Hosea 1:6

Josea chapter 1 reading verses 1 to 9 focus on verse 6 the word of the Lord that came unto Josea the son of Barry in the days of Uzziah Jothan Ahaz and Hezekiah kings of Judah and in the days of Jerobolm the son of Joash king of Israel The beginning of the word of the Lord by Josea. And the Lord said to Josea, Go take unto thee a wife of hordoms and children of hordoms where the land hath committed great hortem, departing from the Lord. So he went and he took Gomer, the daughter of Dibliam, which conceived and bear him his son. And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. And she conceived again and bare a daughter. God said unto him call her name Leruama. For I will have no more, I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah and will save them by the Lord their God. And will not save them by bow nor by sword nor by battle, by horse, nor by horsemen. Now when she had weaned Lohrauma, she conceived and bare a son. Then he said, that our venced God, call his name Lohami, for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. May God bless to us His sacred and holy word this evening. The famous Boxer, Sugar, Ray Leonard, had to play. retire from boxing because of his eye injury that he had sustained. He said it was not worth it to stay in boxing when he could lose his eyes up. And so people were very surprised when several years later he decided to come out of retirement and fight one of the most fierce middleweights that there ever was. And so they were all, you know, people were worried about him risking his eyesight to fight. His opponent, Marvin Hagler, was asked about Leonard’s eyes. Marvin, when you’ll be going for the eyes, one of the Chicago writers wrote and asked him about it. Hagler responded, if he’s foolish enough to step in the ring with me, then I’m foolish enough to rip his eye out. And so when he went into training camp, Marvin Hagler had a hat on, and it said, no mercy. That was his message to Sugar Ray Leonard. Now on a human level, that gives you an idea what it means to show no mercy. But let’s elevate this concept because tonight we read here about God, not showing any mercy. Marvin Hagler could only talk about his intentions. He couldn’t actually fulfill. of those that threat but an all-powerful god not only threatens but he has the power to bring the pass exactly what he wishes thus when god says he will no longer have mercy it is quite a serious matter now we hear we see the second child of hosea in this passage of scripture And if I could just briefly say this much, the three children seemed to provide for us the last three stages of the nation of Israel before she went finally in the captivity. Jesrael spoke about woeful divisions. Nothing but murders and factions were among them, and they became a scattered people. Second King’s 15 gives us information about that. I don’t have time denied to read that. Leruhama speaks about their weak condition because the king of Assyria, a Pole, came against Israel, forced them to pay 1,000 talents of silver, which they had to taxed the people to get before he would leave the lane. So it was a heavy taxation. And afterwards, this king of this year, it came back against them, invaded them, and took a portion of them into captivity. Loami means here, it speaks about being wholly rejected. And they were fully carried away into captivity and rejected and rejected forever. And rejected forever. And second king’s second. 17, 1 to 6. We see that. Because they have recaptured some of their strength, we have another son mentioned here, instead of a daughter. We’ll touch on that in just a moment. But let’s focus here on the significance of Jose’s second child being called Lurama. Now, we see here the weakness of the nation portrayed in that he has a daughter here. The second child being a daughter, I think, seems to indicate the fact that Israel had grown weak and effeminate. As 2 Peter, or excuse, First Peter, chapter 3, talks about the woman being the weaker vessel. The manliness, the courage, the vigor of the spirits of the people. had dissipated, God had been taken away. When God brought judgment against the Syrians in Nineveh in the book of Nahum, chapter 3, verse 13, he says, Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women. The gates of thy land shall be wide open under thy enemies. He’s not going to be able to stop them. Now, this weakness is demonstrated in two ways. First, we find Israel’s government had become unreliable and unstable. Immediately after the death of Jerobam the 2, who was mentioned in verse 1, there were a series of assassinations and a struggle for the power and control of the northern kingdom. And 2nd King’s Chapter 15 relates to this. Jerobam’s son, Zachariah, reigned only six months. months. Then Shalam murdered him and reigned in his place. Shalom only rained one month. And then Meneheim killed him, took control of the kingdom. After ten years of raining, Menaheim died and his son, Pecaya