Hosea 4

“There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.” (Hosea 4:1, NKJV)

In my early twenties, I read a book by J.I. Packer called “Knowing God”. It opened my eyes to many of the wonderful attributes of God. To know Him is to love Him. To know Him is to understand and appreciate how truly transcendent He is. He is altogether separate from the creation He made. But when people do not know God, or do not keep in mind the knowledge of God, then they are subject to corrupt thoughts about God. They exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. They confuse God with His creation or even think that creation is God!

What happened in Israel was especially tragic because they knew better. They had experienced Yahweh delivering them from Egypt with a mighty hand. They knew from Mount Sinai that they could not represent Him as pagan cultures represented their gods with carved images of humans, beasts, or birds. But it did not end there. The apostle Paul describes what happens whenever people do not keep the knowledge of God.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28–32, NKJV)

Now we could sit and point the finger at Israel for abandoning their knowledge of God and doing vile things, but don’t we recognize some of the items on this list as existing in the church? You see, these are all things that God is not. He is truth, mercy, light and love. If we are not mindful of His attributes, and if we do not strive to imitate them, then we will commit these same sins that the nation of Israel committed.

“Father, we thank you that you have revealed who you are in Scripture. Help us meditate on all your holy attributes and imitate them. Forgive us when we have forgotten you and done those things that are so unlike you. Please fill us today with the knowledge of you and of your Son, for this is eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”