4 Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.
5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night,
and I will destroy your mother.6 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.
7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; they changed their glory into shame.
8 They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.
9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.
10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply;
because they have forsaken the LORD to devote themselves to 11 whoredom.
Wine and new wine take away the understanding. (Hosea 4:4-10)
(Ozzy Osbourne disguised as a priest-
Just because someone has the vestments, a degree or even passes ordination tests does nto necessarily mean they are true believers or holy)
Thoughts: Priests and prophets are supposed to know better. But the priests of Hosea's day were "greedy" for sin. They wanted the people to sin, as if that were a freeing thing. Sometime rebellion against God may seem like progress. But rebellion against God isn't a new thing. It may come into fashion as the latest thing, so that things like Sabbath keeping, marital fidelity, and sobriety seem old-fashioned and passe. Priests are supposed to call the people back to God and holiness. But some priests prefer to go with the people- the "popular" route of being fashionable. Hosea says that the priests are not teaching the Law so people forget. Therefore the people are destroyed. For the Law is life, health, and hope. This was true in Hosea's day, but it can also be true in our day. In the name of academics and knowing better, many ministers are forsaking the holiness of God for the popular way of sexual immorality, Sabbath breaking, and lack of sobriety. It is time for people to come back to the way of life. There is healing in holiness, for peace with God, neighbor, and self is God's will. To obey is better than sacrifice/forgiveness, for it eliminates the need for forgiveness. True priests and ministers are called to preach holiness and also to live it.
Prayer: Lord, on this clergy appreciation month, we pray for clergy who have a hard time in such times as these. Help your ministers and priests to speak the truth even when it hurts.
5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night,
and I will destroy your mother.6 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.
7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; they changed their glory into shame.
8 They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.
9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.
10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply;
because they have forsaken the LORD to devote themselves to 11 whoredom.
Wine and new wine take away the understanding. (Hosea 4:4-10)
(Ozzy Osbourne disguised as a priest- Just because someone has the vestments, a degree or even passes ordination tests does nto necessarily mean they are true believers or holy)
Thoughts: Priests and prophets are supposed to know better. But the priests of Hosea's day were "greedy" for sin. They wanted the people to sin, as if that were a freeing thing. Sometime rebellion against God may seem like progress. But rebellion against God isn't a new thing. It may come into fashion as the latest thing, so that things like Sabbath keeping, marital fidelity, and sobriety seem old-fashioned and passe. Priests are supposed to call the people back to God and holiness. But some priests prefer to go with the people- the "popular" route of being fashionable. Hosea says that the priests are not teaching the Law so people forget. Therefore the people are destroyed. For the Law is life, health, and hope. This was true in Hosea's day, but it can also be true in our day. In the name of academics and knowing better, many ministers are forsaking the holiness of God for the popular way of sexual immorality, Sabbath breaking, and lack of sobriety. It is time for people to come back to the way of life. There is healing in holiness, for peace with God, neighbor, and self is God's will. To obey is better than sacrifice/forgiveness, for it eliminates the need for forgiveness. True priests and ministers are called to preach holiness and also to live it.
Prayer: Lord, on this clergy appreciation month, we pray for clergy who have a hard time in such times as these. Help your ministers and priests to speak the truth even when it hurts.
No comments:
Post a Comment