Christians have the greatest news in the world. God, in His great love and rich mercy, has forgiven us and drawn us to himself through His Son Jesus Christ. No wonder Paul exhorts believers to ″rejoice in the Lord always!″ (Philippians 4:4).

However, there are times when celebrating is the last thing God wants us to do. Hosea begins chapter 9 with such a message: ″Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations″ (v. 1). Perhaps the Israelites are preparing to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (one of their harvest festivals), and just as they're about to tuck into their food, Hosea shouts out, ″All the other nations can celebrate, but not you, Israel!″

Why would God say that? Verse 1 tells us: ″For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor.″ The people had compromised their true faith and turned to false religion. They'd been worshipping the pagan god Baal by getting involved in ritualised sex on the threshing floors during harvest. They paid money to Baal prostitutes and performed the ritual in the hope of getting a bumper crop.

At the same time, the people were still going to God's temple and offering sacrifices to the Lord. They were trying to hedge their bets, thinking they could worship both deities at the same time.

No wonder God tells the people not to come near Him with their joyful songs in worship! Their actions were empty. He would make all their harvests poor (vv. 2-3), and He would evict them from the land. They'd go back to being slaves (as they had been in Egypt), but this time in Assyria, where it would be hard to celebrate (v. 4). In fact, when the feast days came round, they would still gather-but not for celebrations. Instead, it would be for mass burials (vv. 5-6). God promises that the land that was once fertile will soon become a wilderness (v. 6).

God is rightly jealous. As the Creator of the universe, He alone is worthy of praise. To agree with the popular view that all religions are the same might make for an easier life, but it is a compromise. It grieves God and He will say to us, ″Do not rejoice!″

Heavenly Father, you are the one true God, so help me to worship you alone. In Jesus' name, amen.