PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Hosea 7-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Israel’s arrogance testifies against him…” (Hosea 7:10)
It is interesting that the Hebrew word for arrogance can either be positive or negative.
It can mean exaltation, majesty, excellence, and is used to describe God.
It can also mean pride, self-exaltation, boastful arrogance, as it is used here.
The key difference lies in where it comes from, from the self or from God.
I am coming to see how I am also prone to self-exaltation.
To exalt myself to is speak about my rightness or goodness… to boast.
My experience of church has taught me that this is what we should do.
We declare our rightness, and we expose the wrongness of others.
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.” (Luke 18:9)
The sin of Israel was exposed by their arrogant confidence that they were right and good.
Meanwhile their lack of God-like love, their hurtful words and actions, betrayed them.
They didn’t care if their self-confidence hurt others, they were right and good.
The quote from Luke 18 above leads to the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector.
It’s point: God humbles those who exalt themselves and exalts those who humble themselves.
PRAYER
Lord, help me not to be unloving in the name of truth, and help me not to ignore the truth in the name of love. Help me to humbly start with the truth of my own heart, instead of attacking the untruth in others.
Norm: I was left a bit confused as to what you meant: “My experience of church has taught me that this is what we should do.”
Thanks for asking Rick. Growing up we were taught why we were right and why ‘they’ were wrong. We rejected the heresies of one group and condemned the errors of another group. Our Canons not only explained the right view of each point, but had to reject the errors of those who say… We were the orthodox (= right doctrine), they were the ‘liberals’ or ‘heretics’. We were confident of our rightness, and looked down on others who were not right. Still today in my experience there is a lack of humility in how we hold our beliefs. I still sense the spirit of the Pharisee in me as I challenge the ‘pharisee’ in others. Somehow we all need to humble our confidence in our rightness, and be aware that we too need God’s mercy. “Father, forgive us, for we do not know what we are doing.”
I resonate with that. I remember the condescending: ‘die Canadese’ as if we were better! I think it closed our ears and appreciation for others – and that is what we do when we don’t take the time to listen to others with differing viewpoints.
Where does my help come from? Israel/Ephraim forgot and turned to other sources: “They do not turn to the Most High”. Because of their arrogance to go ‘alone’ making their own ‘gods’ – God punishes them: “They will begin to waste away under the oppression of the mighty king.” Their arrogance: “Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.” I too am vulnerable to pride and ‘self-sufficiency’ – but I’ve learned that too is when I stumble – and I thank God for lessons learned – the loving poke of the shepherd’s staff to put me back on the right path!
The people have gone their own way and doing what is right in their own eyes, forgetting the Creator Who made them. They rejected good. They became a law unto themselves thinking that they were in charge. They trade the truth for a lie. The wayward will reap what they sow. I need to keep my eyes upon Jesus and serve Him, Jesus Saviour pilot me. I need Him every hour. I need to walk in His SonShine always. I am not in charge. He is.
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.