God’s Case Against IsraelHosea 4

God’s Case Against Israel1. Israel’s guilt exposed (chap. 4)

2. Israel’s judgment announced (5:1–14)

3. Israel’s restoration envisioned (5:15–6:3)

Hosea 1:2…the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.”

Three Major Sections

Hosea 4:1–6:3

Hosea 6:4–11:11

Hosea 11:12–14:9

Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land

CalvinHosea now relates how vehemently he reproved the people, because every kind of corruption so commonly prevailed, that there was no sound part in the whole community.

Three Major Charges1. No faithfulness - Hosea 11:12–

14:9

2. No steadfast love (mercy or kindness) - Hosea 6:4–11:11

3. No knowledge of God – Hosea 4:2–6:3

God’s Case Against Israel1. The sins of the people (4:2–5)

2. The sins of the priests (4:6–10)

3. The sin of idolatry (4:11–19)

God’s Case Against Israel1. The sins of the people (4:2–5)

BoiceWe try to excuse ourselves; that is our nature. We say that these things are true of others but not of ourselves. Now we are to be shown that they are indeed true of us, and that we, as well as others, are condemned.

Exodus 2016 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

13 You shall not murder.

15 You shall not steal.

14 You shall not commit adultery.

Jeremiah 7:11Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.

Isaiah 1:23Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

God’s Case Against Israel1. The sins of the people (4:2–5)

2. The sins of the priests (4:6–10)

CalvinThe knowledge of God he takes for the fear of God which proceeds from the knowledge of him; as though he said, “In a word, men go on as licentiously, as if they did not think that there is a God in heaven, as if all religion was effaced from their hearts.” For as long as any knowledge of God remains in us, it is like a bridle to restrain us: but when men become wanton, and allow themselves every liberty, it is certain that they have forgotten God, and that there is in them now no knowledge of God. Hence the complaints in the Psalms, ‘The ungodly have said in their heart, There is no God,’ (Ps. 14:1:)

CalvinMen cannot run headlong into brutal stupidity, while a spark of the true knowledge of God shines or twinkles in their minds. We now then perceive the real meaning of the Prophet.

1 Kings 12:31He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.

1 Kings 13:33After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places.

Matthew HenryIf we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will, sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, which showed what an offence sin was to God, since it needed an atonement, the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be made at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sins of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardened one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment.

Matthew HenrySharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lust harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength and vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull, so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secret lust, which takes away their hearts

Romans 1:23…and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Leviticus 26:26When I break your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven and shall dole out your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.

Jeremiah 5:31the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Jeremiah 2:8The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

Jeremiah 23:1Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord.

Malachi 2:6True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

God’s Case Against Israel1. The sins of the people (4:2–5)

2. The sins of the priests (4:6–10)

3. The sin of idolatry (4:11–19)

Jeremiah 10:3…for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

Habakkuk 2:19Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.

James 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Romans 1:24-28Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with

Romans 1:24-28men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Romans 1:29-31They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Boice It is a horrible picture but one justly painted of our depraved race.