Sermons – Grace Evangelical Free Church // Wyoming, MN

Hosea 14:1-3 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”

INTRODUCTION

The other night at DG a child (who shall remain anonymous) was running backwards at an impressive clip down a hallway and into a room where the men and small children were gathered. Unintentionally this child collided with their much younger sibling, knocking them to the ground. There didn’t seem to be any concern in the offending child’s face until they looked up and saw the faces of the surprised men who were trying to discern the level of injury. Upon noticing that they were being noticed, the child quickly blurted out to the fallen sibling (while looking at the men), “I’m sorry. Are you OK?”

Everyone who has or has been around kids has witnessed something similar. And let’s be honest, every one of us have participated in something similar. We’re all guilty of throwing out insincere apologies occasionally.

There’s something particularly obvious about a fake sorry, isn’t there? Somehow we can usually tell when someone doesn’t really mean it. There’s also something particularly unhelpful about fake apologies as well, right? In fact, insincere sorrys tend to make things even worse; like adding insult to injury.

On the other hand, there’s something particularly healing when someone who wrongs us genuinely feels bad about it, stops doing it, and asks for our forgiveness. I imagine we’ve all felt the unique joy of a relationship restored when a friend owned up to a wrong they’d committed.

While it’s easy to see the role that genuine repentance plays in restoring our earthly relationships, we’re left with two critical questions as we contemplate our relationship with God: 1) What exactly constitutes genuine repentance?, and 2) How does God respond to genuine repentance?

Grace, God is kind to us in including Hosea 14 in the bible, for in that chapter he answers those two questions in no uncertain terms. In fact, it seems as if answering them for the Israelites is the primary point of chapter 14. The first three verses (which we’ll look at this morning) answer the first question (what exactly constitutes genuine repentance?). Verses 4-8 (which we’ll look at next week) answer the second question (how does God respond to genuine repentance?). The final verse (v.9, which we’ll consider two weeks from now in what will likely be the final sermon in Hosea) deals with the superiority of a life lived according to the wisdom of God.

Would you pray with me, then, that God would make this passage clear to us, that as a result we might become people of genuine repentance, and that God would deal with us as he promised the Israelites he would should they genuinely repent?

TURNING TO GOD MEANS TURNING TO HIM AS HE TRULY IS (1A)

Most of the time I hear people talking about repentance (which isn’t all that often) they seem to equate it with stopping a particular sin. That is, for many people repentance is merely about turning away from something that dishonors God. It definitely is that, but Hosea 14:1-3 teaches us that genuine repentance includes both turning from something and turning to something. That is, genuine repentance means turning from sin to God. To be even more clear, Hosea helps us to see that there are two key aspects to turning from sin and two more in turning to God. There are, therefore, according to the first three verses of Hosea, four parts to genuine repentance. Let’s consider each,

Hosea 13:9-16 He destroys you, O Israel, for you are against me, against your helper. 10 Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities? Where are all your rulers- those of whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? 11 I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is kept in store. 13 The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb. 14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he may flourish among his brothers, the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come, rising from the wilderness, and his fountain shall dry up; his spring shall be parched; it shall strip his treasury of every precious thing. 16 Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

INTRODUCTION

Last Sunday we began to look at chapter 13. In that sermon I mentioned the fact that the chapter consists of five sayings of Hosea. Each of the sayings condemns Israel for placing her trust in something given to her by God rather than in God himself. That is, Hosea chided Israel on God’s behalf for believing that God was the means to an end rather than the end. Specifically, we saw that the Israelites had shifted their trust from God to the power (1-3) and blessings (4-8) he’d given them. What’s more, we saw that because these things were never meant to bear the weight of Israel’s trust, they were beginning to collapse all around her.

This morning we’ll look at the final three of Hosea’s chapter 13 prophecies. Insodoing, we’ll see that the Israelites wrongly and fatally built their lives upon their power and blessing (last week), and (this week) their rulers (9-11), wisdom (12-14), and fruitfulness (14-16). These five things have been among the most common and deadly foundations that mankind has built his life upon from the beginning of time. Israel’s misplaced trust in them was the norm, not the exception. Again, then, if God grants us eyes to see, we will certainly find that portions of our life have been built upon them as well. Let’s pray that God would reveal the parts of our lives that have been built on anything but him. And as he does, let’s be quick to shift the weight of our trust back on the one thing that can bear it: God himself.

