Kiss The Calf?

KISS THE CALF?

INTRODUCTION: THE SETTING OF THIS STUDY SPEAKS TO DISUNITY RATHER THAN UNITY. ISRAEL DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT ENTITIES AROUND 1922 B.C. THE NORTHERN KINGDOM BECAME ISRAEL AND THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM JUDAH. THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM CONTROLLED THE NORTHERN WITH JEROBOAM AS THE PRIMARY LEADER. THE KEY ISSUE WAS OVER JERUSALEM BEING THE PRIMARY WORSHIP CENTER. ISRAEL WANTED THEIR OWN WORSHIP CENTER AND ESTABLISHED TWO WORSHIP SITES IN DAN AND BETHEL. THEY ENDORSED CALF WORSHIP AND SACRIFICES ALONG WITH SOME HUMAN SACRIFICES. GOD SANCTIONED NONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES!

SPIRITUAL INSIGHT: HOSEA 13: 2 (NKJB) NOW THEY SIN MORE AND MORE, AND HAVE MADE FOR THEMSELVES MOLDED IMAGES, IDOLS OF THEIR SILVER, ACCORDING TO THEIR SKILL; ALL OF IT (IS) THE WORK OF CRAFTSMEN. THEY SAY OF THEM, LET THE MEN WHO SACRIFICE KISS THE CALVES.

RATIONALIZING SIN DILUTES TRUTH, AND CAN LEAD TO APOSTASY: THIS MEANS REJECTION OF GOD HIMSELF!

GOD’S DIRECTIVES ARE REAL: NEVER HAS HE ENDORSED FALSE IDOLS!

INTIMACY WITH GOD DEMANDS TRUE COMMITMENT TO HIM ALONE!

SINCERE CONFESSION MEANS SINCERE OBEDIENCE TO GOD!

PSALMS 2:12 (ESV) KISS THE SON, LEST HE BE ANGRY, AND YOU PERISH IN THE WAY, FOR HIS WRATH IS QUICKLY KINDLED. BLESSED ARE ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.

APPLICATION: KISS THE SON, NOT THE CALF!