SOAP 04/15/2016; Hosea 4:6

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2*

S) "⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children."

Hosea 4:6 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Hosea 4

O) The key here, is to understand that the people didn't lose knowledge, as if it was taken from them, or as if the knowledge itself had faded. They rejected the knowledge. So, when we get to the next line and read that they had forgotten the law, we know from context that it is an active forgetting. It is a choice they made to behave as if they couldn't remember. This is the same with how God responds in both lines. He rejected His people from being priests, and He forgot their children. He didn't cease being omniscient, but He judged to behave toward them as if He couldn't remember them. So, having the knowledge itself is only a part of it. The more important, more determining factor, is what happens because of, or what happens with, that knowledge.

A) The context here, is that God's chosen people were living as if they didn't know Him, so He treated them as if He didn't know them. In my own life, this has direct application where studying the Bible is concerned. I can have all of the knowledge of the Bible in its entirety, but if I'm living my life rejecting that knowledge, disallowing it to change my behavior, then the knowledge is empty. Can I really claim to know it, if it's not actually changing my life? After all, it is full of verses like this, warning against ignorance, admonishing me to let God's words affect my life. So, knowing and knowing are different. If I am reading the Bible every day, and journaling about it every day, but I am not changing every day accordingly, then I still lack the knowledge of what I've read.

P) Father, Your wisdom and understanding, Your knowledge, has no limits. You are also perfect in Your judgments and actions. This example of perfect behavior based on complete knowledge is a holiness that I could never hope to reach on my own. But, You are calling me to that same perfect holiness. In You, I can gain a more complete knowledge. In the Holy Spirit, I can walk in the righteousness that is credited to me in my faith. I know that there is a balance between faith and works, and just as my faith is proved by my works, so is my knowledge proved by my behavior. So, increase my knowledge of You, and of Your ways, and help me to walk it out. Give me the discipline I need to be faithful in my actions, to the knowledge I profess. I want You to be glorified by my lifestyle, Lord. Help me to keep Your glory in mind with everything I do. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.