Today's passage: Hosea 8
Helpful thoughts:
- The golden calves were set up for worship in the northern kingdom of Israel at it's very beginning (1 Kings 12:25-33) to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem.
- Israel had been set apart as God's chosen people. They were to proclaim the glory of God to the nations. Instead, they were “swallowed up” or assimilated into the way of the rest of the nations and therefore became useless. They were unable to point people to God because they chose to abandon Him, living like the rest of the world.
- The very Word of God would have been considered as foreign to the people of Israel.
Questions to consider:
- Why should Israel's continued desire to identify as the children of God (Or God's chosen people), even though they knew very little to nothing of God, alarm us? Could there be people today who associate their nationality or their experience around church with their standing with God even if they have not repented and believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- Israel desired to use God (and false idols) to accomplish things for them. How did they turn their relationship with God upside down? Why is it so important to understand Christ's place of preeminence (He is the potter, we are the clay)?
- Is ignorance really bliss? If we are ignorant of the Scriptures, are we really better off? Why is it so important to continue studying the Word of God? In what ways are you thankful for the things that you have learned and applied from God's Word?