Hosea 4:11-19
INTRO: The most common sin
mentioned in the Bible is one that we don’t often see in ourselves: idolatry. It’s
not surprising that we rarely talk about it– the sin as we read about it in the
Bible is something that so often seems to be a sin that ancient tribal groups
struggled with, instead of a real and pressing reality in our own spiritual
lives and culture. After all, we’re not melting down our earrings and making
golden calves, right? It’s easy to see idolatry as something distant. But, what
if idolatry were one of the most pressing issues within American Christianity
today? I believe it is, and believe this is an issue the next generation must
directly and forcefully address if we are to move this Jesus thing forward.
(PATHEOS.COM, opinion)
I. IDOLATERS’ DESCRIPTION
A. Ignorant (v11)
B. Stupid
(v12)
C. Stray (v12)
D. Unfaithful (v13)
II. IDOLATERS’ DUE
A. Thrown away,
ruined (v14, v19)
B. shamed (v19)
C. Entangled (v17)
D. Left by God (v16)
III. IDOLATERS’ DESTINATION
(Hosea 5:4-7)
A. Worship
will prevent them from going back to God (v4)
B Pride will
testify against themselves (v5)
C. They will not find God despite their effort
(v6)
D. They will
finally be consumed (v17) ‘laglagon sa hingpit’
CONCLUSION: Idolatry is so much
more than bowing down to an image created by human hands. The common working
definition that most of us may be familiar with defines idolatry as “putting
anything in place of, or before God”. In the 10 Commandments, it’s often worded
as “You shall have no other gods before me”. God, it seems, wants to have his
rightful place in our lives– he wants us to chase after him, and his ways,
instead of anything else. (patheos.com)