The main question that I hope rings in all of our ears is this: what am I building my life upon?

TRUSTING IN RULERS (9-11)

Throughout the OT, one of the things that Israel most consistently prided herself in was her leaders and rulers. The patriarchs and kings who led them in times of victory and prosperity were praised and celebrated over centuries. As many of you know, at the time of Hosea, Israel was well past the pinnacle of her existence which took place under kings David and Solomon. The Israelites longed, therefore, for the coming of the messiah because they believed he would lead them to unprecedented military, economic, and political heights. In other words, Israel had placed her hope in significant ways in her past, present, and future leaders.

God does at times use rulers to protect and prosper (he certainly did for Israel and he certainly has for you and me), but it is God who is ultimately doing the protecting and prospering. Our rulers are simply one tool God uses to accomplish his purposes. But God has many, many tools. He is not bound by any of them and none of them can function without him.

Forgetting all of this, however, Israel had treasonously placed a good chunk of her hope on her leaders and rulers,

Hosea 13:9-16 He destroys you, O Israel, for you are against me, against your helper. 10 Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities? Where are all your rulers- those of whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? 11 I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is kept in store. 13 The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb. 14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he may flourish among his brothers, the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come, rising from the wilderness, and his fountain shall dry up; his spring shall be parched; it shall strip his treasury of every precious thing. 16 Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.

INTRODUCTION

Last Sunday we began to look at chapter 13. In that sermon I mentioned the fact that the chapter consists of five sayings of Hosea. Each of the sayings condemns Israel for placing her trust in something given to her by God rather than in God himself. That is, Hosea chided Israel on God’s behalf for believing that God was the means to an end rather than the end. Specifically, we saw that the Israelites had shifted their trust from God to the power (1-3) and blessings (4-8) he’d given them. What’s more, we saw that because these things were never meant to bear the weight of Israel’s trust, they were beginning to collapse all around her.

This morning we’ll look at the final three of Hosea’s chapter 13 prophecies. Insodoing, we’ll see that the Israelites wrongly and fatally built their lives upon their power and blessing (last week), and (this week) their rulers (9-11), wisdom (12-14), and fruitfulness (14-16). These five things have been among the most common and deadly foundations that mankind has built his life upon from the beginning of time. Israel’s misplaced trust in them was the norm, not the exception. Again, then, if God grants us eyes to see, we will certainly find that portions of our life have been built upon them as well. Let’s pray that God would reveal the parts of our lives that have been built on anything but him. And as he does, let’s be quick to shift the weight of our trust back on the one thing that can bear it: God himself.

The main question that I hope rings in all of our ears is this: what am I building my life upon?

TRUSTING IN RULERS (9-11)

Throughout the OT, one of the things that Israel most consistently prided herself in was her leaders and rulers. The patriarchs and kings who led them in times of victory and prosperity were praised and celebrated over centuries. As many of you know, at the time of Hosea, Israel was well past the pinnacle of her existence which took place under kings David and Solomon. The Israelites longed, therefore, for the coming of the messiah because they believed he would lead them to unprecedented military, economic, and political heights. In other words, Israel had placed her hope in significant ways in her past, present, and future leaders.

God does at times use rulers to protect and prosper (he certainly did for Israel and he certainly has for you and me), but it is God who is ultimately doing the protecting and prospering. Our rulers are simply one tool God uses to accomplish his purposes. But God has many, many tools. He is not bound by any of them and none of them can function without him.

Forgetting all of this, however, Israel had treasonously placed a good chunk of her hope on her leaders and rulers,

Hosea 13:1-8 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!” 3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

4 But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. 5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; 6 but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. 7 So I am to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. 8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.

INTRODUCTION

As you may know, our family just moved into an old farmhouse. The county records show that it was built in 1900, but we found out from the previous owners that no one really knows when it was built. It just sort of shows up in the records as existing in 1905, so they guessed that it was built in 1900.

When we first saw the house we both loved it. As we looked closer, as you can imagine, we found evidence of its age. In particular, if you were to put a marble on any of the floors it would immediately and quickly begin to roll in some direction. Likewise, if you were to place a level on anything the bubble would disappear. In a couple of places in the basement it’s easy to see why things are out of whack upstairs. 120 year old beams have cracked in a couple of places and are causing the whole house to sag.

