Hosea 4:1-3 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.

INTRODUCTION
As you’ve likely heard me mention more than once, the first major section of Hosea, Hosea 1-3, contains an abbreviated version of the entire message of Hosea. God determined to communicate that message through what’s been called, “enacted prophecy”—that is, through the marriage of Hosea and his wife, Gomer. In the first section, in the marriage of the prophet, we find the unfaithfulness of God’s people (referred to as harlotry) and its subsequent warnings of judgment and promises of restoration. The warnings and promises are close together and often alternating. We also find the primary message delivered in prose.

This morning then, we are set to begin the second section of Hosea. In it Hosea speaks plainly to Israel concerning her unfaithfulness and its consequences. That message fills verse after verse and page after page. Compared to the first section, there is very little relief from God’s accusations and judgments upon Israel. At times it can feel like an unrelenting tide. There are small traces of mercy and grace sprinkled throughout, but they are relatively few and far between. While the first section is primarily delivered in prose, this section is primarily delivered in poetic language.

Hosea 4:1-3, our text for this morning, serves as the introduction to this new section. In it we see four main points: 1) God addresses his people, 2) God addresses his people because he has a controversy with them, 3) God has a controversy with them because they have been unfaithful to him, and 4) The result of all of this will be suffering for everyone and everything. It is my hope that as we plumb the depths of sin’s grip on mankind (and all of creation), we will be left even more amazed by the grace of God that reached us in our depths. Let’s pray that it would be so.

GOD ADDRESSES HIS PEOPLE
Way back in Jr. High all of my classmates were given the opportunity to write a question about drugs. This was during the time of the former first lady, Nancy Regan’s “Just Say No” campaign. My question, along with three others, was chosen from the rest. The four of us each received a giant piece of candy and the chance to meet NBA All-Star, Detroit Pistons point guard, Isaiah Thomas. What’s more, my question was selected to be asked directly to Isaiah Thomas. This was when the Pistons were known as the “Bad Boys” and won back to back NBA titles. In other words, this was a big deal for me. I was in awe that I was able to shake Isaiah Thomas’s hand and talk to him—even briefly.

Before we get too deep into the text, I want you to consider something remarkable. The God of the universe, the one who holds the oceans and galaxies in the palm of his hand, the one who knows every grain of sand and every hair on our heads, the one who speaks and the dead come alive, the one who governs all things according to his sovereign will, and the One who made all things and holds all things together (including every NBA All-Star), that God speaks directly to his people.

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel…

Grace, let’s not take this for granted. God is under no obligation to speak to us or to interact with us on any benevolent level; especially in light of our rebellion against him…and yet he does. In love he has revealed his will to us, the blessings for living consistently with it and the consequences of failing to do so, and He has told us how his people can be reconciled to him when we fall short of it. In addition, he’s spoken to us concerning everything we need to know about his nature and ours, his creation and our place in it, how and why we are to gather together, why evil and suffering exist, and on and on. Indeed, the Lord of All has chosen to make known to us everything we need to know about life and godliness.

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Grace. Let us learn from the Israelites and not think too lightly of the fact that God has spoken or of His demand that we listen. God addresses his people.

GOD ADDRESSES HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE HE HAS A CONTROVERSY WITH THEM
Before we get too deep here, let’s consider something else; let’s consider what God said to his people here.

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.

Could there be any more dire words spoken? Hosea wrote, God himself has a problem with you, Israel. He has a case against you. Tremble at the thought of hearing these words, Grace. I’ve had a controversy with parents, siblings, friends, teachers, police officers, and countless others. None of it was pleasant. Indeed, the consequences, at times, were significant. And yet, of course, none of that (not all of it combined and multiplied by 1,000,000) can come close to the consequences of having controversy with God.

In the words that follow we’ll consider the specific nature of God’s controversy with the Israelites. Here, however, consider with me the fact that from the Garden (just three chapters into the bible), God has had a controversy with all of mankind. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. And the wages of that sin is enmity with God leading to death.

Romans 8:5-8 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…⁶ To set the mind on the flesh is death… ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Grace, perhaps the most important thing you will hear in this message is this: apart from divine intervention you are an enemy of God and all that awaits you is God’s wrath. God has a controversy with you and if he doesn’t act on your behalf its end is only and certainly suffering and death.

