Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Our family’s indoctrination into the cult of Disney began around 1994 when our oldest child, Jelani, was around two years old.
That’s when Disney released the animated movie Aladdin on video.
And that would by VHS, not DVDs.
There were no such things available for us back then.
At any rate, Jelani loved Aladdin.
It was almost a daily thing that we would hear this boy say, “Laddin…” So, I almost had the movie memorized.
Our indoctrination into the cult of Disney began around 1994 when our oldest child, Jelani, was around two years old.
From that day to this we have not been able to be set free from it.
You all know how regularly I quote from a variety of Disney movies and shows.
Today is no exception.
In fact, I’m sure I’ve used this as an example in the past.
Our indoctrination all started when Disney released the animated movie Aladdin on video.
And that would by VHS, not DVDs.
There were no such things available for us back then.
At any rate, Jelani loved Aladdin.
It was almost a daily thing that we would hear this boy say, “Laddin…” So, I almost had the movie memorized.
One of the most memorable parts of the movie is the royal vizier, evil sorcerer, and all around bad guy, Jafar, is trying to weasel his way into power.
The current Sultan has a problem.
He’s trying to get his daughter, princess Jasmine to marry one of the princes who’s coming to ask for her hand in marriage.
But she can’t stand any of them.
Well, Jafar wants to be the next Sultan of Agrabah.
So he figures the way to the throne is by getting the Sultan to agree that he should be the one to marry the Sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine.
He comes to the Sultan and says,
“Sire, I have found a solution to the problem with your daughter.”
“Oh really,” the Sultan says.
Jafar takes out a scroll and says, “It’s right here.
If the princess has not chosen a husband by the appointed time, then the sultan shall choose for her… If, in the event a suitable prince cannot be found, the princess must then be wed to...hmm...interesting.”
“What?
Who?”
“The royal vizier!
Why, that would be...me!”
When the Sultan tries to protest and say that’s not what the law says, Jafar takes out his staff to hypnotize the Sultan and says, “Desperate times call for desperate measures, my lord.”
“Yes...desperate measures…” “You will order the princess to marry me.”
If you want the rest of the story you’ve got to go watch the movie (or borrow it from us…).
My point is, Aladdin is a fictional movie, but that scene of a grasp for power and control is exactly the thing that Hosea is addressing as a problem in Israel.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” seems to be their philosophy of life.
They are willing, by any means necessary to do whatever they can to maintain control and order their lives the way they want it to be.
They are seeking to maintain their sense of security as a nation by any means necessary.
They are seeking to maintain their wealth and economic prosperity by any means necessary.
They are grasping and groping for power and control so that they can have the good life as they see it.
This chapter is the beginning of the third and final section of the book.
The first section is chapters 1-3.
The second section is chapters 4-11.
And now chapters 12-14.
Each section follows the same pattern.
God’s judgment and condemnation for sin and idolatry followed by a call to repentance and a promise of restoration and love.
It’s the same pattern in each section, but there’s nuance each time.
And the nuance in this chapter is the concentrated description of their desperation to fix their problems.
They’re willing to do everything except the very thing that they should do.
That’s repent; turn away from their materialism and trust themselves to the Lord.
We face the same temptation and trap that they did.
That’s the temptation to desperately pursue, by any means necessary, our vision of the good life.
But the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ calls us away from that and to a real dependence on him.
We’re covering all of ch. 12, but our primary focus is on 11:12-12:8.
We’ve got three ‘Rs’ in this message, By Any Means Necessary.
Israel is Running hard by any means necessary.
But they’re running after nothingness.
In their desperation they are “chasing the wind.”
Secondly, this attempt to gain control over that which is uncontrollable is actually a Regression to the worst part of their heritage.
And lastly, the way out of their desperation is to Return to the Lord.
that they did.
That’s the temptation to desperately pursue, by any means necessary, our vision of the good life.
But the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ calls us away from that and to a real dependence on him.
We’re covering all of ch. 12, but our primary focus is on 11:12-12:8.
We’ve got three ‘Rs’ in this message, By Any Means Necessary.
Israel is Running hard by any means necessary.
But they’re running after nothingness.
In their desperation they are “chasing the wind.”
Secondly, this attempt to gain control over that which is uncontrollable is actually a Regression to the worst part of their heritage.
And lastly, the way out of their desperation is to Return to the Lord.
Running
The Lord says in
HOS11.12-12.1
The Lord says in 11:12-12:1
Ephraim surrounds me with lies.
Israel surrounds me with deceit.
Judah still wanders with God, and is faithful to the holy ones.
Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind.
He continually multiplies lies and violence.
He makes a covenant with Assyria, and olive oil is carried to Egypt.
These verses condemn Israel, the northern kingdom, but seem to give a positive assessment of Judah, the southern kingdom.
The Hebrew text is not actually all that clear as to whether Hosea is being positive towards Judah, or being negative towards both kingdoms.
There’s some ambiguity in the text, and it’s probably intentional.
Israel to the north is going to fall before Judah does.
So, Judah still has some time to get their act together and turn their situation around.
But it’s not like they’re doing well because in the very next verse Hosea says, “The Lord has a dispute with Judah.”
So, they’re both in the same boat.
Look at what it says just a few verses before our text.
The Lord says in 11:9,
Here in our text he says, “I’m in your midst, but you surround me with lies and deceit.”
Understand something about God.
We don’t have to provoke God to love, because God is love, but we do have to provoke him to wrath.”
That’s precisely what we do in our sinful rebellion against him.
That’s precisely the charge against Israel at the end of this chapter.
In v. 14 judgment is coming because, “Ephraim has provoked bitter anger.
So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.”
In the last chapter we heard the Lord say to Israel, “I am God and not man.
I am the Holy One in your midst” (11:9).
Here he says, “I’m in your midst, but you surround me with lies and deceit.”
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