majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Hosea 10:12,
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers righteousness on you."
In the midst of proclaiming his judgment, the Lord cries out to Israel
to seek him, that he might bless them, showering them with
righteousness. In verse after verse of indictment, the Lord identifies
in many ways how far his people's hearts have strayed from him.
However, the Lord makes clear his judgment does not mean Israel's
opportunities are over. They can still turn to him, they can still
seek him.
How shoud he be sought? Shall Israel turn to the temple worship and to
the priests the Lord instituted in Israel through Moses? Will religion
do? Will this suffice? Instructive, here for me, is what the Lord has
to say, as opposed to my own "good ideas", what it is I think I should
do to pursue him. In the book of Hosea, the Lord makes clear he is not
interested in religiosity. What the Lord seeks from his people is not
focused on the religious exercises of the people, those external
things people still do today attempting to invoke his approval. The
Lord makes clear he wants our hearts. Oblations of worship, litergies,
ecclesiastical motifs will not suffice for what the Lord wants. He
wants us! He wants our hearts!
"There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the
land." "Israel has forgotten his Maker...". "They do not cry out to me
from their hearts but wail upon their beds." "Woe to them, because
they have strayed from me!" "...he does not return to the Lord his
God or search for him." These are all statements from the Lord in this
book of Hosea clearly indicating his desire is for the hearts of his
people. As for religious exercises, the Lord says, "I desire mercy,
not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
and "They offer sacrifices given to me and they eat the meat, but the
Lord is not pleased with them." and "What will you do on the day of
your appointed feasts, on the festival days of the Lord?" As for the
trappings of priesthood and religious heirarchy the Lord says, "The
more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they
exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful."
This morning I am reminded the Lord is a real person who desires my
heart. He is not a moral principle to pursue. He is not something to
round out an otherwise full and healthy lifestyle. He does not exist
to insure my goals, my agendas are met in this life. His proclaimed
love for us all demands reciprocation from our hearts. The outward
trappings of a religious life will simply not do! He wants our hearts!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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