What we know and Hosea only hoped for, however, is that God has intervened on our behalf. He has sent his Son to atone for our sins and reconcile us to God. By trusting in God (not ourselves) and turning from our sins, we can be saved. God’s controversy with us will be turned to commendation in Christ. Repent, therefore, and be rescued. Listen to God and place your hope in Christ. The Israelites refused to do so and were crushed. Let us learn from them and be redeemed.

What, then, was the specific nature of God’s controversy with Israel?

GOD HAS A CONTROVERSY WITH HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE UNFAITHFUL
The answer to that question and the overall message of this second section of Hosea is that the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been persistently unfaithful to God—acting as a prostitute with foreign nations and their fake gods. This kindled God’s jealous love white hot. They would therefore incur God’s severe discipline. God has a controversy with his people because they have been playing the whore for generations.

But how, specifically, were they acting unfaithfully?

Unfaithful by Omission
As you may know, it is helpful to have at least two categories for sin: 1) sins of omission, and 2) sins of commission. Sins of omission are good things that we fail to do—like a husband not keeping his wife warm (truly cherishing her). Sins of commission are bad things we do do—like a husband yelling at his wife. Most of us tend to think mainly (or even exclusively) in terms of sins of commission, but Hosea provides a list of each type that were at the heart of God’s controversy with, and jealous love for, Israel.

There are three things specifically named by Hosea that the Israelites were failing to do. These three omissions were the absolute spirit of all of God’s requirements.

There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land…

1. Failing to be faithful. The very heart of being God’s people meant hoping in God, trusting in God, being devoted to God—being faithful to God. As we’ve seen the Israelites were devoted to the enemy nations and their gods. They believed they would survive and thrive by dedicating themselves to them rather than God. This was among their most grievous offenses.
2. Failing to be steadfast in love. The primary expression of faithfulness or devotion to God is love. Where they failed to be faithful, then, it should be no surprise that they failed to love. Their hearts were carried away by the promises of others. They wanted to be like the nations, not like the one true God. Their affection was for the creation rather than the Creator. Again, their spiritual adultery was seen clearly in their lack of love for God.
3. Failing to maintain knowledge of God. Finally, Hosea mentions that there was no knowledge of God in the land. The truth about God’s nature and purposes and covenant had been distorted and lost and forgotten. The people had neglected and rejected the Word of God for so long that truth was indistinguishable from lies. Just as in the book of Judges, everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Absent these three dispositions—that is, in committing these three sins of omission—in what way could the Israelites claim to be God’s people? What would it mean to be God’s people if it didn’t mean these things? Faithfulness, love, and knowledge of God are at the very heart of being distinct from the world and the very center of God’s covenant with his people. They are the essence of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).

And yet, how many of us are believing (or have believed) in a version of Christianity that is just like this? How many of us, if we’re honest, have claimed to have faith in Christ but are really trusting in our health or savings or family? How many of us claim to love God, but find more joy in a hobby or TV show or kid or friend? How many of us claim to know God, but don’t study the bible and in reality have fashioned a God in our image?

Looking from the outside into the Israelites folly and adultery, it can be easy to think, “Stupid Israelites. I’m sure glad that I’m not like them.” But Grace, this is us. We are the Israelites. We too are faithless and unloving and ignorant at times. Our hope cannot be in our ability to avoid these sins of omission—we have already committed them. Instead, our hope must come from outside of us, in the person of Jesus Christ who was perfectly faithful, loving, and true. That doesn’t mean that we don’t give ourselves to those things, but it does mean that our salvation can never come from obeying them.

As bad as that was, it got worse. Hosea has more to say about the unfaithfulness of Israel. Because Israel failed to keep the spirit of God’s covenant with them, it is no surprise that they also failed to keep the letter. And that leads us to Hosea’s list of Israel’s sins of commission.

Unfaithful by Commission
Look at verse 2, “…there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”

Swearing in this sense is most likely synonymous with taking the LORD’s name in vain and is therefore a violation of the Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7). Lying is common and expected whenever knowledge of God has been lost. It is also a violation of the Ninth Commandment (Exodus 20:9) and one of God’s charges against Israel. Murdering was a violation of the Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:13) and another mark of the Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. “You shall not steal” is the Eighth Commandment (Exodus 20:15) and one of Israel’s sins of commission. And in committing adultery they were violating the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) and pairing their spiritual unfaithfulness with physical, marital unfaithfulness.

