Hosea Chapter 9: Verses 7-8 (NIV)
The days of punishment are coming,
the days of reckoning are at hand.
Let Israel know this.
Because your sins are so many
and your hostility so great,
the prophet is considered a fool,
the inspired person a maniac.
The prophet, along with my God,
is the watchman over Ephraim,
yet snares await him on all his paths,
and hostility in the house of his God.
These are fearful words of prophesy for the people of Israel during Hosea’s time. No matter how much God sent prophets to warn them of the implications of their sin and the consequences of their behaviour, the prophets were ridiculed and often punished. How brave and obedient these men and women of God were in the face often of open hostility.
Sadly, I think these verses apply to us today. People have turned so far away from the ways of God, that the teaching and ministry, and even the very moving of God through the power of the Holy Spirit is seen by some as foolish. Many Christians will be told that in this day and age their views are too fanatical, and not relevant to how things are today. In some places they face prosecution for speaking the truth as it is found in the Bible. So we need to be as obedient as Hosea and even Paul in these days. God’s word is not always popular. Jesus wasn’t always popular. We don’t need to be seeking popularity for our church and for our beliefs. God doesn’t do popularity contests. He looks for obedience.
Dear Lord,
Help me to remember that in Your eyes obedience is more important than popularity. King Saul learned that to his cost. Give me courage to be obedient and the grace not to be arrogant when speaking Your truth. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.