Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. – Hosea 14:9

Today’s Scripture Reading (January 20, 2020): Hosea 13 & 14

It is an advertisement trying to sell you insurance. The opening scene takes place at night. Four teens burst out of the trees and onto a decrepit looking house. It is apparent that the teens are running away from something that has terrified them. The first speaker is one of the boys. “Let’s hide in the attic.”

One of the girls responds, “No, in the basement.”

A second girl, the one who seems to have all of the brains for the group, whines out, “Why can’t we just get into the running car?”

Good question. But the last person, a boy, also has the final say in the matter. “Are you crazy? Let’s hide behind the chainsaws.”

The two girls chime in with “Smart” and a whine of “Yeah, ok.” And then the voice of the commentator is heard with the moral of our short story. “If you’re in a horror movie, you make poor decisions.” Yes, apparently, you do. I still think running for the car was the right decision. But maybe the car was just too obvious.

Hosea has laid out his argument for Israel and for Judah. It is apparent in the writing that he believes that Israel is in the most immediate danger, but the prophet fears that Judah is not far behind their northern neighbor. Hosea thinks that the evidence stands firmly against the descendants of Jacob.

But he also believes that it is not too late. Israel’s prophet of doom still holds out hope that things can change. So he asks the question, “who is wise? Who is discerning?” Most of us want to stand among the wise and discerning. And Hosea understands that aspect of our personalities. He hopes that the question will cause everyone to stop and consider the evidence that he has put forward.

But Hosea also knows the answer. The wise and discerning person knows that God’s way is better than any other possible path; the righteous, and the wise and discerning, choose to walk in it. But the rebellious and the fool stumble over the same way. They do not seem to be able to accept the wisdom and path of God wholeheartedly. Instead, they choose was is right in their own eyes. They decide to hide behind the chainsaws. And their destruction becomes something of their own choosing.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 27