In verse 4 we are told that we must acknowledge no God but Him, for there is no other savior. In verse 6 we are again reminded of what often leads us astray.
É What does God say in verse 6?
Do we recognize the things that satisfy us as being from God, or do we think we are satisfied by things of man? Our temporary satisfaction can lead to pride. And pride leads to reliance on man instead of God.
Here are some verses about pride…
1 Samuel 2:3 -"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
Proverbs 8:13 - To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 29:23 - A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
Isaiah 2:11 - The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Obadiah 1:3 - The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?'
Jennie Allen writes:
It physically hurts to see our pride, to see our sin, to quit playing good, to feel broken and to need God. And it hurts even more to let others see it. So we run from falling; we choose large fig leaves to cover up with and not God. We run from that vulnerable feeling that we may not measure up, all while aching to measure up.
Throughout the history of humanity, this has been how we engage God. First we ask, is he real? And second, do we really need him?
What if the thing we are trying to impress him with was the very thing keeping us from him? 17
For some reason this concept – satisfaction leading to pride, leading to forgetting God – has really stuck with me as I was writing this and then spending time reflecting on it. It has popped in my head on multiple occasions as I have had interactions with friends, particularly friends going through hard times. In addition to the comforting words I want to say, I find myself thinking that at least in our dissatisfaction (over an event, circumstance, heartache, failure, etc.) we will be less likely in this moment to forget God. We generally hate the current trials we are in and we dread the trials we know will inevitably come, but “ we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Relying on God and not becoming prideful are fruitful to us. Perhaps our satisfaction tends to make us forget Him at times. Let us recognize God not only in our trials, but in our moments of satisfaction. Let us lean on God during the trials and recognize God as the source of our satisfaction and not let us forget Him.
As I was typing this chapter and coming to the close of the Book of Hosea, I was wondering what Hosea’s kids, Wickedness, No Pity and Not Mine are thinking as they are going through their lives listening to their father and his warnings to Israel? I wonder how his relationship with Gomer is coming along? I wonder if she is slowly coming around…if Hosea’s words are impacting her? As often occurs in the Bible at transformation periods, I wonder if Hosea’s children will be renamed with names like Love, Redemption, Mercy, Salvation? Hosea wasn’t just a prophet. He was a person living his life and speaking the Word. Let us also be boldly used by God for His good purposes.
End of week three. Click here to go to the first section of week four.
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