HE DEPARTURE OF GOD

Hosea 5:11-15

I. Introduction

A. In verse 15, God is speaking - "I will go and return to my place.

1. The reason for this fearsome declaration is; the fact that Israel has been in rebellion against God.

2. The prophet is warning the nation of God's discipline.

3. The judgments are to be progressive. He describes two of those judgments under rather interesting figures of speech.

B. The first is found in verse 12 - I am unto Ephraim as a moth.

1. The second is in verse 14 - I will be unto Ephraim as a lion.

2. The last is in verse 15 - I will go and return to my place.

II. First Judgment is Described as that of a Moth

A. It's an insect that feeds on clothing, furs, silks and wool.

1. Webster says, "It refers to anything which gradually and silently consumes or wastes any other thing."

2. God is quietly and gradually destroying the fabric of the nation. The action of the moth will make useless all the

so called wealth of the people.

B. A beautiful garment that is prized and hanging away for use is suddenly found to be riddled with holes and as a result is rendered useless.

1. You felt all was well, the garment safe in the closet but the moth has quietly done its destructive work.

2. God is saying all may look well on the outside for the nation but destructive decay is eating away at the vitals of

the nation.

3. Do you somehow get a sense that this is what's happening to our once great country.

4. This is meant to be humorous but it does have a sober overtone to it. I speak of the sale of the largest toy

store in America F. A. O. Swartz being sold to a Dutch Co.

5. The Japanese are buying our golf courses, hotels, even Rockefeller Center now the Dutch taking over our largest toy store.

6. I couldn't help but think about the moth eating away our greatness.

III Second Judgment is that of a Lion

A. It is fearful, angry, ferocious, rending anyone who dares to stand in its way.

1. It is a fearful thing when God becomes angry. His power is awesome and unlimited.

2. Who would dare stand against Him.

3. We see the lion in our streets - murder, rape, mugging, all the horror and violence we are now experiencing.

B. The lion is a terrible thing - the moth is a terrible thing.

1. But when God says that He will withdraw himself that is the greatest calamity that can take place.

2. Three judgments but this last one is the worst of all.

IV. Last Judgment - God Removing Himself from the People.

A. It's meaning is quite simple: the one who had been with them, who had blessed them will withdraw Himself from them.

1. Under the conditions that were present God was saying "I will have no part of it."

2. There is a sense in which God's presence can never be withdrawn - In Him we live and move and have our being.

3. We are always under His government and draw our breath from Him.

B. In what sense does He withdraw Himself?

1. He would withdraw his guidance, he would leave them to their own devices and abandon them to their own choices.

2. I will go and return to my place - I will allow you to run your own course.

3. This is the sorest judgment that can befall a nation.

4. If God withdraws Himself, what have we lost.

C. We have lost the principle of holiness, the source of true wisdom and we have lost divine love.

1. When God is withdrawn, the very distinction between right and wrong has gone. Morality is rooted in God.

2. We lose our way when God withdraws Himself.

V. Remember God never leaves man until man has left Him.

A. God never withdraws until all other forms of discipline are exhausted.

1. First the moth - then the lion finally God withdraws.

2. The moth causes a weakening in strength we lost to a puny country like Viet Nam.

3. Purpose of the weakening of the nation is to cause us to seek the real source of our strength.

B. God leaves man only when he finds no avenue of approach.

VI. A Note of Hope Emerges (15)

A. God says I will withdraw and return to my place TILL

1. Like a flash that little word till arrests us.

2. It tells us that when God departs, He does so reluctantly.

3. It's as if he is saying - I will go but I don't want to go.

4. I am going because you really don't want me but I will leave the door open for you to come back.

B. In Rev. 3:20 - We find that the door is shut from our side for we find God knocking and desiring to come in.

1. I find that little word till again in Matt 23:37-39.

2. Jesus is seen abandoning the city of Jerusalem because they would not have him.

3. I would have gathered your children but ye would not.

C. Notice however doom is not the last word on the lips of Jesus.

1. You shall not see me till - that means the door is open.

2. God's grace is available.

3. Jn Hosea, He will leave them till they acknowledge their offence and seek My face.

4. The door is not shut, you can come home, if you want to.

5. I close with this illustration - There was a mother in Scotland who had a daughter who went wrong and left home. She sunk deeply in sin and immorality.

The Mother did not know where she was, had not heard from her for ten long years. One night, broken and ruined and wrecked, Janet made her way home and arrived there in the dead of night. She went up the little lane that led to the

cottage, and when she got near, she saw a light burning in the window, and she was frightened, wondering whether her mother had gone, or was ill. What meant the light in the dead of night? Softly she crept up till she got to the cottage itself, and put her hand on the latch, and she found the latch was open, the door was not locked; and as she opened it, a voice said, "Is that you Janet?" Mother upstairs waiting for ten long years. "What is the light burning for, Mother?

I was afraid you were ill." "It has never been put out a night since you left, Janet, and the door has never been locked!"

6. My invitation this morning is found in the opening words of the sixth chapter

"Come and let us return to the Lord."