Hosea.4:12

Prophet Hosea prophesied about the middle of 8th century BC to the northern kingdom of Israel. Inspite of repeated warnings, as they continued to sin, Israel was captured by Assyrians and its people exiled in 722/ 721BC, bringing the northern kingdom to an end.

Hosea saw the failure to acknowledge God as Israel’s basic problem.(Hos.4:6; 13:4) Disloyalty to God was spiritual adultery ( Hos.4:13,14; 5:4; 9:1) Israel had turned to Baal worship and had sacrificed at the pagan high places, which included associating with the sacred prostitutes at the sanctuaries.(Hos.4:14)

A. Hosea’s marriage and the unfaithfulness of his wife.
“Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.” Hos.1:2.

God asked Hosea to marry an adulterous wife to show how Israel is unfaithful to Him. How much pain, Hosea, the husband went through.. As Hosea still loved her, God still loves them and is willing to accept them as His people if they repent and come back to Him.

B. Sin of Gomer/Israel.
She said, “I will go after my lovers, who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink”. Hos.2:5.
The wife was chasing other men.(Please see Eze.16:33; Jer.3:2). Lovers- the reference is to Canaanite deities such as Baal, whose worshippers hoped to get agricultural fertility. They thought all their blessings is from Baal. They forget the God who gave everything to them. Hos.2:8.

What is the situation today? Do we acknowledge the God who gave everything to us or are we giving credit to worldly gods around us?

C. God’s charges against Israel.
…there is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery;.. Hos.4:1,2.

They break all bounds 4:2. meaning no boundaries. Doing anything and everything…

Spirit of prostitution leads them astray.. 4:12.
Canaanite fertility rites involved sexual activity that led to general erosion of morals.

They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills… 4:13.

D. Charges against the priests.

1. They stumble day and night. Hos.4:5
2. Priests failed to teach knowledge of God to people. No proper teaching. Hos.4:6.
3. They ignored the law of God. Hos.4:6.
4. Priests sinned more as they prospered. Hos.4:7.
5. Priests fed on the sins of people and relish their wickedness. Hos.4:8. Instead of correcting them, priests were interested only in getting material benefits from them.
6. Priests too deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution. Hos.4:10.

E. Immorality because of Baal worship. Hos.4:13,14.

1. Daughters turn to prostitution. 4:13.
2. Daughter in laws turn to adultery. 4:13.
3. Men consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes. Hos.4:14.
   Harlots= general prostitutes. Shrine prostitutes= women of the sanctuaries who served as partners for men in cultic sexual activity.

What is the situation today in the world?

Alcoholism, drugs, premarital sex, extramarital sex, living without marriage, changing partners like changing clothes, abortion, same sex marriage… These were treated as sins and were shameful but now becoming a fashion in many countries…. Nominalism, materialism, liberalism, prosperity theology, exploitation of the poor….

Are we always faithful to GOD in all areas of our life?
Who all or what all, are the lovers in our life which takes us away from God?

What are the areas where we have sinned against a loving and Holy God? Let us repent and ask forgiveness.

LET US GO BACK TO GOD.

Rev.C.V.Abraham.