BUC Boot Camp 2007 - Session 1

Relationship not Religion

Hosea 4 – 6

Background

• The good times were Israel’s downfall. Israel’s society, religion and politics were deteriorating and degenerating.


• Hosea warned of God’s anger and coming judgment if the nation did not repent.

ISRAEL’S NATIONAL SINS
* A Rejection of God
• No faithfulness, love or acknowledgement of God (Hosea 4:1, 5:7)
• Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery and bloodshed (Hosea 4:2)
• No integrity, justice, righteousness or mercy (Psalm 97:2)

* Idolatry
• Exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful (Hosea 4:7-8)
• Prostitution, alcoholism, immorality, fornication, adultery (Hosea 4:10b-11)
• Pagan, sexual rituals and orgies (Hosea 4:14)

Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14; 19-20
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. [Otherwise] your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery… If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.


CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL’S IDOLATRY
• Worshipped YHWH as well as the Canaanite gods (Hosea 8:2)
• Baal = master, lord or possessor Baal = god of nature and fertility
• No need to be morally upright, righteous or ethical
• Appeasement, bribery, bargaining and barter
• YHWH was combined with the Canaanite pantheon of gods. Breaking of the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3)


GOD’S SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT
• God’s covenant = a marriage covenant, a betrothal (Hosea 2:14-16)
• Never been made before by any of the gods of the nations!
• Believers = God’s precious possession, called to proclaim His glory and make His Name known among the nations
• The Church = the “Bride of Christ”Jesus = “Beloved Bridegroom”
• God has made an unbreakable covenant with us – a marriage covenant


IMPLICATIONS
• Hosea 6:6, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.”

• Obedience rather than sacrifice
Ø 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Ø God looks at our hearts and not our actions
Ø Hear and obey (Mark 12:30-31)

• Relationship, not Religion
Ø Christianity is a relationship with the Living God
Ø Not about religion, rituals, rules or regulations
Ø The difference between Sonship and Servanthood
Ø King David – Acts 13:22


(By Alvin Ng)