Hosea: God's Faithfulness in Christ - Meaningless Festival

Our text this week, highlights the annual camping trip that God's people engaged in called the Feast of Booths. It was the last of the seven celebrations of the year where God's people would gather in Jerusalem, live in tents, and spend the week making offerings to the Lord, celebrating God's provision in the harvest. Imagine the conversation the week before in a typical Jewish home, where the wife would rather "glamp." Remember, there was no Camping World. Recognize that their hearts weren't in this celebration. It was a formality, a necessary ceremony that had been corrupted. Not only did Israel (northern nation) travel to Jerusalem because it was in Judah, but they saw God as one of many gods to be thanked for the harvest. Israel had corrupted itself with the Baals of the pagans and were defiled, unclean. In the context of Hosea's marriage to Gomer, it would be like celebrating Father's Day with the children from her lovers in attendance. She had to do it, because it's Father's Day, but it was an awkward moment to be sure.

Yet, the text leads us to Christ! Join us as we worship the One who redeems, purifies, and provides for our salvation.