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
I think Hosea’s time was very similar to what we experience today: A lack of faithfulness or steadfast love. There is no knowledge of God. There is swearing, lying, murdering, stealing, and committing adultery. People break all bounds. They have forsaken the Lord.
The people of Israel asked counsel from wooden idols. Their hearts were very far away from God. Israel’s idolatry was like adultery against the LORD.
The picture is striking when we consider how Israel wanted to add pagan gods to their worship of the LORD. It isn’t as if Israel officially said, “We want to leave the LORD, and now serve only pagan gods.” Instead, Israel wanted to add the worship of pagan gods. God received this the same way a husband would if his wife said, “I want you to be my husband, I just want to have a few more lovers too.”
Micah tells us what it is that God wants from us: to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with Him. Are we doing this? Are there any idols in our lives we want to worship alongside God?
Dear Father, please search me and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any grievous way in me (Psalm 139:23-24). Let me recognize any idols in my heart. Amen.
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I am enjoying that this study is taking us just a little deeper into Gods word. I think we can all appreciate the time to set quietly and study ourselves and our idols. I believe we all have them. I pray that we can put the Lord first in all things, burn our idols or change our walk to include only him.