"Lack of Knowledge"
23/03/11 11:35
March 22, 2011
“Lack of Knowledge”
Blessings Folk!
In our local Bible classes we examined Hosea 4-6 in this week’s lesson.
So appropriate for our time.
A portion of one particular verse is very familiar to most Believers...we’ll get to that in a moment.
First the setting.
God stated clearly that He had a case against the inhabitants of the land.
The statement sounds much like we encounter in Romans 1. God states “there is no”...then, declares “there is”… read carefully.
Sounds like where we live.
Oh, there is tremendous religion.
Much “knowing about God”, but little knowledge of God...knowing God.
Because of this “there is”…
Hos 4:2-3
2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear.
NASU
Again, there is…
They broke all the Commandments of the Lord.
Remember, these are the “people of the Lord.”
Also, remember that it was the northern kingdom that was primarily being addressed, though Judah was not exempted from all.
A quick review…
Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the first king of the northern kingdom, established his own system of worshipping God. He feared that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship as the Lord instructed, that they would not return, nor submit to his leadership. So, Jeroboam set up centers of worship at Dan (far north in kingdom) and Bethel (far south), place golden calves at both (I suppose since the golden calf thing worked so well the first time), created additional feast days, established his own priest system, etc.
Jeroboam and the people sought to worship the True God, but in their own way.
The sin of Cain.
This had been occurring for generations.
It continues today.
Yet, the Lord loved them and continued to send His Word of warning through the prophets.
Now the Lord is saying “listen!”.
But the people did not.
Their refusal actually had an impact upon the environment.
Hang with me...a couple of more verses…
Hosea 4:4-6
4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
NASU
Ah, you see the familiar verse, huh?
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Most have heard sermons/teachings on the verse.
But, draw your attention to the balance of the verse.
They were being destroyed because they had rejected the knowledge of God.
The Lord lays the responsibility for such at the feet of the spiritual leadership - the priests.
The priests were not doing what they should have been. They actually became indistinct from the people.
Hos 4:9
9 And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.
NASU
Such is the same today.
We know from 1 Peter 2 that all true believers are priests, a holy nation, a peculiar people.
We all have responsibility to know God and to pursue the knowledge of God.
The “church” equivalent of the “priests” is leadership.
Leadership has the responsibility to…
You get the idea.
We all should be doing such.
So, do not reject the knowledge of God.
Remember…
Prov 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
KJV
Prov 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord :
KJV
Prov 2:3-6
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
KJV
Prov 2:10
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
KJV
Prov 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
KJV
Prov 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord :
KJV
Immerse yourself in the Word
Lean not own your’s or anyone else’s understanding.
Seek knowledge, wisdom and understanding from the Lord.
A couple of pronouncements...
The videos for lesson 2 of “Hosea - A Love That Will Not Let Me Go” are available for viewing…click “episode archive” for all of ‘em.
http://www.alabamaprecept.blip.tv
I’ve placed Martin Bashir’s interview of Rob Bell about Bell’s new book, “Love Wins,” on my website - 7 minutes or so. Scroll down to see it...
A must see. This should be required viewing in all schools of journalism...excellent preparation and questioning on the part of Bashir. Aggressive and respectful.
http://www.dalemoore.tv
Also linked to Martin Bashir being interviewed by Paul Edwards - well worth hearing. Audio only.
Some 38 minutes long...worth the time.
http://www.dalemoore.tv
Have also made 3 songs available for free download...piano interpretations of hymns of the Passion of the Lord...you can listen to the entire project, “Piano Passion”, free online. Click “download” to keep/burn the songs. You can also purchase the project.
http://www.reverbnation.com/dalemoore
Blessings!
“Lack of Knowledge”
Blessings Folk!
In our local Bible classes we examined Hosea 4-6 in this week’s lesson.
So appropriate for our time.
A portion of one particular verse is very familiar to most Believers...we’ll get to that in a moment.
