August 16, 2024

Dear Church Family,

Knowledge is important! I read this week, in Hosea 4, of the sad spiritual state of the nation of Israel. The Lord accuses the people of continued unfaithfulness and it reminded me of the sad condition of the church in our own nation. In verse one, God points out that, “there is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1 ESV).

God points to three things: there was no faithfulness, steadfast love, or knowledge of God. Each of those is vital to us living out our faith. It was the last one, the lack of knowledge of God, that really got me thinking. How could there be no knowledge of God in the land? Are we guilty of the same thing? Is the knowledge of God missing from the church in our nation? Are we truly filling our minds with the Word of God and meditating upon His Word day and night? Are we dependent upon it as much as we are food to eat, water to drink, and air to breath?
 
In addition to rejecting the knowledge of God, they sought that knowledge elsewhere. In verse 12, God states, “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore” (Hosea 4:12 ESV). Where are you looking for truth? Think about your week and the different places you soak in knowledge. Where does the Bible rank? Are you replacing knowledge of God with any other source?

Hosea 4:6 (ESV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

–Pastor Dave