What Does God Desire?
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/3/2018 AM
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Text:
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Hosea 6:6
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Psalters: |
320, 290, 291, 291 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- The sad setting.
- Hosea is a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah from the northern kingdom declaring that apostasy is spiritual adultery.
- Gomer was called to walk in the way of repentance that she might find reconciliation and forgiveness (5:15).
- God’s purpose of all His chastisement is so His people “live in His sight,” i.e., before His face.
- This is to know Him accurately, loving and enjoying His fellowship, and wanting to know Him better and better (3).
- But Israel/the church is not yet where she has to be, for repentance is shallow and brief, vanishes like the morning dew (4).
- The seriousness of their shallow spirituality is seen when God says it is like Adam (7).
- Though He warned of judgments He keeps presenting the fact that His mercy and love demands their hearts filled with mercy and love (6). “Mercy,” i.e., goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
- “Mercy” is love to one’s neighbor, love which has its roots in the knowledge of God (cf. 4:1).
- We are helped to understand this when we consider how Jesus quoted this passage twice.
- In Matthew 9:13 He used it to condemn the Pharisees who were critical of His eating with publicans and sinners.
- In Matt. 12:7 Jesus condemns the Pharisees for condemning Jesus’ disciples for harvesting grain on the Sabbath day.
- God does not desire sacrifice.
- God desires mercy; true mercy flows from a heart which knows God and His mercy to me the sinner.
- Faith in God and love of neighbor always go together.
- When I am not merciful, then I am not thinking of God’s heart toward me.
- God desires a steadfast love, an intimate communion and fellowship; He wants their heart, a gospel-driven love.