Because the entire house is (literally) built on those beams, we’ve begun to repair them so that the house can last another 120 years. If the house’s structure were to continue to fail, the entire house would eventually come crashing down.

That is exactly what we find throughout Hosea, and in our passage for this morning in particular. Once again, in chapter 13, Hosea described the cracks in Israel’s foundation and the disastrous implications of failing to shore them up.

Hosea 13, the second to last chapter in the book, is made up of a series of five concise and familiar proclamations of God’s judgment on Israel. Interestingly—as my illustration was intended to point out—in this section Hosea unites all of them around the theme of misplaced trust in broken foundations (and its deadly consequences). Power, blessing, rulers, wisdom, and fruitfulness were the things Israel had built their lives upon. And Hosea’s promise to them was that they were soon to experience the tragic inadequacy of those things. Those things were not meant to bear the weight of their trust; God alone could do that.

Lord willing, we’ll look at the first two of these crumbling foundations this morning and the final three next week. And Lord willing, insodoing we’ll be able to consider areas in our own lives (the ones mentioned by Hosea and others) where we have misplaced trust as well (where our foundation is cracked/ing); all in order that we might turn from them to a more solid foundation before things come crashing down (as they did for Israel). Let’s pray that it would be so.

TRUSTING IN POWER (1-3)

The first charge against Israel in this section is found in vs.1-3. Let’s look at that again.

Hosea 13:1-3 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them,

Hosea 13:1-8 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!” 3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

4 But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. 5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; 6 but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. 7 So I am to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. 8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs; I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rip them open.

INTRODUCTION

As you may know, our family just moved into an old farmhouse. The county records show that it was built in 1900, but we found out from the previous owners that no one really knows when it was built. It just sort of shows up in the records as existing in 1905, so they guessed that it was built in 1900.

When we first saw the house we both loved it. As we looked closer, as you can imagine, we found evidence of its age. In particular, if you were to put a marble on any of the floors it would immediately and quickly begin to roll in some direction. Likewise, if you were to place a level on anything the bubble would disappear. In a couple of places in the basement it’s easy to see why things are out of whack upstairs. 120 year old beams have cracked in a couple of places and are causing the whole house to sag.

Because the entire house is (literally) built on those beams, we’ve begun to repair them so that the house can last another 120 years. If the house’s structure were to continue to fail, the entire house would eventually come crashing down.

That is exactly what we find throughout Hosea, and in our passage for this morning in particular. Once again, in chapter 13, Hosea described the cracks in Israel’s foundation and the disastrous implications of failing to shore them up.

Hosea 13, the second to last chapter in the book, is made up of a series of five concise and familiar proclamations of God’s judgment on Israel. Interestingly—as my illustration was intended to point out—in this section Hosea unites all of them around the theme of misplaced trust in broken foundations (and its deadly consequences). Power, blessing, rulers, wisdom, and fruitfulness were the things Israel had built their lives upon. And Hosea’s promise to them was that they were soon to experience the tragic inadequacy of those things. Those things were not meant to bear the weight of their trust; God alone could do that.

Lord willing, we’ll look at the first two of these crumbling foundations this morning and the final three next week. And Lord willing, insodoing we’ll be able to consider areas in our own lives (the ones mentioned by Hosea and others) where we have misplaced trust as well (where our foundation is cracked/ing); all in order that we might turn from them to a more solid foundation before things come crashing down (as they did for Israel). Let’s pray that it would be so.

TRUSTING IN POWER (1-3)

The first charge against Israel in this section is found in vs.1-3. Let’s look at that again.

Hosea 13:1-3 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen.

Hosea 12:10-14 I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. 11 If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. 13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

INTRODUCTION

A number of years ago, when I was a youth pastor in Linwood, Carlos Avery caught on fire. Some of you remember it well. We had friends who lost their homes, friends who were involved in fighting the fire, and friends who served the workers and the displaced. Our church became a base camp of sorts for the firemen who came in from all over the state, country, and even Canada. We provided cots and food and such for them when they needed rest or nourishment. I couldn’t even offer a guess at the number of different things that were asked of us at that time. We made copies and flyers, did Walmart runs, talked to firemen, led prayer, and on and on. Individually, there wasn’t an obvious connection between all of these things, but they were all somehow connected to putting out the massive, thousands of acres+ fire.

