CHAPTER 4

1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

At the time of Hosea's writing, the majority of the people in the land of Israel were now "children of Israel" and not children of God.

There was no truth in their talk because they ignored God.
There was no mercy in the land because they no longer tried to live by God's Word.
There was no knowledge of God in the land because they no longer sought Him in prayer, nor did they study His Word.

"Therefore," God says, disaster is impending. The word "languish" is a Hebrew word meaning "to mourn!" When a people are in "controversy" with God, very difficult times are ahead!

Friends, this is applicable in America today. When a nation founded on God's Word and His principles begins to chase worldliness instead of godliness, disaster is impending!

4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. 5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

When people refuse God's messengers and God's message, there is no real basis for reproof of sinfulness (verse 4).

Real laws that deal with real sinfulness are not made nor enforced when people refuse real TRUTH. The reason we don't have a law against "baby killing" (abortion) today is because people in America have refused God's Word which says a soul's life begins at conception. The reason we don't have laws against gambling today is because people worship the idol of luck more than the truth of God's Word.

God says His people are "destroyed for lack of knowledge." They have "rejected" the truth of God's Word, and therefore have rejected real knowledge.

As people multiply (without God) sin increases (verse 7). Without reverence for our Creator and Savior, people look more for things to do wrong than for things to do right.

9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

The priests have been corrupted by worldliness as much as the people. And God's punishment will come to both.

A lack of food will be the "reward" for greediness.

And the REASON is that they have "left off to take heed to the LORD."

Friends, living without God is dangerous living!

11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. 12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. 13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

When people refuse God's Word they begin to live as the "carnal" man (Romans 8:7) and to commit acts which are against God. "Whoredom" and "new wine" are things which remove the heart from God's principles.

Living outside of God's principles is showing a "lack of understanding." No matter how educated a person becomes, he still seeks the answer to real life.

Therefore, the person without God either seeks the answer to real life in education or in idols - imaginary gods.

Israel was demonstrating that they were living without God's Word when they worshipped "stocks" and idols in the "tops of the mountains," etc.

Without God's Word there is no moral background. And people begin to live as they see fit. Children follow parents because they have not been taught differently (verse 13). "Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations." (Isaiah 66:3).

Their homes were infected with the Baal cultish actions which included prostitution at the altar of this false idol.

Looking at verse 14, let's see an example from the present world. As a chaplain for the Sheriff's Department, I have seen young teenagers taken home for violating curfew. But when they are taken home, the parents are not at home - they are out partying. How can one punish the children when the parents are teaching them wrong?

But let us know that God never leaves Himself without "witness" in the world (see Acts 14:17).

15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. 16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. 17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. 18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye. 19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Hosea warns Judah not to participate in the sins of idolatry as Israel has done. They are told not to visit the shrines of the false idols (Gilgal & Beth-aven).

Have you ever seen a "backsliding heifer?" That's when a young heifer, being led by her master, drops her hind legs, and begins to pull backward agains the rope! God pictures Israel as pulling against Him!

Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30)

God accuses Israel of having the "gimmie" attitude (verse 18). They are focused on selfishness and not on being what they were formed to be -- God's messengers to the world of His grace and love and truth.

Therefore they soar aimlessly (verse 19) having no fruitfulness for God. And they will be "ashamed" when the nation falls.

To live without God is to live in selfishness and wantonness - always seeking more, never having enough.

To live without God's Word is to live without principles of morality and decency.

These actions cause the loss of understanding. Value and worth of the individual is elevated, and value and worth of others is degenerated. And the END of that kind of life is - DESTRUCTION.

OH! How we in America need to listen to Hosea today!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.