became king, but he only lasted two years. He was killed by a man named Pecca. who gained support of the palace guards, and they put to death, Meneheim’s son, Pekiah. Later, Hoshia, plotted against King Pecca and murdered him, and took over the kingdom. So leadership of the country was in a state of decay. There’s murder upon murder. You go to bed one night, you wake up the next morning, and get a new king. Secondly, Israel was falling away more and more under the domination of the foreign power, in this case, Assyrian. Israel’s resolve the fight against her oppressors was weak. When Pol, the king of Assyria, attacked. Mene yielded to his demands, as I said, and gave him the silver. Later, when King Tigblath policer of Assy, Syria came and carried part of Israel into captivity. You could see the nation just slowly being eroded away and being weaker and weaker. So we see the weakness of the nation portrayed. We see God will withdraw his mercy. Low Ruhama from the nation. Now you would think it would be good to have, you know, you have a boy and then you had a girl. It seems like the perfect family. seemed like they ought to be happy, but he has children of hortems, as we read from this passage of scripture. And there’s no assurance that these children were his. And so there is much to be sad about in this, because Gomer was unfaithful to him and played the harlot. and Josea acting on God’s command named the girl Leru Hama, unpityed, or she will have no mercy. This is not to say that Josea wasn’t a good father. She was given a place alongside her brother, Jesrael, in the family. But what her name signified was that God would no longer have mercy upon the house of Israel and fact, literally it will, it means add no mercy. He’s not going to add any more mercy. He’s giving them all the mercy. He’s going to give them. Israel would be definitely carried off in exile for a horrible name. Name would be a continual reminder of the Israelites of the impending judgment. Again, these names of these children were to remind the nation of their status before God. So here was a statement. serious admonition to the nation. God is going to shut off his mercy. Now this doesn’t mean that God won’t save individuals in the nation, but as a whole, the nation is going to suffer, and his mercy is going to be withdrawn from them. Up to this point, he spared Israel. He even allowed Jeroboam, who was a wicked king, Jeroban II. to overcome his enemies and restored to Israel her land. Now, however, there will be no more mercy. So God’s going to withdraw his mercy. And we see this is a heavier judgment than the first one. You know, the worst thing that could happen to Israel was for the Lord to refuse to be their merciful God any longer. Let God take away your health, your possessions, Even your children, as long as he doesn’t take away his mercy. Low Ruhama represents then a heavier judgment. Instead of just being scattered, the idea is there’ll be no regathering of the nation as a whole. Some of the people from the northern tribes will come back when the nation of Judah is brought back. But there will be no more. nation of Israel, there will only be Judah after that when they come back from captivity. And they will be scattered throughout the land. And so we see here God’s indication to hide his face from Israel. You may think, well, the loss of power and possession and so forth is a very severe judgment. But I tell you tonight, the loss of God’s mercy for our nation. to lose God’s mercy is the worst possible judgment you can have. Jesrael speaks of the fading of their outward glory, but Leru Hama points to the loss of the source of the source of Israel’s glory, which is their God. And that’s what we find here. And it’s frightening to see this. You know, the wisest, among the people of Israel would understand that God’s mercy is Israel’s most valuable possession. It’s a backbone of their national existence. Israel’s prophets, their psalmist, their historians have always sung. Praises to God about his mercy. You know, his mercy endures forever. But now God says he’s going to shut the door of mercy. He will add no more mercy. for the nation. So this is the significance behind the naming of the second child here of Jose. Now, why Israel will have no more mercy? Why is that? Well, their continuance in false worship despite God’s warnings. God sent Israel prophets. time it again and showed them the evil of their idol worship. We talk about Elijah or Elisha or Jonah or Josiah or Jonah or Jose or Jeremiah or Isaiah. They all talked about it. They preached to the nation. God proved himself to be the true and living God on Mount Carmel. God had sent Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab in order to rid the land of bail worship. Did the people God then turn away from idols? And worship Jehovah only? No. They decided they’re going to worship the golden calves of Jeroboam I first. So God’s warnings fell on deaf ears and his prophets were ridiculed