Hosea
4 – Children of Israel
God
chastised Israel for breaking five of the Ten Commandments. Swearing, lying,
killing, stealing, and committing adultery. He also elaborated on the sin of
idolatry. The Israelite people were tripped up by sin and consequently fell to
their run. Those who allow the Lord to lead them will not stumble (Isa. 63:12,
13).
God
wanted Israel to experience Him through their loyal obedience; instead, the
people and priests violated His covenant law and forfeited their blessings.
The
priests were eager to eat up the sin of the people. They did this by urging the
people to offer hypocritical, ineffective sacrifices for sins. The more the
people sinned, the more the priests ate and sold the sacrificial meat to make
money. The people enjoyed sin in excess while the priests, who should have been
faithful, encouraged it.
Israel’s
practice of idolatry included widespread prostitution, and the men who
participated were even more responsible in the Lord’s eyes than the daughters
who committed harlotry. False religion leads to spiritual adultery, and these
work their way into a society and ultimately produce an immoral generation.
Israel’s
primary shrines were at Gilgal and Beth Aven. The Lord urged Judah to avoid the
sins of the stubborn, rebellious Israel. Hosea refers to the Northern kingdom
as Ephraim, a reference to the largest of the 10 northern tribes.
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Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.
Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee
Through the Bible
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