This section of Hosea is similar to that. Israel was in a mess (of her own making). She had almost entirely forsaken God and Hosea was sent to communicate God’s resulting perspective and plans. Like our church’s role in the fire, Hosea was charged to play a number of different roles and communicate many different messages, the connections between which were not always obvious. And yet, ultimately, they were all a part of one single message: Israel, your unfaithfulness to God has aroused God’s jealous love to the point that he is about to wipe you out.

While that’s the case throughout this letter, in our passage for this morning it’s especially pronounced. That is, our passage is unusual in a number of ways. It’s unusual in that the five verses likely consist of four largely disconnected sayings. As the title suggests, therefore, in order to stay true to the structure of Hosea’s prophecies, we’ll cover four topics this morning that aren’t obviously connected. It’s also unusual in that the sayings are standalone truths; almost like proverbs. And it’s unusual in that in spite of all of this, the implications and applications for you and I are really accessible, like low-hanging fruit.

Specifically, on the windy, hilly road of Hosea 12:10-14 we’ll see three glories of God’s Word (v.10). In v.11 we’ll see God making a mockery of those who engage in false and (therefore) futile worship. In 12-13 I mean to help you see history as one big enacted prophecy through the patriarch, Jacob. And finally, in Hosea’s conclusion (v.14) we’ll see the high cost of obedience and disobedience to God.

Let’s join together in praying that these sayings of Hosea would be clear to us, that the glory of God in them would be clear to us, and that God’s intended response to them would be clear to us as well. Remember (now in prayer), Grace, our aim in gaining understanding is always transformation. We cannot receive the Word of God rightly and not be changed by it. Again, let’s pray that for the sake of Jesus it would be so.

THREE GLORIES OF GOD’S WORD (10)

As I mentioned in the introduction, Hosea 12:10 does not have an obvious connection to either v.9 or v.11. That is, in some ways it appears to be a standalone saying of Hosea. Nevertheless, in it we find a clear, but profound set of truths, highlighting three aspects of the glory of the Word of God. Look at v.10 with me.

Hosea 12:10-14 I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. 11 If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. 13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

INTRODUCTION

A number of years ago, when I was a youth pastor in Linwood, Carlos Avery caught on fire. Some of you remember it well. We had friends who lost their homes, friends who were involved in fighting the fire, and friends who served the workers and the displaced. Our church became a base camp of sorts for the firemen who came in from all over the state, country, and even Canada. We provided cots and food and such for them when they needed rest or nourishment. I couldn’t even offer a guess at the number of different things that were asked of us at that time. We made copies and flyers, did Walmart runs, talked to firemen, led prayer, and on and on. Individually, there wasn’t an obvious connection between all of these things, but they were all somehow connected to putting out the massive, thousands of acres+ fire.

This section of Hosea is similar to that. Israel was in a mess (of her own making). She had almost entirely forsaken God and Hosea was sent to communicate God’s resulting perspective and plans. Like our church’s role in the fire, Hosea was charged to play a number of different roles and communicate many different messages, the connections between which were not always obvious. And yet, ultimately, they were all a part of one single message: Israel, your unfaithfulness to God has aroused God’s jealous love to the point that he is about to wipe you out.

While that’s the case throughout this letter, in our passage for this morning it’s especially pronounced. That is, our passage is unusual in a number of ways. It’s unusual in that the five verses likely consist of four largely disconnected sayings. As the title suggests, therefore, in order to stay true to the structure of Hosea’s prophecies, we’ll cover four topics this morning that aren’t obviously connected. It’s also unusual in that the sayings are standalone truths; almost like proverbs. And it’s unusual in that in spite of all of this, the implications and applications for you and I are really accessible, like low-hanging fruit.

Specifically, on the windy, hilly road of Hosea 12:10-14 we’ll see three glories of God’s Word (v.10). In v.11 we’ll see God making a mockery of those who engage in false and (therefore) futile worship. In 12-13 I mean to help you see history as one big enacted prophecy through the patriarch, Jacob. And finally, in Hosea’s conclusion (v.14) we’ll see the high cost of obedience and disobedience to God.

Let’s join together in praying that these sayings of Hosea would be clear to us, that the glory of God in them would be clear to us, and that God’s intended response to them would be clear to us as well. Remember (now in prayer), Grace, our aim in gaining understanding is always transformation. We cannot receive the Word of God rightly and not be changed by it. Again, let’s pray that for the sake of Jesus it would be so.

