Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Discipline is a necessity of love and it well demonstrates it.

Amazingly this is something that the world also agrees with, although the world does not agree what discipline looks like and to what situations it should be applied.

God in His word says that discipline is a necessity of love, and that without discipline there is no love.

We have looked at the loving hedge of protection that discipline is and that it brings, this morning we are going to see the Lord demonstrate His love through present discipline of Israel.

Discipline is not a judge inflicting punishment on a criminal in accordance with the requirement of the law.

Discipline is closer to a parent who disciplines their child to shape and perfect character and behavior as well as develop their patience or endurance.

The easiest way to differentiate punishment and discipline is punishment is from the law and discipline is from love.

Once more we see the Lord establish Israel’s guilt and pronounce her discipline as a demonstration of His love and His call and care for them.

As we look may gain some insight so that we might look and identify the present discipline perhaps for the sin of our hearts and instead of it causing us to turn from God may we turn towards God as He desires and seeks to do through His discipline.

May we remember God’s discipline although a consequence of our sin is also a demonstration of His love.

The Need For Discipline

As much as we dont like discipline and it is not comfortable to us it is needful.

Discipline from the Lord is even more needful.

Israel referred to here as Ephraim (remember denoting obstinate Israel) is engaging in a dangerous pursuit but is oblivious to it - as we most are ourselves.

Hosea proclaims here that Ephraim chases the wind - the word for chases actually means not to pursue but to feed or graze as in to take in food.

Ephraim is grazing and feeding on the wind.

Solomon tells us that futility is the same as one pursuing the wind.

If pursuing the wind is futile - what would feeding and grazing on the wind be?

It too would be an exercise of futility that would leave one empty and unsatisfied.

Hosea also proclaims that Ephraim is pursuing the east wind.

Ephraim is actively pursuing and chasing the eastern wind - so what’s wrong with that?

“They are not only empty, but dangerous and destructive.

The east wind was and still is in all countries, a parching, wasting, injurious wind.

— Adam Clarke

Here Hosea is saying that Ephraim is in engaged in activity that was empty and futile as well as self-destructive.

Like a dog chasing its tail, Israel chased the wind!

How was Israel doing this?

Continuing in sin - multiplying lies and violence.

Ephraim made a covenant with Assyria and Egypt.

Instead of trusting in the Lord Ephraim trusted in foreign nations and the deals made and good provided.

How futile and foolish to trust in them over the Lord their God.

Israel continued to also pursue idols - which are nothing actually less than nothing.

This caused them to turn from the true God and trying to live off their empty replacements.

This is just like feeding on the wind you are still empty.

Then they were depending upon treaties with Assyria and Egypt to protect them from Assyria and Egypt instead of trusting the only one who could protect them from not only Assyria and Egypt but from anything and anyone.

This too is emptiness and chasing after the wind - but also chasing after a eastern/destructive wind.

Watching them pursuing emptiness, futility, and destruction the love of God could not leave them headed for sure destruction.

God had to discipline Ephraim to bring them back to Himself.

God’s love for His people necessitates discipline upon His people.

It is comforting to me and it should be for you as well to know that God will not sit back idly while His people whom He loves choose to chase futility, emptiness and destruction - He will step in and discipline as needed.

An Example of Discipline

Hosea continues with the idea of the Lord presenting a case in that He says the Lord has a dispute which is quite literally a case — a statement of facts and reasons that support a claim, declaration or argument.

This case is with Judah and Hosea says the Lord is about to punish Jacob.

Punish can also be translated - visit, inspect, look at and see and carries the idea to judge or discipline.

It will be according to conduct - the way one chooses to think and behave.

Hosea says the Lord will repay him based on his actions.

God disciplines according to conduct and based on actions.

Proper discipline carried out as a demonstration of love should be based upon behavior and actions.

Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation, but it was through Jacob the twelve tribes were brought forth.

Hosea uses the name Jacob in this context to give an illustration of God’s loving discipline.

Hosea brings about several key elements of Jacob’s life.

Hosea in verse three says about Jacob “In the womb he grasped his brothers heel, and as an adult he wrestled with God”.

In this summation Hosea is laying out the natural character of Jacob which was to contend and seek his own way.

As Hosea goes on Jacob though sometimes looked at in unfavorable light is being held out as a beacon of light in the present discipline of the Lord to the nation of Israel!

Jacob’s birth gave a hint to the personality and character.

He grasped Esau’s heel and the idea is that he was trying to change places with his brother - struggling to be born first.

Esau was bron first but Jacob came right behind holding his heel.

Jacob means heel catcher another term for someone who deceives.

Jacob would deceive his brother and his father to steal his brother’s birthright and blessing.

Jacob struggled with the angel and prevailed!

How?

He wept and sought his favor!

Jacob lived his life unsurrendered to God through double dealing and deceitful gain.

God sought Jacob to get him to surrender and Hosea says that in that God literally wrestled with Jacob and submitted him in discipline.

God submitted Jacob but Jacob prevailed how is that?

Jacob prevailed in wrestling with God the same way we need to - by weeping broken and humbly seeking God’s favor.

Jacob prevailed the same way Israel must and the same way we all must.

When we admit we lost and know it and we surrender to God.

It is important to not miss the detail that Jacob wept because it helps us understand his brokenness before God and how hung on now just pleading for a blessing.

Hosea then recounts how Jacob in obedience to God went up from the place to Bethel.

It was at Bethel that Jacob had met the Lord years before.

God had revealed Himself and given many promises to Jacob and his descendents.

Jacob had also made solemn vows to the Lord.

Pictured in this return is the new beginning for Jacob and his whole family.

They would abandon foreign gods and worship God alone.

The Lord is the God of Armies seems to bring back the time where Jacob must go and face his brother Esau in Mahanaim - which means the two camps.

Jacob saw an army of angels watching over his camp.

He was afraid of Esau and tried to bribe him with gifts instead of trusting the Lord.

Perhaps this invoked the attention of Israel for they now were in fear of their enemies and trusting in gifts instead of trusting in the promises, the protection and the provision of the Lord their God.

Hosea tells them, and tells us the solution the desired outcome.

God simply desires us to come back to Him.

It requires us to return to Him - this repentance turning from where we are and turning back to God.

Jacob had to return to Bethel to where he met God, we must return to Him also.

In our fear we may be driven to trust in many other things- God calls us to return to Him and as we maintain love and justice we must trust only and put our hope only into the Lord God! Returning to God means our trust is in Him and in Him alone!

No matter our fears.

Sin Requires Discipline

Hosea now names some of the sins Israel has committed.

Some of these have been dealt with previously so we will not belabor them this morning.

Dishonesty in business defrauding people in order to make more money - but perhaps also meaning in the same way one deceives with scales - Ephraim deceives by their attribution to who provided.

Ephraim thinks How rich I have become - I made it myself and in my earnings no one can find iniquity in me that I can be punished for.

Maybe it was honest gains but the credit for provision was deceitful and dishonest.

Ephraim did not acknowledge the Lord.

Prosperity is not a sign of God’s blessing

Prosperity led to their pride and the type of self-sufficiency that wrongly believes “I dont need God”

Dishonest Gains

Ephraim ignored the Lord and His prophets.

The prophets were sent to warn but they wouldnt listen and instead they turned from the Lord.

As they turned from the Lord they turned to idols and in doing so Ephraim has provoked the anger of the Lord.

Hosea points out that when the tribe of Ephraim spoke there was trembling for Ephraim was a mighty tribe - (Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim).