Hosea 5

“They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the LORD.” (Hosea 5:4, NKJV)

Ephraim was the largest of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom. As Hosea was a prophet to Israel, he often addressed Ephraim. Whereas the southern kingdom of Judah had several good kings, the northern kingdom had no good kings, for Ephraim had joined himself to idols (Hosea 4:17). But where did this idolatry and spiritual adultery begin? It started with what we might call godlessness—that is they simply did not keep God in their thoughts. If we do not deliberately think about God and meditate on His word, then the world will capture our attention and affection.

Sometimes the best way to keep God in our thoughts is simply to direct our deeds toward Him. A very influential book in the life of many believers has been “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. He was a French monk who lived in the 17th century. His book reflects the intimacy he enjoyed with God by simply doing common tasks before Him. There was no division between the sacred and the secular in his mind, because everything he did was offered to God. The result was a profound peace that ruled his soul.

If we find ourselves growing lean spiritually, it is probably because we have failed to live after the Spirit. The flesh is always hungry and will demand attention. But the Spirit must be intentionally sought after and nourished. We can do this by simply directing our deeds toward God. We seek His opinion and approval. We pray for His wisdom and counsel. Then we labor in faith and love with the grace He provides. This is a great safeguard against “the spirit of harlotry” of which Ephraim was guilty.

Beware of this worldly spirit that so easily ensnares the people of God.

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:4–6, NLT)