What God Wants
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Guest Teacher: What God Wants B Y P A S T O R D A v id G u z I k “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, Hosea 6:6 to the religious leaders of His day. before you come before God. It’s too easy and the knowledge of God more He quoted this particular passage to them for us to think, “I get along with God just because they also had missed the heart of fine. It’s all those people I can’t stand.” If than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 God, choosing to focus on the external you aren’t getting along with others, let the matters rather the internal. Holy Spirit do some serious soul-searching God used the prophet Hosea to present the in you. Are you fulfilling the command of message of His love in an unforgettable way. The first time Jesus quoted this passage is Romans 12:18? It says, “If it is possible, as God told him to marry a prostitute as a way found in Matthew 9:13a. He sat down to much as depends on you, live peaceably to illustrate the amazing love God has for dinner with many noto- His people. Because of his cheating wife, rious sinners in an obvi- Hosea had a unique perspective on how ous attempt to reach out God felt about cheating Israel, who didn’t to these spiritually needy faithfully love God the way that God loved and hungry people. When It’s too easy for us to think, them. God used the prophet Hosea to help the Pharisees criticized “I get along with God just fine. them understand who He was, how He loved Him, Jesus answered: them, and what He expected from them. “But go and learn what It’s all those people I can’t stand.” this means: ‘I desire For example, in Hosea Chapter 5, the mercy and not sacrifice.’” If you aren’t getting along with prophet proclaimed that even though Israel Jesus reminded them of came to God with sacrifices, they would not the message of Hosea others, let the Holy Spirit do some find Him. They would not find God because and applied it to their He withdrew Himself from Israel (Hosea current situation. serious soul-searching in you. 5:6-7), because they had dealt treacherously against Him. And their sacrifices were not The second time Jesus sincere expressions of commitment to God, quoted Hosea 6:6 is found but rather empty, religious rituals. in Matthew 12:7. The context was again with all men.” Sometimes it isn’t possible; criticism by the Pharisees, but this time it even Jesus had enemies. Yet Christ even In Chapter 6 of Hosea, the prophet told was against the disciples of Jesus instead of treated those who hated Him with the Israel what God wanted instead of empty Jesus Himself. Jesus jumped to their defense mercy spoken of in Hosea 6:6. sacrifices. God put it powerfully and elo- and told the Pharisees: “But if you had quently: “For I desire mercy and not sacri- known what this means, ‘I desire mercy Hosea also told us that God values “the fice, and the knowledge of God more than and not sacrifice,’ you would not have con- knowledge of God more than burnt offer- burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). demned the guiltless.” The Pharisees were ings.” Israel brought animals for sacrifice, hung up on their own traditional religious but they never presented themselves as a At this time, the people of Israel were still interpretations of the Sabbath law, but Jesus living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). They missed good at bringing sacrifices, but they had emphasized that God cares more about how what God really wants: a deep, close rela- forsaken mercy and abandoned the knowl- we treat others than our adherence to reli- tionship with Him—expressed by the edge of God and truth (Hosea 4:1). God gious traditions or ceremonies. phrase, “the knowledge of God.” wanted right hearts full of truth and mercy more than He wanted sacrifice. This wasn’t In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus seemed Are you doing things for God when He to say that sacrifice was unimportant to to speak with the heart of Hosea 6:6: would rather you first get some things right God—it was a valued part of the covenant “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, with another person? Are you doing some- God had made with Israel on Mount Sinai. and there remember that your brother has thing for God when He would rather you Yet, compared to mercy and the knowledge something against you, leave your gift there first draw closer to Him in the knowledge of God, sacrifice is far less important. before the altar, and go your way. First be of God? Remember God’s priorities, then reconciled to your brother, and then come make them your priorities. Though God seemed distant from His and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). It’s people in the Old Testament, Hosea’s faith- great for you to come to church and par- David Guzik is director of CC Bible College fully delivered words revealed His nature ticipate in worship and bring your gifts to in Siegen, Germany. He has served in pasto- to be the same as that which was revealed God. Yet the way you treat others is more ral ministry for 20 years and has authored perfectly in Christ. Jesus twice quoted important. Get things right with others several Bible commentaries. www.enduringword.com 67.