10 July 2024 Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

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Please read the passage before reading the commentary

“Israel was a luxuriant vine” according to the opening words of this passage.  What often happens, however, with those who have wealth is that they spend it on themselves instead of on others.  So, Israel built more statues, more altars, and had more gods.  The result was that Israel’s wealth would disappear and their gold turn to dust.

Israel should have planted justice, not memorials, in the land.  Justice comes when poverty is alleviated because then the rich have shared their wealth.  Biblical economy and justice do not come trickling down from the rich but boiling up from poverty.  Israel would have been truly luxuriant if justice had flourished instead of pride.

We would be truly luxuriant if our personal excess would support those who have less than adequate.  If we were truly luxuriant, then our nation would be truly luxuriant.  To the extent that each of us is selfish, to that extent our whole nation is selfish.

To the extent that we are at the service of justice rather than law, to that extent can we exercise leadership in the nation and among the nations of the world.  Israel was a luxuriant vine, but its fruit was poisonous, and it was doomed to fail.  Let our works be fruitful for justice and let our work prevail.