Set the Trumpet to Your Lips – Hosea 8

Is there anyone setting a trumpet to their lips to warn the Evangelical church?  Many Evangelicals have embraced Christian Nationalism, a movement that identifies America as a Christian nation, a mostly majority population of the America that needs to be restored.  But in sociologist Philip Gorski’s words, “[Christian nationalism] is political idolatry dressed up as religious orthodoxy” [Christian Nationalism: Taking America Back for God, Whitehead, Andrew L.; Perry, Samuel L.].  After all, when Evangelicalism has tied itself to a political party and even one political candidate, it is no longer the gospel we are proclaiming, but a social gospel.  And when we identify ourselves with a false narrative about the election and other matters, we are no longer known for truth, but have sold our souls to that which has nothing to do with the gospel.  We are the Israel Yahweh speaks of through Hosea.  Hitching our horse to a political post is the definition of idolatry.  When Evangelical witness to Christ becomes identified with politics instead of Biblical truth, we have abandoned the faith.  Trumpets are sounding.

Set the trumpet to your lips!  One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law.  To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.”  Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.

They made kings, but not through me.  They set up princes, but I knew it not.  With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.  I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.  My anger burns against them.  How long will they be incapable of innocence?  For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God.  The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.  The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.  Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel.  For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.  Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up.  And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute.

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning.  Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.  As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the LORD does not accept them.  Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.  For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.  (Hosea 8 ESV)

The trumpet is for warning of enemy attack.  Israel has broken covenant with Yahweh and broken His laws.  Though they claim to “know” Him, they have spurned Him by setting up a calf to worship in their capital city Samaria, which calf God in turn has spurned and which He will destroy.  The evil they have sown will produce an even more destructive harvest and their attempts to make alliance with other nations like Assyria will backfire on them. 

The altars on which they sacrifice to Yahweh are not accepted by Yahweh and are contrary to His law, so they will enter into slavery just like they once were in Egypt.  Judah will not escape this fate either for forgetting his Maker.

If we really know God it will be evident in our obedience to His covenant requirements and our trust in Him alone to be our rescue.  As the old hymn says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”