and mistreated and God’s mercies were taken for granted and God says that enough is enough. The continuous and false worship despite God’s warnings. We have here also their rebellion against God’s established throne in Israel. God had chosen David, and it was through the line of David that his covenant mercy would be shown. And of course, all of that would culminate in the Lord Jesus Christ, who would be shown. is coming through the line of David. But the ten tribes, by their wicked rebellion, had broken away from David and his kingdom. And so what happened was they had their own kings. It’s interesting in chapter 8 and verse 4 of Jose. God charges them with setting up kings but not by his authority. Did you know that there’s not one good. king in the northern king. Not one single good king. They all did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They abandoned God’s established way of blessing. And remember, they even turned away from the worship of the temple. And so this was another reason for God’s taking away his mercy from them. Now what can we learn from all this tonight? Well, let me say this. Sometimes viewing the children of a nation will show you that God has withdrawn his mercy from the nation. You look around you and you see the horrible wickedness of the young people of our land. What a rebellious lot we have. how different they are than their former religious ancestors. The proud look, the rebellious heart, the defiant attitude. And so when you look around you, it is with a trembling heart, you realize that God’s wrath must hang over the nation. It’s almost as if God says, I’m done with them. I intend to show no more mercy to this nation. I’m not going to show no more mercy to this nation. I’m not going to be. talking about again, I’m not talking about God showing mercy to an individual or a family here or there, but the nation as a whole. My friends, it is scary to think Lohrauma could be written across the United States of America. Because our youth certainly have turned away from God and his precepts. And you, when you see this happening to a nation, you know, that only by a miracle of a reformation or some kind of revival, is there any hope for that nation in the future? Because the youth represent the future. That’s what we’re going to become when they get older. They’re the next generation. Now, when you see God has tender plants, then it’s growing in his orchard, and it gives you. you hope. Like, well, God is working and he is going to save some people and maybe that will make a difference. In the future, he’s not going to tear down a hedge and destroy the country then. When the trees of an orchard are not bearing any fruit, though, and there are no new tender trees coming up to take their place, then look out. is coming. So sometimes the very children of the nation give an indication that God will withdraw his mercy. Secondly, there is a time when God will not have mercy on a nation or a people. Can I say this? This is something you read at the end of Second Kings. You have that point where you reach the point of no return. And God says, I’m done with you. Now, that’s pretty sad. God uses means to draw people back to him. He sends those who preach the gospel. He sends minor judgments to correct and to get people’s attention. But what people don’t realize is that the day of mercy is not something that’s constant. it can be shut. The door can be shut. God puts on his hat and it says, no mercy. That’s pretty serious business. You read in Ezekiel chapter 14, God says this. He says, even if Noah, Jonah, and Daniel stood before me and interceded for this nation, I still wouldn’t spare them. Think about that. That’s pretty serious. That’s a pretty serious charge that he made. Even they couldn’t intercede and spare the nation. People may cry out for mercy, cry loudly, cry long, cry with tears, yet God will not be entreated. God’s mercy is precious. Oh, we moan and groan over the loss of possessions and wealth and so forth. But as I said, the most terrible thing you can lose. is the mercy of God. When you lose it, it’s too late to get it back. And you’ll realize at that point how important it was to have as a nation. What a scary thought. It makes us wonder where our nation stands before the Lord on this manner. You call in the New Testament, we read about those that were bidden. to the king’s wedding feast. Shall not taste of my supper. Luke 1424. What does that mean? Cut you off. You’re not going to have. The Romans are going to invade and destroy your nation. The passage that was read tonight also by Russell, about the husbandman taking care of the vineyard. And the servants of the Lord are killed in any other. I’m going to send my son, oh, he’s the air, let’s get rid of him. Christ spoke that against the scribes and the Pharisees and the leaders of the Jews. And what was his point? What is he going to do to these people that do this to his son? He’s going to kill them, cast them out of the