First the setting.
God stated clearly that He had a case against the inhabitants of the land.
The statement sounds much like we encounter in Romans 1. God states “there is no”...then, declares “there is”… read carefully.
Hosea 4:1
Listen to the word of the Lord , O sons of Israel, For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land.
NASU
The case of the Lord was based on the fact that there was…
- no faithfulness
- no kindness
- no knowledge of God in the land.
Sounds like where we live.
Oh, there is tremendous religion.
Much “knowing about God”, but little knowledge of God...knowing God.
Because of this “there is”…
Hos 4:2-3
2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear.
NASU
Again, there is…
- swearing
- deception
- murder
- stealing
- adultery
- violence
- bloodshed
They broke all the Commandments of the Lord.
Remember, these are the “people of the Lord.”
Also, remember that it was the northern kingdom that was primarily being addressed, though Judah was not exempted from all.
A quick review…
Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the first king of the northern kingdom, established his own system of worshipping God. He feared that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship as the Lord instructed, that they would not return, nor submit to his leadership. So, Jeroboam set up centers of worship at Dan (far north in kingdom) and Bethel (far south), place golden calves at both (I suppose since the golden calf thing worked so well the first time), created additional feast days, established his own priest system, etc.
Jeroboam and the people sought to worship the True God, but in their own way.
The sin of Cain.
This had been occurring for generations.
It continues today.
Yet, the Lord loved them and continued to send His Word of warning through the prophets.
Now the Lord is saying “listen!”.
But the people did not.
Their refusal actually had an impact upon the environment.
- the land mourns
- everyone who lives in the land is weak, languishing
- beasts of the field and birds of the sky were effected
- the fish of the sea disappear
Hang with me...a couple of more verses…
Hosea 4:4-6
4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
NASU
Ah, you see the familiar verse, huh?
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Most have heard sermons/teachings on the verse.
But, draw your attention to the balance of the verse.
They were being destroyed because they had rejected the knowledge of God.
The Lord lays the responsibility for such at the feet of the spiritual leadership - the priests.
The priests were not doing what they should have been. They actually became indistinct from the people.
Hos 4:9
9 And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.
NASU
Such is the same today.
We know from 1 Peter 2 that all true believers are priests, a holy nation, a peculiar people.
We all have responsibility to know God and to pursue the knowledge of God.
The “church” equivalent of the “priests” is leadership.
Leadership has the responsibility to…
- know the Lord
- know His Truth
- model His Truth
- speak His Truth
- teach His Truth
You get the idea.
We all should be doing such.
So, do not reject the knowledge of God.
Remember…
Prov 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
KJV
Prov 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord :
KJV
Prov 2:3-6
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
KJV
Prov 2:10
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
KJV
Prov 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
KJV
Prov 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord :
KJV
Immerse yourself in the Word
Lean not own your’s or anyone else’s understanding.
Seek knowledge, wisdom and understanding from the Lord.
A couple of pronouncements...
The videos for lesson 2 of “Hosea - A Love That Will Not Let Me Go” are available for viewing…click “episode archive” for all of ‘em.
http://www.alabamaprecept.blip.tv
I’ve placed Martin Bashir’s interview of Rob Bell about Bell’s new book, “Love Wins,” on my website - 7 minutes or so. Scroll down to see it...
A must see. This should be required viewing in all schools of journalism...excellent preparation and questioning on the part of Bashir. Aggressive and respectful.
http://www.dalemoore.tv
Also linked to Martin Bashir being interviewed by Paul Edwards - well worth hearing. Audio only.
Some 38 minutes long...worth the time.
http://www.dalemoore.tv
Have also made 3 songs available for free download...piano interpretations of hymns of the Passion of the Lord...you can listen to the entire project, “Piano Passion”, free online. Click “download” to keep/burn the songs. You can also purchase the project.
http://www.reverbnation.com/dalemoore
Blessings!