Exposed

HOSEA 6:11-7:1

Before restoration and healing, comes revelation and exposing of sins and crimes of God's people.

"Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people, whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets."

Hosea moves on to a devastating indictment of Israel, giving details of the wrongs and injustices perpetrated by the nation's leaders. It makes sad reading.

DECEIT AND INTRIGUES (6:11b-7:7)

The Lord longs to help Israel, but he recognizes that the nation has become incapable of repentance and change: "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people… the sins of Ephraim are exposed" (6:11-7:1a).

Nothing can be done for a nation that will not admit its sin.

The people in general are engaged in deceit, theft and banditry (7:1b). They think that they can get away with it, but they are mistaken, for the Lord remembers all their evil deeds and will judge them (7:2).

God's memory is not a vague recollection of past events; it is vivid and a spur to action, for their sins are always before me.

The people, however, are simply following the example their leaders set at the royal court, which is a hotbed of wickedness, lies and adultery (7:3-4a). The emphasis is not simply on what these leaders are doing, but on the intrigues, scheming, plotting and planning that takes place night and day (7:4b-6).

Leaders like this are not passionate about justice but about injustice. Their unbridled and wicked ambition is captured in the image of a burning oven (7:6).

God had told Saul exactly what to do: wait in Gilgal for the arrival of Samuel, who would offer sacrifices and give further instructions (10:8).

God tested Saul's obedience by delaying Samuel beyond the seven days. Acting out of a feeling of hopelessness, misguided assumption and with a degree of arrogance, Saul overstepped his God-given role and offered a sacrifice contrary to God's word.

Because Saul failed to follow God's instructions, Samuel told him that God would take the kingdom away from him (vv. 13-14). Though Saul remained king for the rest of his life, his son, Jonathan, would not follow him to the throne.

David is this man. He was one who was always seeking a deep relationship with God and a knowledge of his purposes in the following ways:

(a) He had great boldness because he had great faith in God from his youth (17:34-37).

(b) He was a man of deep spiritual hunger and passion for God. From a life of prayer and a deep relationship with God came his many psalms.

(c) In contrast to Saul, he desired to please God rather than to appear great in the eyes of the people.

(d) He had an unshakable confidence in God's faithfulness and purpose for his life.

(e) He was humble though he had great success (18:12-18).

(f) He stubbornly searched for and relied on God's presence and counsel (23:2, 4; 30:8; 2 Sam. 2:1; 5:19, 23).

(g) He worshiped God with his whole heart and life and directed all of Israel to do the same (1 Chr. 15-16).

(h) He was a man of character, courage (16:18) and loyalty and inspired these traits in others (20:2; 2 Sam. 9; 1 Chr. 11).

(i) He humbly recognized that God was the real King of Israel and that he was only God's representative (2 Sam. 5:12).

(j) In his public conduct, he sought to obey the Lord and carry out his plans (cf. Acts 13:22).

David's heart should be an example for all of Christ's followers today.

This does not mean that David was perfect and flawless. Later in his life, David caused God grief on several occasions:

- He defied God's commands by committing the sins of adultery and murder (2 Sam. 11)

- He took a census of Israel without God's authorization (1 Chr. 21:1-17)

In these ways, he certainly was not behaving like a man after God's own heart, and he suffered some horrible experiences as a result (cf. 2 Sam. 12:10-15).

Yet even during this time in his life, David continued to show the true presence of a humble and teachable spirit. This allowed him to accept God's judgment and receive correction (2 Sam. 12:7-13; 1 Chr. 21:8-17).