JOINED TO IDOLS HOSEA 4:17

I. Introduction

A. This passage is a message to the entire nation, we could call it the indictment of a nation.

1. What was the cause of that indictment verses 6 says "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

2. The result of that intentional ignorance brought God's judgment on them - verses 9 - 10.

B. We come now to the words of our text (verse 17)

1. Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.

2. Just what is in the prophets mind as he speaks these words.

3. Common interpretation given by most scholars is that God will abandon Ephaim because they are joined to idols.

4. God will just let him alone and abandon him to his own devices.

C. That is not the meaning of that sentence or it would contradict the teaching of the rest of the prophecy (11:8)

1. God is still reaching out to Ephaim at the end of the book (14:8).

2. God did not desire or plan to abandon Ephaim.

II. What Then Does It Mean?

A. It's a warning to Judah to let Ephraim alone.

1. In verse 15, God does not want Judah guilty of Ephaim's sin.

2. God was warning Judah not to enter into any alliance with Ephraim.

3. God wanted Judah to remain loyal and devoted to Him.

B. While it is true that God does not abandon the disloyal, the loyal must not enter into any alliances with the disloyal.

I. This principle runs throughout the whole Bible but it is crystallized in one verse in the N.T. - Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord. Touch not the unclean thing.

2. What portion does the believer have with the unbeliever. Be not unequally yoked.

III. Notice the Thing that is forbidden - Idolatry

A. What is idolatry? I know the question seems absurd.

1. We all think we know what an idol worshipers is.

2. But sometimes we are not always accurate in our thinking.

3. Let's keep in mind the basic thing about idolatry - that it is preeminently religious.

4. When Paul went to Athens, he saw the city full of idols.

5. As he addressed the people he said; " I perceive you are very religious"

B. What Are Idols? The word translated idols means images.

1. Idolatry is the worship of an image -- an image supposed to represent God.

2. Idolatry is the worship of false representations of God.

3. Isaiah 40: 18-22 It begins like this! To whom will he liken God? or what likeness Will ye compare unto Him?

4. As surely as you make any representation of God, you are worshiping through a

misrepresentation because it is impossible to represent God by any image.

C. It is so natural to do this because people want something that will keep God before their eyes.

1. Man always tries to project God into infinitude - when we do that we end up with a human monstrosity - like Zeus, the god of force or Baal, the god of lust.

2. The reason we fail to produce a true likeness of God is because we as human beings are failures.

IV God has Given Us Only One Representation

A. In the fullness of time he came and Paul when writing of Him says of Jesus - He is the Image of the invisible God.

1. If modern preachers only acknowledge Jesus as a teacher and a good man, they are guilty of idolatry. Why?

2. They are worshiping at the shrine of a false representation of God.

3. There is a widespread patronage of Jesus which consents to Him as a great religious leader but there are other great leaders as well.

4. This is a blank denial of God's revelation of Christ and is a subtle form of idolatry.

5. This word of God has application - He is joined to idols let him alone.

B. If I were asked to be on the platform which honored Christ, Mohammed, Buddha I could not attend that meeting.

1. I will respect the Mohammedan and the Buddhist but I cannot stand and honor their religious leaders.

2. They are joined to false representations of God, if someone questions that or is nor sure about it, then I feel that they are not sure about Jesus Christ and His supremacy.

3. The hour has come that those who are loyal to Jesus Christ should stand separate from all complicity with any form of the misrepresentation of God.

C. Ephraim is joined to idols - Judah, let her alone.

1. But God is not going to let her alone. He is going to deal with her.

2. We hear God's cry - "How shall I give thee up Ephraim."

3. The word " how" reveals God's heart of compassion - It means He doesn't want to give her up.

4. He calls and tugs, he chastises and wounds all with the hope of her repentance and turn around.

S. Maybe God is saying that to you today - How shall I give thee up.

6. Lot of things are happening - will you quietly listen to what God is trying to say to you.

7. I want you to return to me says the Lord.