:11.
Remember a ‘yoke’ is the piece of wood you’d put over an animal’s shoulders so that it could pull something. Threshing was nice, easy work. An animal just had to walk over grain and was allowed to eat some of what it walked on.
But God says here that he will put a hard yoke of trouble on the nation. This particular yoke for them was the impending exile, the judgment of God. How would they respond? How will you respond, with the certainty of God’s judgment hanging over you?
Verse 12 shows you clearly what God wants you to do!
Read Hosea 10:12.
What is the unploughed ground God wants you to work? Think about what unploughed land looks like: A field of weeds and thistles. A hard surface, difficult to break through. That’s an image of your life, your heart. Filled with weeds of distraction; full of thistles of pain. Hard-hearted, becoming harder and tougher with every passing year. Nobody’s fool, you think.
Heart surgery
And God says, “Break up your unploughed ground.” Open your heart to him. Sow righteousness and reap faithful love.
What does that even mean? Simply, “It is time to seek the LORD.” Open your heart to him and he will sow righteousness in you, and the faithful love you will reap is that which he shows to you! Turn from your sin, from your dependence on fuzziness about religion, or your trust in politicians. They don’t love you. But God does, intensely.
If you put your trust in anything but him, you will be swept along in judgment with everyone and everything else. But he loves you and longs for you to turn to him. Cry out to him for forgiveness as you turn from sin. Trust him; open your heart. He will forgive. He will send righteousness on you like the rain!
You will be poured on, saturated with his love and forgiveness, declared righteous in his sight.
How? You are a sinner! By the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who takes your punishment at the cross.
The alternative
What if you don’t? Well, that’s the choice these verses offer.
Read Hosea 10:13-15.
- You already know the mess of people’s lives without God.
- “You have ploughed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way…”
How many people have become exhausted with religion? Year after year of trying to do religious stuff in a vague hope that God would find it acceptable? Do you feel the burden of impossible standards weighing down on you? Or the anxiety of hoping that you’re life is good enough, even though you know you’ve done wrong?
The invitation
Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Will you plough your own way through life, knowing that God has warned you here of judgment to come? Or will you break up your hard heart, and go to Jesus for rest?
No more toil or eternal anxiety. Rest and peace of heart and mind now – and forever.
Will you put it off? “It is time to seek the LORD.”