Oh, I know What You Did

By Matt

I read: Hosea 1-4

Well, we're now done with the first four chapters of Hosea as we delve into this entry to examine the fourth chapter. And here's the very interesting thing: it speaks a lot to the question Ben asked a couple of days ago about why Eli was punished for the sins of his son. Verses 4-10 actually paint a scathing criticism of the priests of Israel and Judah and cites punishment for the abdication of their responsibilities. Pretty glad I'm not a priest from that time!

I think it comes down to God taking very seriously who he puts in positions of authority, whether as kings or judges of Israel, or the priests of his house. The selection process for rulers has always been very detailed, you can see that with Saul and David. Priests? Hmm, I dunno about that. Aaron was the first High Priest and he was the overseer of that whole golden calf debacle. However, Paul's and Peter's letters in the New Testament are chock full of instructions for leaders of the Church.

Yet, I'd be willing to take this moment to remind all of us that, at least within the Presbyterian tradition, we are a congregation of priests. Christ is our High Priest now, we're all lesser priests who serve him and don't need other religious authorities to intercede for us. That doesn't mean we don't need pastors, they fill the important role of shepherding a flock and leading us in worship, it just means that we can go to God directly. So, if you read verses 4-10, let them serve as a reminder to you as your responsibilities as priests and the failings of those who went before you.