When A Nation Forgets God

Hosea 4
Introduction
The United States is a country with a long history of belief in God
From first European pilgrims on God present in culture and life of US
Currency reminds us to trust in God
History and heritage are good but the meaning may be lost and become a simple tradition
True belief in God may be replaced by tradition when a nation forgets God
Ancient Israel nation of Gods people but over course of forgot God
Hosea 4 gives a list of charges and consequences to Israel of forgetting God
This AM emphasiz one main reason for destruction of Israel lack of knowledge of God
Review
Hosea 8th cent BC prophet 2Israel time of prosperity, peace, pleasure, prob free + idolatry
EXPOSITION
I. Observations
A. Indictment charges and consequences/punishment
1-2 vs 3; 4 vs 5-6; 7a vs 7b; 8-9a vs 9b-10; 11-14a vs 14b; 15-18a vs 18b-19
No in front of truth, mercy and knowledge, they are without these things
Consequences 3 sin affects the world; 5 destroy your mother [Israel]; 7glory to
shame; 9 scarcity; 14b innocent victims; 17 let him alone God done; 19 natnl shame
B. V2 notice the connective ands compounding the sins break all restraints!!!
C. V7 correlation between population increase [prosperity]and sin increase, prosperity
not always a good spiritual indicator
D. V9 like people like priest, the priests followed the example of the people
E. V11 sin enslaves the heart, notice the sequence harlotry, wine, new wine
F. V14 Lord not punish for harlotry, God has given them over, similar to Ro 1:18-27
G. V15 Judah not repeat what done in Israel, still had opportunity
H. V15 Judah not go to Gilgal and Beth-Aven[house of nothing/idols] false places of
worship, separate from them
I. V16 comparison of Israel to a stubborn calf
J. V19 ultimate consequence is a nation without any shame of wrongdoing
II. When A Nation Forgets God
No knwldg of God v1 faithlessness to th tru God also brings faithlessnss hman rltnshps
Greatest privilege w have is of knowng God. J 14:9; Ph 3:8-10; Ps139:1-6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge v6
My people = the Lord speaking of Israel as belonging to Him
Are destroyed = cease
For lack of knowledge = lack of means wearing out of
Can knowledge wear out?
1. No teachers w knowledge of God, Elijah wrong 1K19:18
2. No students who have learned knowledge of God, neglected,
missed, lost, available but not reveived
Because U have rejected knowledge I will also reject you from being priest for Me
Reject = refuse or despise 1Sm 15:23,26; didnt like what said, asked
Because U have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children
Forget = not remember, to fail to do what said tooverlook intentionally
III. Applications
1. Read the whole chapter
2. As a nation we should be alarmed by the charges against Israel and the sin we see in
the United States relative truth, profanity, sexual promiscuity, uninformed
knowledge of God. We may reach a point that God gives us over.
3. The main problem in the U.S. is not that there are no teachers with knowledge of God
but that peopl do not do with what they know. Make sure you are a doer of the word.
4. Separate from ungodliness, not too late.