These five things Hosea sums up at the end of 4:2, “They break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” Breaking all bounds meant that their sins were not limited to the ones explicitly mentioned by Hosea and therefore their sins piled up one upon another; indeed, bloodshed followed bloodshed.

Through sins of omission and commission Israel had forsaken the LORD their God. And thus, God charged Hosea to speak on his behalf and declare his controversy against her; namely, that she had violated the terms of the covenant and were thus liable for its consequences. What, then, did that mean for the Israelites and the land God had given to them? What would become of her and it? Look with me at verse 3 for the answer.

THEREFORE, THERE WILL BE SUFFERING FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING
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.

There are three quick notes I want to make concerning this verse. First, we can’t help but notice that it is reminiscent of Creation; but in reverse. In Genesis 1 and 2 we read of God making the heavens and the earth and the animals of the sky, land, and water. This time, however, instead of being very good and bearing fruit, creation is morning and languishing and being taken away. Hosea, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, spoke in such a way as to draw the Israelites attention to the very beginning, the very foundational act of God, as a way of showing them the treacherous nature of their sin. Not to make light of this, but it’s kind of like the Bill Cosby father-threat, “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it.” God made this world, and he will end it if it refuses to honor him as God.

Second, this is reminiscent of the Flood; but worse. Everything was destroyed in the flood except Noah, the people and animals he took with him on the Arc, and, evidently the fish of the sea. Here, however, God promises destruction for even the fish. Sin is this serious. God is not mildly bothered by sin. It is not a petty nuisance to him. Sin, all sin, any sin, is full treason. We love to think of the power of the whole of the divine being of God being spent on his love for his people—and we should, because he does in Christ. But the reality is that He also spends the whole of his divine being burning in anger at his enemies—and at that we should tremble because it means there’s a fierceness unknown to mankind. Therefore, God has and is and will seek out every last iota of sin and punish it with the fullness of his might—either on Christ for those who hope in God or in eternal conscious torment who hope in anything else.

Finally, we need to understand that this is still the case today. We are still experiencing the effects of this judgment. In Romans 8:22-23 Paul wrote, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Have you ever wondered why life can be so difficult? Have you ever wondered why there is cancer and earthquakes and drought? Have you ever wondered why there is such sadness on earth? The answer is that all mankind, like Israel, has forsaken God. Since Adam we have been under a curse. Again, it will remain this way until Christ returns. For all who are hoping in Jesus, we have the promise that we will be redeemed and that all things will be made right, but that promise is not for this life. In this life, along with all creation, we will inevitably experience times of morning, languish, and lack. Sin has thoroughly corrupted the world as a result of God’s judgment. As Christians we need not fear this, but we also cannot deny it. We need not worry that it will end in our ultimate demise, but we must engage it with our eyes wide opened and our gospel glasses on.

Israel’s sin and unfaithfulness means that there will be suffering for everyone and everything.

CONCLUSION
As I mentioned in the beginning, these three verses serve in many ways as the introduction to the second section of Hosea. It’s important for you to understand that the structure of the second section is part of how it teaches. What I mean is that for virtually 8 straight chapters all we find is one continuous pronouncement of guilt and promise of judgment. There is some hope scattered throughout, but for the most part week after week we’ll come together to hear about the depth of our sin.

This, of course, is on purpose. God means for his people to read it and feel the nature and weight of our sin.

As I preach I won’t to pretend not to know about the cross and the salvation that Jesus won for his people on it, but I also won’t allow us to miss the seriousness of Hosea’s message. As Christians we must not allow knowledge of the depth of our sin to drive us to despair or hopelessness, but we absolutely must allow it to drive us to the cross.

Here’s the key: your depth of experience of God’s grace and love is directly proportional to the depth of experience of your sin and God’s hatred of it.

All of that to say that in Hosea 4-13, which we’ll be in for the foreseeable future, we will have an opportunity to learn about sin in its many temptations and perversions. We’ll have occasion to see clearly how God views sin and rebellion. We’ll have the chance to truly examine our hearts and grow in holiness. And we’ll be able to learn more of our need for Jesus and the amazing grace he won for us at Calvary.

This means that for those of you who are here hoping to hear generic words of spiritual encouragement, you’re in for a rough stretch. But for those of you who are here to know the great depths of your sin in order to know the greater depths of God’s grace in Christ, this stretch of Hosea will be an awesome gift.

Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.