Slaying Our ’Grendel’
Perth Bible Church Sunday, March 30, 2008 AM
Pastor Todd Leupold
INTRODUCTION:
This morning, I stand before you deeply disturbed . . . and yet, positively hopeful.
I am deeply disturbed by how much we are voluntarily robbing ourselves of so much blessing, opportunity, fulfillment and joy.
Not long ago the epic poem “Beowulf” was made into the first all-CGI movie. Hollywood succeeded where our schools have often failed in etching this tragic tale and it’s monster Grendel in the minds of a new generation. I mention this because I want us to understand that each of us also have our own ’Grendel.’ A grotesque monster that can’t bear to allow us true, joyful fellowship, victory or celebration in Christ. One who, at any hint of such, must interrupt and end it with suffering and destruction. Of course, the real tragedy is that this monster Grendel is the product of our own dark secrets and sins. Our own selfish and greedy adultery with an enticing siren of evil.
Even the most godly among us must be aware of what ’Grendel’ of our own folly lies in some dark cave waiting to emerge and demolish our accomplishments, hopes and dreams.
Consider, if you will, what the late author and practical jokester, Arthur Conan Doyle once demonstrated. One day Doyle chose twelve of his famous friends who were especially well known and regarded for their outstanding and admirable virtue. He then sent each one of them identical, private telegrams that simply read: “Flee at once, all is discovered!” Within 24 hrs., every one of those dozen men of great reputation had suddenly left the country!
You know, it’s funny when it’s only joke, and entertaining when it only threatens others. But when it is the Holy Spirit rather than an esoteric author who send the message and the message rather than a random ’stab in the dark’ is in fact exposing a very certain and specific truth of our lives and heart, then it is very serious business in deed!
Folks, it’s time we face the fact that we have a sin problem and we need to get serious about it! Whether so-called ’little’ sin or ’big’ sin, white or black, private or public, obvious or hidden, it must be dealt with soberly and urgently. It may take many different forms and faces, but it is still all SIN. Platitudes, suppression, running away, blaming others, pretending and minimizing may help us make friends with our sin, but it will NOT end it or keep it from ultimately destroying us!
I want, I beg us, this morning to take a long, hard look at the realities and seriousness of sin – principally as the LORD God Almighty graphically demonstrates through the prophet Hosea.
HOSEA: Reflection of God’s Love Relationship with His People
Around the time 755-725 BC, during the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel, and the successive reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah, the LORD God Almighty chose a common man of the land to be His prophet and to share His message to His people in an unusual but powerful way. Specifically, the LORD commanded Hosea to marry first a prostitute and then an adulteress enslaved to her first husband that through the cycle of accusation, punishment, and offers of hope, selfless love and selfish betrayal, God’s people would see exposed their own frail relationship with God and its inevitable consequences and possibility for restoration.
Guided by God’s Word & God’s Spirit, let us skip through this journey together and see what we too may learn of ourselves and our Lord.
Hosea 1:2-3
To forsake the Lord, to seek satisfaction apart from Him to whom we have previously pledged our lives, is to be a spiritual whore.
Hosea 2:1-3
Like a jealous spouse, our Lord God has no tolerance for our ’cheating’ on Him. And, when we do, He will not hesitate to expose us in our shame and stripped of pretenses and illusions.
We ’cheat’ on Him and become spiritual harlots any time we seek from another that which He has already offered and pledged to us, anytime we trust another for intimacy, security, happiness, or provision rather than Him. In essence, any time we sin – whatever ’kind’ of sin it may be!
Hosea 2:5b-11a
Yet, no matter how passionately, how far or wide we may go, or how many others we offer our needs to, NONE will ever be able to provide for us, fulfill, or bless us like our ’First Husband’ – the LORD!
Sure, there may be moments or seasons when seems we are better off, but in the end we will only find ourselves destitute and without hope.
And from that misery we have insisted on for adulterous selves, He will NOT spare us – at least for a time.
Yet, while this could be the end, because of His great love, it does not have to be so!
Hosea 2:19-21
Even when we have betrayed Him and defiled our oaths and ourselves, He desires to reconcile with our once-adulterous selves, to start again and reclaim the eternal, intimate relationship that has always been possible.
Yet, note that there are necessary conditions for this to happen. Where once there was lawlessness and disregard, there must henceforth be righteousness and justice. Where once there was bitterness, impatience and cold-hearted selfishness, there must henceforth be lovingkindness and compassion!Where once there was faithlessness, henceforth there must be faithfulness. Where once there was distance and only a superficial or partial union, henceforth there must be an intimacy of the broadest and deepest kind.
“Yada”, ’to know’, encompasses far more than mental or intellectual knowledge. It refers also to a deep acquaintance, an emotional feeling, and a spiritual reception and union of souls.
I think it is safe to say that most all of us have some ’knowledge’ of Jesus, who He is and what He desires. But do we yada the Lord our God?
Hosea 3:1-3
Presumably, the first wife, a harlot, would not respond in the necessary or wise way. The LORD then calls Hosea to pursue a second marriage – this time with an enslaved woman who is deeply and genuinely loved by her husband, but reciprocates only adultery.
So it is, says the Lord, with His people. For all the perfect love and commitment we have from Him, all our needs fulfilled, yet we obstinately continue to look for something else, something different, something that we hope might be ’more.’
Hosea 4:1-2a, 6a, 9b-11
Everything ultimately begins and ends with our “knowledge”, our yada, or intimate relationship with the LORD.
Hosea 5:2-4, 6, 14-15
The LORD is both a God who is deeply and compassionately in love with His people & a Lord who demands justice, righteousness and faithfulness!
He is in love with His people, and He is also passionately in love with righteousness and purity and has a burning, unrelenting hatred of wrong.
Hosea 6:1-4, 6-7, 11
Again, we see that while our Lord will not and can not tolerate our adultery or wickedness, He will revive that which has been lost, restore that which has been broken, and love that which has betrayed where there is a righteous desire and effort to re-commit and claim faithful intimacy with Him!
God’s anger at wickedness is intense, but even so, His compassion toward the repentant is profound!
Hosea 7:1a-b, 8, 10, 13c-14a, 16a;
8:7, 11-13;
10:1-2, 4, 12-13;
Still, His betrothed reject His compassion and embrace their adultery, even as they continue to reap the consequences.
They continue to full the deceitfulness and wickedness of their hearts, growing ever more cold and calloused.
Hosea 11:7-12;
12:5-6;
13:9
And still, the Lord’s lovingkindness is great!
Still, He pines and cries out for His lover’s return in faithfulness and justice!
Hosea 14:1-5, 9
There is still a choice, but it will not always be so.
Return to our first love, completely and without compromise and endless blessings are promised.
Continue to compromise, play games, try to have it both ways, or just plain walk in the other direction, and endless misery is promised.
CONCLUDING CHALLENGE:
Leper comparison – danger of hardness to sin.
1 John 3:1-10
We ALL have to make a decision, as individuals, families and as a church.
There’s no church crisis. It’s true that even if nothing significant happens here today or as a result of today, there’s no reason to believe we won’t continue on as we have and are doing. And there will still always be at least a certain number of people in our fellowship who will continue to grow in intimacy and blessing in the Lord.
But why should we settle for that? Why would we? Why shouldn’t each and every one of us choose to humble ourselves before the LORD, embrace His righteous love, trust His guidance, protection and provision and become and achieve so much more?!
ALTAR CALL
