| | I Never Knew You
Hos 8:2-3 To
me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him. Taken together this passage sounds very
much like a practical application of Jesus’ words to the crowds in Mt
7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many
mighty works in your name? And then I will declare to them ‘I never
knew you; depart from me you workers of lawlessness.’” Jesus
quoted the prophets, directly or indirectly, dozens of times in the
Gospels. In this case he may well have had Hosea’s prophecy in mind.
Human pride puffs us up and makes us believe in our own worthiness. God
does not judge us as we judge ourselves. He sees through our façade to
the foundation of our souls. We are either built on the rock or sinking
sand. Those who claim to know the Lord will be held most accountable.
Ancient Israel was a nation comprised of 10 of the 12 tribes who
worshipped YHWH in the wilderness. They were once united under Saul,
David, and Solomon. By the mid-eighth century BC, however, the security
and prosperity won by God’s hand was now being taken for granted.
Political correctness and tolerance replaced purity of faith,
righteousness of action, and holiness of character. Frighteningly, the
same assessment could be made of America and much of the rest of
western civilization today. |
| | Posted 5/15/2008 9:24 AM - 3 comments
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