THREE GLORIES OF GOD’S WORD (10)

As I mentioned in the introduction, Hosea 12:10 does not have an obvious connection to either v.9 or v.11. That is, in some ways it appears to be a standalone saying of Hosea. Nevertheless, in it we find a clear, but profound set of truths, highlighting three aspects of the glory of the Word of God. Look at v.10 with me.

Hosea 12:7-9 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. 8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.” 9 I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

THE ANATOMY OF SIN

In verses 7-8 we find yet another set of charges against Israel. In them Hosea declared that Israel was unjust, oppressive, and worse still, utterly blind to those facts. He continued by naming God’s perspective on and response to their sins.

These were not new charges or new consequences. We’ve seen them all before. In passages like 10:13 we read of Israel’s persistent injustice. In 5:11 we read of her oppression. In 5:4 we’re told of her ignorance. And in too many places to count we’re told of God’s jealous love and Israel’s imminent destruction. The entire letter charges Israel with abounding in injustices, oppression, and ignorance and warns of God’s coming wrath.

What we have here though is a bit different in that the charges are directly and immediately linked with their cause, God’s perspective, and God’s response—providing a kind of clarity that we haven’t quite seen before. And with this clearer link, in this simple paragraph we find remarkable insight into what is really happening every time we give into sin. That is, we find a good chunk of the anatomy of sin and God’s heavenly perspective on it. The result, then, is that in this passage we’re given a real gift from God. It’s an invaluable blessing in that it reveals to us what sin looks like under the hood, and therein provides for us a significant means of help.

To understand why it’s a gift and help, consider this simple illustration…If your car were to start pouring out smoke from the front, it would clearly indicate a problem. To state even more of the obvious, should that happen you’d certainly want it diagnosed and fixed as quickly and well as possible. The longer you drove around with the smoke billowing out, the greater the risk of more serious (even permanent) damage. And a shoddy repair job would inevitably mean having to deal with the problem again and again. Now imagine taking the car to your mechanic and having him, without even opening the hood, begin installing a giant vacuum on the outside. Your car was smoking, and so your mechanic came up with a solution—get rid of the smoke through suction. No attempt at all was made to find the real source of the problem, only to minimize the symptoms.

Often that’s exactly how we treat the sin in our lives. We only notice and care about the symptoms (rather than their cause), so the problem only gets worse. What’s more, even if we want to address the source of the problem, we’re not sure where to begin. We don’t know how to get under the hood or what to do if we did. In that way, being told the real nature of our sin and the extent of its damage might not be pleasant (just like finding out you have a blown transmission), but it is necessary if we are to have any hope of really dealing with them.

I had originally planned on preaching through the rest of chapter 12 this week, but the simplicity and practical importance of this passage seemed too significant to cover in half a sermon. In other words, what we have here—a description of the anatomy of sin—deserves our careful and undivided attention.

With that, then, let’s look at each of the four parts of Israel’s sin, beginning with the specific nature of her sin, as a help for understanding, diagnosing, and destroying our sin.

Human Sin

Sin always begins when we take our eyes off of God long enough to forget his goodness and beauty. If you’ve been at Grace Church for any length of time you’ve doubtle...

Hosea 12:7-9 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. 8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.” 9 I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

THE ANATOMY OF SIN

In verses 7-8 we find yet another set of charges against Israel. In them Hosea declared that Israel was unjust, oppressive, and worse still, utterly blind to those facts. He continued by naming God’s perspective on and response to their sins.

These were not new charges or new consequences. We’ve seen them all before. In passages like 10:13 we read of Israel’s persistent injustice. In 5:11 we read of her oppression. In 5:4 we’re told of her ignorance. And in too many places to count we’re told of God’s jealous love and Israel’s imminent destruction. The entire letter charges Israel with abounding in injustices, oppression, and ignorance and warns of God’s coming wrath.

What we have here though is a bit different in that the charges are directly and immediately linked with their cause, God’s perspective, and God’s response—providing a kind of clarity that we haven’t quite seen before. And with this clearer link, in this simple paragraph we find remarkable insight into what is really happening every time we give into sin. That is, we find a good chunk of the anatomy of sin and God’s heavenly perspective on it. The result, then, is that in this passage we’re given a real gift from God. It’s an invaluable blessing in that it reveals to us what sin looks like under the hood, and therein provides for us a significant means of help.

