Hosea 5 reminds me of a friend that once told me, he does not know a single person that is happily married. It is painful to hear that some people live a loveless lonely existence in a divided home. I wonder how that can happen. Was there a single event, or was there a slow process of separation? I am reminded that a good marriage requires two committed people. God’s Marriage plan says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). If one spouse withdraws, the two are easily disjoined. I believe today’s chapter urges us to spot the warning signs before the tearing starts. The chapter begins, “Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites!” The focus is internal, not outside the marriage. Remember the nation was divided and the northern kingdom of Israel had rejected God and had “now turned to prostitution“. God says of His former beloved, “Israel is corrupt… Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God“. The nation had fallen so far that, “they do not acknowledge the Lord“. I’m sure Israel had lots of allies telling her the He does not deserve you, and you can do so much better. Here is the first warning sign, “Israel’s arrogance testifies against them“. Any time we begin to think too much of ourselves, we become vulnerable to false flattery. Where do you turn for an ego boost?
Next we read that God will not accept a sometimes relationship. Here is the second warning sign, when they go “to seek the Lord, they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them“. Physical and emotional distance are often symptoms of a much bigger problem. It is interesting that the next verse says, “They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children“. Physical infidelity usually follows emotional infidelity. If there is always distance even while in the same house, “Sound the trumpet“. All temptation comes down to “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Are you touching often?
The rest of the chapter describes the pain and suffering of civil war and separation from God. Innocent bystanders are hurt, “Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning“. Deception and pettiness follow, “like those who move boundary stones“. The result is not freedom, but “oppressed, trampled in judgment… like rot… sickness… sores“. Both nations turned to others for help, “But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores“. The chapter closes with God judging the nation’s idolatry, “Then I will return to My lair until they have borne their guilt and seek My face in their misery they will earnestly seek Me“. At the heart of every civil war, uncivil marriage and unrepentant soul is stubborn pride. Not one of us is perfect; each of us will fail. Friend, are you living in the aftermath? 1 Peter 5 says it is time to humble yourself before the Lord and seek His forgiveness. “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast“. Do you want to build a happy home? Put Christ at the center. “Unless the Lord builds the house,the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).