"The Perishing" Part 2

Hosea depicts Israel’s unfaithfulness with a number of images from family and nature. Israel is like: a promiscuous wife, an indifferent mother, an illegitimate child, an ungrateful son, a stubborn heifer, a silly dove, a luxuriant vine, and grapes in the wilderness. Yet Israel’s unfaithfulness and obstinacy are not enough to exhaust God’s redeeming love that outstrips the human capacity to comprehend.

When the Bible speaks of perishing it is not primarily speaking of a future state but a current condition. (; ; ; )

Paul writes in the present tense, ‘… the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing’ (); ‘For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing’ (); ‘… if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing’ (). There is of course a future aspect to the process, as when Jesus said, ‘Unless you repent you too will all perish’ (), but that is the ultimate consequence of the present condition. Perishing is a process.

Paul writes in the present tense, ‘… the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing’ ();

‘For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing’ ();

‘… if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing’ ().

There is of course a future aspect to the process, as when Jesus said, ‘Unless you repent you too will all perish’ (), but that is the ultimate consequence of the present condition.

Perishing is a process. However, 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

In these passages the Lord issued a strong indictment against the priests and prophets. When Jeroboam I led the ten northern tribes to break away from Judah to form the Northern Kingdom of Israel, he sought to meet the religious concerns of the people by establishing a new religion. You will find a description of this new religion in

As a result of Jeroboam’s first action, the religion of the Northern Kingdom was corrupt from the very beginning. It was a religion that mixed some truth with the false religions of the world (an eclectic religion).

There were few if any true priests or prophets (ministers) of the Lord left in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Consequently, God made six very serious charges against these so-called servants of God:

Charge one: the priests and prophets (ministers) stumbled and sinned day and night (v.5-6b) [; ; Ezek. 33:6]

The priests and prophets were leading the people away from the Lord not closer to Him. As a result, the people lacked a true knowledge of God.

(ESV) 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

11And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

(ESV) 7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

8This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

9A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

(ESV) 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

Charge two: the priests and prophets shut God out. They rejected the Lord, the knowledge(personal) of Him (v.6b). ... knowing Him personally and intimately... knowing Him as their Savior and Lord of their lives

Charge two: the priests and prophets shut God out. They rejected the Lord, the knowledge(personal) of Him (v.6b). ... knowing Him personally and intimately... knowing Him as their Savior and Lord of their lives

They were to reap exactly what they had sown. Since the priests and prophets had ignored the Lord, failing to reach the people for God, the Lord would ignore them and their children. The priestly and prophetic line of Jeroboam’s religion would be cut off, completely eliminated.

(ESV) 15For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

15For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

(ESV) 28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

(ESV) 3For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

3For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

(ESV) 14They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

14They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

Charge three: the priests and prophets lived lives of compromise (v.7a). (, , , Kings 17:15)

As the priests grew in numbers, they should have reached more people for the Lord and spread the message of righteousness across the land. But the very opposite was the case. Sin increased.

As new priests entered the ministry, they followed the ways and behavior of the older priests.

(ESV) 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(ESV) 15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

(ESV) 2You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,

2You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,

(ESV) 15They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.

15They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.

Charge four: the priests and prophets committed gross idolatry against the Lord (v.7b). They actually swapped or exchanged their “Glory” (the Lord Himself) for the dark shame of idols. (, , , , Isa. 42:8)

In utter stupidity they exchanged the Lord for so-called gods created by people’s imaginations.

Instead of craving God, they lusted after the things and pleasures of this world.

(ESV) 9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(ESV) 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

(ESV) 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

(ESV) 16Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;

16Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;

(ESV) 8I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

8I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Charge five: the priests and prophets were guilty of covetousness (vv.8-10b). (, ,,, , , Ezek 33:31)

They actually encouraged the people in their wickedness, especially in their greedy and covetous ways.

They did this because the more the people sinned, the more sin offerings they brought in to the priests.

Greater offerings meant more and larger worship centers and shrines and larger incomes for the priests.

(ESV) 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

(ESV) 29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

(ESV) 32Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

32Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

(ESV) 17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

(ESV) 13“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

13“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

(ESV) 31And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

31And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

Charge six: the priests and prophets were stumblingblocks to the people (vv.10c-14). (, , , , Mal 2:7-8)

They had deserted the Lord and were disobeying Him, ignoring His holy commandments.

They were guilty of engaging in six very serious sins, sins that proved to be major hindrances to the people.

Adultery, both physical and spiritual (v.11): they turned away from the Lord and their spouses and gave themselves to others.

Tragically, standing out in the forefront were the priests who encouraged the people to participate in the sexual rituals of their fertility gods.

Drunkenness (v.11): the priests and people were guilty of becoming intoxicated, drinking to the point of physical and mental impairment.

Praying to false gods (v.12a): instead of seeking the Lord for help in times of need, the people sought their so-called gods.

Unfaithfulness to the Lord (v.12b): Both priests and people played the harlot, enticing people away from God. They worshipped sex as well as the idols and false gods of this world.

False worship (v.13a): the people were steeped in religion and in the worship of their so-called gods. In fact, they were so religious that a worship site had been built within reach of every citizen throughout the nation: on every mountain top and hill and under every large tree that could provide adequate shade for the worshipper. It was like some cities today that have worship centers at almost every major intersection within each community.

Leading children into sin (vv.13-14):

daughters of the priests as well as of the citizens were following in the footsteps of their parents and becoming immoral.

Furthermore, the wives of both priests and laymen were committing adultery.

The men of the nation, both priests and laymen, were seducing the women to have sex.

13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

(ESV) 13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

(ESV) 52Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

52Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

(ESV) 13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

(ESV) 10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

(ESV) 7For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

7For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

8But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

Note: The people had forgotten one of the basic, underlying principles of human life: a people who fail or refuse to understand the truth will be destroyed (v.14c).

Conclusion:The Way We Have Not Known In all darkness, blindness, and ignorance God comes to make a way. This way is not one that we have known, for all our ways are dark, blind, and ignorant. The way of God may be known, and is known even as we know Christ. He is the way. ; [More Light on the Path]

The Way We Have Not Known

In all darkness, blindness, and ignorance God comes to make a way. This way is not one that we have known, for all our ways are dark, blind, and ignorant. The way of God may be known, and is known even as we know Christ. He is the way. ;

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