Sharper Iron — Majoring in the Minors - Hosea 6:1-10: Fleeting Repentance and Insincere Worship

Having heard the LORD’s call to repentance, Hosea desires to lead the people back to their God. He calls them to return to the LORD in the certain faith that the LORD raises the dead and forgives sinners. Nonetheless, the people of Israel only display temporary repentance and hypocritical faith. Despite the preaching of the prophets and God’s available and abundant grace, the wickedness in Israel only continues to grow.

Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hosea 6:1-10.

To learn more about Grace Lutheran, visit gracebrenham.org.

“Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Hosea 6:1-10

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

6 “Come, let us return to the Lord;
    for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
    he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
²After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.
³Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
    his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
    as the spring rains that water the earth.”

⁴What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
    What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that goes early away.
⁵Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
    I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
    and my judgment goes forth as the light.
⁶For I desire steadfast love^[a] and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

⁷But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
    there they dealt faithlessly with me.
⁸Gilead is a city of evildoers,
    tracked with blood.
⁹As robbers lie in wait for a man,
    so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
    they commit villainy.
¹⁰In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
    Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.

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Footnotes

Hosea 6:6 Septuagint mercy

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).