To understand why it’s a gift and help, consider this simple illustration…If your car were to start pouring out smoke from the front, it would clearly indicate a problem. To state even more of the obvious, should that happen you’d certainly want it diagnosed and fixed as quickly and well as possible. The longer you drove around with the smoke billowing out, the greater the risk of more serious (even permanent) damage. And a shoddy repair job would inevitably mean having to deal with the problem again and again. Now imagine taking the car to your mechanic and having him, without even opening the hood, begin installing a giant vacuum on the outside. Your car was smoking, and so your mechanic came up with a solution—get rid of the smoke through suction. No attempt at all was made to find the real source of the problem, only to minimize the symptoms.

Often that’s exactly how we treat the sin in our lives. We only notice and care about the symptoms (rather than their cause), so the problem only gets worse. What’s more, even if we want to address the source of the problem, we’re not sure where to begin. We don’t know how to get under the hood or what to do if we did. In that way, being told the real nature of our sin and the extent of its damage might not be pleasant (just like finding out you have a blown transmission), but it is necessary if we are to have any hope of really dealing with them.

I had originally planned on preaching through the rest of chapter 12 this week, but the simplicity and practical importance of this passage seemed too significant to cover in half a sermon. In other words, what we have here—a description of the anatomy of sin—deserves our careful and undivided attention.

With that, then, let’s look at each of the four parts of Israel’s sin, beginning with the specific nature of her sin, as a help for understanding, diagnosing, and destroying our sin.

Human Sin

Sin always begins when we take our eyes off of God long enough to forget his goodness and beauty. If you’ve been at Grace Church for any length of time you̵...

Hebrews 1:10-14 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

INTRODUCTION

One of the most significant periods of preparation/anticipation in my life began when I was fourteen and a half. For reasons I still don’t fully understand, for a full eighteen months I was absolutely obsessed with getting my driver’s license. As I think back, the amount of time, energy, kissing up to my parents, etc. that I spent getting ready to get my license was truly impressive. I looked forward to going to driver’s training. I didn’t mind getting up early on Saturdays for behind-the-wheel sessions. Once I got my permit I was genuinely eager to drive anyone, anywhere, at any time, for any reason. And on my sixteenth birthday I went to the DMV before school in order to get my license at the earliest possible time. I was entirely consumed in thought, word, and deed. Everything in me was fixed on getting my license.

In short, almost everything Advent is meant to be for Christians, getting my driver’s license was for me. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have prayed more than once over the past several weeks that I would feel now for Christmas what I felt then for driving on my own.

The question in front of me…and all of you…is this: Why would I long for and anticipate and celebrate something like getting my driver’s license (or a vacation or a date with my wife or a sporting event or hiking with my kids or fishing with friends or a new piece of technology or whatever) more than the coming of God? To word it another way, why don’t I delight in the things of God (especially the coming of God) as I know I should? I’m certain there are several reasons for this, but at the heart of all of them is the simple fact that I don’t see Jesus as he truly is. If I did, nothing would come within a million miles of my affection for him.

The conviction behind this sermon series is that Hebrews 1 is filled with clear descriptions of Jesus as he truly is (infinitely superior to all things) and therefore it is also filled with help for you and I to prepare, anticipate, and celebrate Christmas appropriately.

In other words, if Christmas (or any aspect of our faith) are to have their rightful place in our minds and hearts and lives, it will be because we have come to truly know the supremacy of Jesus by considering his revelation in God’s Word; which is exactly what Pastor Mike and I have been trying to help you with throughout Advent.

Specifically, we’ve been looking at several aspects of the supremacy of Jesus as they show up in Hebrews 1. On the first Sunday of Advent we looked at three in 1:1-4 (Jesus as the Word of God, the sin purifier, and superior to angels). We looked at another the following week in 1:5-6 (Jesus as the Son of God). Last week Pastor Mike helped us see from 1:7-9 that Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. And this morning, the final Sunday of Advent, we’ll consider three more in 1:10-14 (creator and upholder of the world, eternal and unchanging, and seated at the right hand of God).

Again, our aim in stepping away from Hosea and into Hebrews over these past four weeks is to help all of us see Jesus as he truly is in order that we’d rejoice in the highest this Christmas. Let’s pray that it would be so.

CREATOR AND UPHOLDER OF THE WORLD

I’ve mentioned this before,