vineyard, kill him, and he’s going to give the kingdom to another. Think about it. that what is he saying you’re done as a nation I’m done with you that’s pretty serious and we see that happening there was a time remember in the days of Noah in Genesis chapter six we read these words because of the wickedness of the people we read my spirit shall no longer strive with them I’m done you know he reaches the point and he says, I’m done with you. The flood comes and kills them all. In the book of Revelation, we have that phrase in Revelation 22-11, He which is filthy, let him be filthy still. No hope of recovery. And so there’s a time when God will have no mercy upon a people or nation. Thirdly, God’s second strokes are often more severe than the first ones. Jesra was bad enough to be scattered. But Lodoraama, no mercy, means to be scattered and not going to be gathered again. I mean, when you’re scattered, there’s at least a hope, like in the book of judges, they got overrun several times, but they recovered. But the point here is there’s not going to be any recovery for the nation. There’s no hope of it. The indication is that the northern kingdom will never return as a nation. Before God takes you to the house of, when God takes you, I should say, to the house of correction and chastens you before he takes you to the gallows and puts you to death. So he warns here the nation. And he warns us here, they often sends us lighter afflictions before he sends the heavier ones. And so the danger is to harden our hearts. And what will happen then, it’ll get a lot worse. You know, when you have children, their first rebellious act that you run across, I mean, they might get a swat. But if they are defiant and do it the second time, they’re going to get two swats. And if they continue doing it, you’re going to continue to increase the punishment. Well, God does the similar things here in dealing with people. Fourth, your nearness that God will not exempt you from the wrath of God. I will have no mercy upon the house of Israel. They’ve had mercy all these years. I mean, it’s not the house of Pharaoh. It’s not the house of Nebuchadnezzar. It’s not the house of Tegglauglaugelic Policer. It’s the house of Israel. surely you can count on God’s mercy. No, God says. I will cut it off. These are people who are once close to God. God hates him, and he punishes it. Amos 3-2 says this. You only have all the nations, you only have I known of all the nations of the earth. Therefore, I will punish you for all your nickelies. Ah, you have a close. relationship with me. And because of that, I will be more severe in dealing with you. Those that are privileged to have been raised in a godly home with the teachings of the Word of God and Christian example should take note of this because you have had the privilege and benefit of hearing the Word of God. Those who are in a sound church where the word of God is taught to them week after week, if they reject that, if they turn away from that, the punishment has to be more severe. So your nearness to God will not exempt you from the wrath of God. Fifthly, just because a multitude of people or engage in a particular sin does not mean you’re going to escape judgment. Now, in our society, If you get enough people to break the law, you could overwhelm the system. You see people raiding these stores in California. You know, there’s 90 people running into the store, grabbing things and taking them out. There’s just two, you know, what’s one security guard, or two or five security guards is going to do? You know, who can stop them? And so it’s difficult. The difficulty is. situation. It’s hard to meet out punishment. Oh, sometimes they catch the ringleaders or something. Maybe they’ll throw them in jail or find them, evidently in California they don’t even do that. My friends, that’s not the way it is with God. You can’t overwhelm the system with God. He has no problem writing off the whole house of Israel. Never presume the sin against the Lord because everybody else is doing it, and they seem to be getting away with it. Never think surely God will not judge me too severely. After all, everybody else is doing the same thing. But my friends, the Bible says that all the nations of this world are like dust on the scales and a mere drop in the bucket to the Lord God. He has no problem writing off the whole nation if necessary. He can wipe off a city like Sodom, a huge city of the face of the earth. And he can wipe off a nation like Israel of the Northern Kingdom. And I hope that tells us something tonight. Don’t presume on the mercy of God being always constant to our nation. There may be a day when it is shut completely off. That would be a sad thing. that I’m afraid we see in many ways it greatly reduced right now. The spirit is not working as he worked in the past in our nation. And that’s a serious problem. It’s something we need to pray about, obviously. Well, let’s close with the Lord of Prayer every night.