Hosea: God's Faithfulness in Christ - Like People, Like Priest

We have heard the importance of leadership and would expect to hear the phrase, "as the leader goes, so goes the people” or “as the father or mother goes, so goes the home.” In our text, Hosea 4, we have a curious phrase, like people, like priest. In other words, the priests are joining the people in their idolatry and immorality. How does this happen? Why do leaders fail to uphold the righteousness of God before the people? What causes them to compromise the glory of God for the shame of the world? 

Back in the 1970’s, the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) was beginning to compromise their Biblical convictions, specifically on the doctrine of inerrancy and the role of women in the church leadership. In addition, there was a movement to join the already liberal United Presbyterian Church (UPC). Ministers and churches were faced with a difficult decision: leave the denomination, walking away from their health insurance, pensions, and potentially their buildings, all of which were held by the denomination, or remain faithful to Scripture. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced a similar situation as the state church of Germany surrendered itself to the Nazi regime. In 1934, a group of faithful ministers signed the Barmen Declaration, opposing Hitler and the state church. A few thousand ministers left the state church, leaving their positions and pensions to remain faithful to Christ and resist the Nazi regime. Many of them knew that they were signing their death warrant.

Both situations show the courage of men like Hosea, who stood against the compromise of their peers and resisted the evil of their day. But the story isn’t about Hosea or the unfaithful priests; it’s about our faithful, loyal High Priest, who leads us into a knowledge of God. Join us as we worship and hope in Him.