Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
In context this verse is written to the northern kingdom in Israel. After the death of Solomon Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The southern kingdom consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin was called Judah. The northern kingdom consisting of the 10 other tribes of Israel was called Israel or Ephraim. Hosea was a prophet from the northern kingdom which after the division was totally devoted to idolatry. Hosea also prophesied to the southern kingdom, but here he's addressing the northern 10 tribes. While this verse does have direct application to Israel, it is a warning that we as a nation should also pay heed to, as it addresses the situation our nation currently faces.
The United States was a nation founded upon the foundation of Judeo-Christian values. Although not all of our founding fathers were Christians, they all had a deep respect for the bible and it's teachings. I often wonder what the founding fathers would think about the nation that has evolved from their vision of a representative republic. I think I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that our founding fathers would be shocked that the constitution they wrote has been used to justify abortion. I am sure they would be puzzled as to why the federal government is now in control of major portions of the automobile, banking and health care industries. Can you imagine the look on their faces if they were to see homosexuals being joined together in marriage? Could you imagine their surprise at knowing the 10 commandments could not be posted in a government building, that the bible would be prohibited from our schools and that prayer would be considered an infringement upon the rights of others?
The warning of Hosea written 2700 years ago seems to be playing itself out in the United States before our very eyes. Hosea told Israel they had "rejected knowledge" and "forgotten the law of your God." Is there any doubt that this same situation exists in our nation today? In the United States today, 90% of the people profess to believe in God. Are our words of profession backed up by actions that say that 90% of us have a saving faith in Jesus Christ? Do our actions as a people reflect a respect for and knowledge of God's law?
A few days ago I asked the question in another blog, why would God not judge the United States. Notice that last part of this verse from Hosea. Because Israel had "rejected knowledge" and "forgotten" God's law, God tells them that He will "forget" their children. Because of the sin that existed in the generation Hosea was writing to, God tells them their children will be forgotten by Him. Why would God do this? Well, you see, He will have no choice. Because of the sins of the parents, the children will learn from them and continue in the same sins, bringing forth judgment on their generation as God will judge their parents generation. What are our children learning from us?
We live in a society, even among church people, that is woefully lacking in biblical knowledge and seems to have forgotten God's word as the ruling principle for our lives. The northern kingdom of Israel was overwhelmed with idolatry, and even though we do not bow down to golden calves, we are a nation overflowing with idols. The idols of self, money, possessions, sports, entertainment, lust, and many, many more are exalted in our culture far above the words of God as given through the bible. We are most surely a nation that "worships God with" our lips, but our hearts are "far from Him." Are we leading our children and ourselves into the same type of judgment suffered by Israel.
The northern kingdom of Israel would be taken captive by the kingdom of Assyria. Judah would suffer a similar fate a hundred years later when Babylon would take them into captivity. While a remnant would return to Jerusalem after 70 years God would issue a final judgment on His people in 70 AD when Jerusalem was conquered by the Romans and the Jewish people were ejected from their country and dispersed across the globe for nearly 2000 years.
The prophets of the Old Testament were God's means of warning His people. Their message was simple and direct: repent and return to your God. God's message to a country like the United States is the same today. Without a return to God by our nation, judgment will eventually come. Without a revival among God's people we have no chance for national repentance. In this day which is so much like the times of Hosea, will we heed God's call to repentance? Or will we simply continue down a path to destruction. The choice is ours. Pray for our churches, our leaders and our nation, and enter into Godly repentance. A revival that sweeps across our nation could begin with you.
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