Shallow views of God lead to shallow worship; and shallow worship is idolatry renamed. That's why God sent His prophet Hosea to bluntly put an end to His people's religious merrymaking. "Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, for you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor." Hosea 9:1 (NKJV) To worship God truly, we must know Him as He truly is, not as we imagine Him to be… nor how we prefer Him to be in our fallen nature. Israel imagined herself to be a nation of true worshippers, yet God exposed her idolatry. Hosea 9 is as severe as Hosea 8 is urgent: judgment is certain for those who harbor shallow views of God's holiness, man's sin, and the personal accountability God assigns to each sinner. But the gospel declares God's strong resolve to pull His people out of the shallows, into the joyful depths of lasting relationship with Him. And He has done so through the loving work of His Son. I hope to see you here Sunday as we continue our study of Hosea, "God's Loyal Love."
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Steve Massey is the pastor of Hayden Bible Church of Hayden, Idaho. He also writes about matters of faith for The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash., where he previously worked as an editor and reporter. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children, Jake and Sarah.
