“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”
Introduction.
(Hosea
4:1-6) This text describes times not much different from our own. We certainly
live in times when people “break all restraint”—our world is filled with
“swearing and lying”—“killing stealing and adultery”—ours is a world of
“bloodshed upon bloodshed” (2). Note four points that contribute to this:
·
No
“knowledge of God in the land” (1).
·
They
are “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (6a).
·
In
fact they had “rejected knowledge” (6b).
·
They
had “forgotten the law of your God” (6c).
We
should note that there is a direct relationship between the troubled and sinful
behavior of the people and their knowledge of God. This danger is important for
us to recognize lest we are “destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
I.
The Knowledge of God.
A.
How can we gain knowledge of God?
1. Not
within ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23).
B.
Only through His word.
1.
Paul spoke of the Gentiles, who did not receive God’s revelation, that they “do
not know God” (1 Thess. 4:5).
2.
Our world suffers the same problem if it doesn’t look to the Bible.
3.
The word keeps us from sin and cleanses our way (Psalm 119:9-16). But, there is
a danger that we can forget the word.
C.
The word is all-sufficient (2 Tim. 3:14-17).
1.
Many in the world claim to teach this—a foundation of the Protestant
Reformation was the motto Sola Scriptura “the Scriptures alone.”
2.
Now many who once claimed this say “the Bible plus psychology”—or “the Bible
plus funny stories”—or “the Bible plus entertainment.”
3.
Now more and more we are told, “you don’t need to know Bible stories”—“you
don’t need to remember names and places”—“you don’t need to know book,
chapter, and verse.”
3.
The word is how we know God. Without it we will “be destroyed for lack of
knowledge.”
II.
Sources to Grow in the Knowledge of God.
A. Preaching.
1. Importance
of preaching the Bible. A famine of hearing the word of God (Amos 8:11-12).
This probably referred to an end of prophecy in Israel, but the same it true
when people stop craving the preaching of the word of God.
2. This
is only twice (sometimes only once) a week. If this is our only source it is
not enough—we will be “destroyed through lack of knowledge.”
B. Bible
classes.
1. This
is a way the elders feed the flock. (Acts 20:28-30)—“feed the church of God”
(ASV). How can the elders feed the flock otherwise?
2. Only
valuable if we participate and show up. How often it may be that a brother or
sister has some struggle, or problem, or weakness that is dealt with in a
comment or study in a class—but the person is not there.
3. If
we don’t (or don’t participate) it is of no value. What if something that
could help me go to heaven—overcome sin—help bring a soul to Christ—or raise my
children to be Christians, is dealt with…but I miss it?
C. Parents.
1. Parents
must be the primary source of learning for children (Eph. 6:1-4). Not just
fathers. Timothy’s faith came from his grandmother and mother (2 Tim. 1:5).
2. Parents
have the most time with children. Children imitate what they seen in their
parents (consciously and unconsciously).
3. Do
we have the knowledge of God to pass to our children? If
not, what am I going to do about it?
4. If
this is neglected, children are left to depend only upon classes and preaching.
But, if children don’t learn from parents to value classes and preaching it
will be hard for them to value it on their own. (Prov. 29:15). This is true of
the wild child that refuses to obey his or her parents—but it is also true of
children as they get older. We must fight against the influences the world
bombards our children with or they will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
D. Personal
initiative.
1. Ultimately,
the only source of knowledge that will sustain us is personal initiative (Psalm
119:97-14).
2. We
must decide to grow in the knowledge of God. Devote time to private Bible
study.
3. It
is the only thing that guards us against chaos, selfishness, immorality, and
being “destroyed by lack of knowledge.”
4. This
means Bible study (devotional and analytical). (1 Tim. 4:11-13).
5. This
means reading good literature by sound writers (bulletins, magazines, websites,
commentaries, books).
6. Denominational
sources can have some value, but only when it conforms to God’s word. It is
dangerous for brethren to feed on sources from those in error when weak in
knowledge or to the neglect of sources by brethren.
Conclusion.
Let’s
end this consideration with two issues:
·
Why is this important? Because
of the danger of other influences (cf. Israel and nations around them). We are
surrounded by friends, family, internet, music industry that plant seeds of
thought, pleasure, and ideas that will turn us from truth (Matthew 24:10-13).
Only knowledge of God will counteract this influence.
·
What is important to you?
We find time—we learn about—we become familiar with what interests us and is
important to us. (cf. boy dating that becomes a disinterested husband—it tells
a girlfriend she is important, or a wife she is not). We want salvation, but
how important is God to us? (Matthew 13:45-46). The gospel should be this
important to us. (Psalm 119:7-11).