The Lord’s Case Against Israel (4)

Introduction:

Up to this point in our study of Hosea, we have been enveloped in a living parable of Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer, and how this related to Yahweh and his unfaithful bride, Israel. We heard how, though the covenant of marriage was broken because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, Yahweh would woo her back and as we saw last week, he would redeem her and restore her to the end that she would know him and seek him exclusively.

It would be great to end the story here, however, In chapters 4:1–14:9 Hosea Spells Out His Parable with Accusations, Warnings, and Promises. In other words, in the rest of the book, we get to flash back to see what led up to these events as Hosea goes into detail about the various aspects of Israel’s life that brought about her unfaithfulness to the Lord, and how Yahweh urges her to repent, and reveals to his audience Yahweh’s powerful and passionate commitment to his people, in spite of their unfaithfulness. So this morning, we begin with The Lord’s Case Against Israel, in Chapter 4:1-19.

Text: Hosea 4:1-19

Hosea 4:1–19 ESV

1 Hear 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; 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. 4 Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. 5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. 9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. 10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the Lord to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. 12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. 13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. 15 Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the Lord lives.” 16 Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. 18 When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame. 19 A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Main Idea: Since the knowledge of God is to promote worship and obedience, the lack of knowledge leads only to ruin and judgment.

In this striking example of a prophetic lawsuit against Israel for violating the terms of the covenant, Hosea gives an overview of the Lord’s case against Israel and then focuses on the consequences of their rejection of the knowledge of God.

Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets Chapter 4

We hence see that men cannot be taught, except God reproves their sins by his word; and then, lest they despond, gives them a hope of mercy; and except he again returns to reproofs and threatenings. This is the mode of address which we find in all the Prophets.

Point by point, the LORD brings his indictment against Israel. You will note that each indictment builds on the previous one.

I. Yahweh’s Dispute Over Breaking His Law (1-3)

A. Yahweh focused (1)

(1) Hear 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;

Note that the contention is not with each other, or other hostile nations, but with Yahweh himself.

The ultimate problem with sin is not that it causes disunity, hatred, and a dysfunctional humanity, which it does, but that it is first and foremost a crime against God and his holiness. David tells us this after his sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah...

Psalm 51:3–4 ESV

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land - symptoms of sin; of godlessness, since each is a characteristic of God and those associated with God.

no knowledge of God - this is further evidence of why sin abounds; there is no God perception, reasoning, or understanding that drives actions and attitudes. Paul mentions this in the NT in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 1:28 ESV

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.

B. Law Broken (2)

(2) there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Commandments of God’s moral law given at Sinai (Ex. 20:2-17; Deut. 5:6-21), and symptoms of their rejection of God himself.

C. Creation Affected (3)

(3) Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

Since man was to have dominion over the earth, nurturing it and cultivate it, when he sins, it affects all creation. Moses warns of this in Leviticus:

Leviticus 18:28 ESV

28 lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

Isaiah picks up the same thought:

Isaiah 24:4–5 ESV

4 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish. 5 The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

In the NT, Paul shows us that the final stage of God’s redemption plan of his people is also a redemption of creation itself.

Romans 8:19–22 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

But how did the people get to this point, were not there to be safeguards put in place that would keep the people on track? Yes, we see next:

II. Yahweh’s Dispute Over the Failure of the Leadership (4-11)

Attention shifts to the sins of the priests, whose failure to instruct the nation in God’s law has corrupted Israel.

This should have been no surprise as Moses very clearly laid out the responsibility of the leadership before the children of Israel entered the promise land:

Deuteronomy 31:9–13 ESV

9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

A. Yahweh’s Contention (4-6)

(4) Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.

let no one contend. Or, “let no man bring a charge.” This can be interpreted in two ways:

First, that there should be no charge brought against God because of the outcome of the people, and second,

According to the Mosaic law, the priests were entrusted with the task of rendering legal judgments (Deut. 17:9–13). But because of the general lack of knowledge and respect for God’s law in Israel of Hosea’s time, there was no point in bringing charges against another, because the verdicts would not be honored (the people were “like those who contend with the priest” [text note]; i.e., did not respect his decisions and teaching).

(5) You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.

The prophet - refers to false prophets, the companions of the priests (v. 4). Together they were leading the people astray. Jeremiah brings us up to speed on what was happening:

Jeremiah 14:14 ESV

14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.

your mother - The nation of Israel

Because of the failure of the leadership, we see next that:

(6) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

My people - The nation will lose her covenant relationship with God through lack of covenant knowledge (vv. 8, 12).

are destroyed for lack of knowledge - Knowledge of God is inseparable from the law of God. The priests, who were responsible for teaching the law—and their descendants—were to be punished for ignoring or forgetting the law.

When the leaders, that God has appointed, fail to teach the people the word of God, the people will fail to know God and their destruction is inevitable!

because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me - The statements have the air of a judicial decision and sentence.

The kind of knowledge the priests had rejected is further specified: since you have forgotten the law of your God. The consequences of this neglect of God’s Word would be seen in the lives of what was most precious to the priests: I also will forget your children (cf. 2:4). The great privilege of knowing God was in danger of being forfeited, even for the next generation.

But what were the doing with their time; we see next the:

B. Leadership Greed (7-11)

(7) The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

I will change their glory - Or, “they will change their glory.” Ultimately, the Lord is Israel’s glory (Is. 60:19; Jer. 2:11). In Rom. 1:23, Paul condemns the sin of exchanging God’s glory for something corruptible.

shame - Idols or false gods (Deut. 32:16, 17).

(8) They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.

They feed on the sin of my people -Taken literally, the priests, who ate portions of the animals sacrificed for sin, encouraged the people to sin. Then the priests would have more to eat (Lev. 6:26). Taken figuratively, the priests were gratified by the people’s sin.

they are greedy for their iniquity - Literally, “they lift their soul to their iniquity.” This obliterates the strict distinction between the priest and the laity that was required by God’s law.

Instead of leading them into righteousness, they descended into their iniquity.

(9) And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. - No one is spared from judgment (cf. Is. 24:1–3)

Isaiah 24:1–3 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. 2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. 3 The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this word.

(10-11) They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.

(10) eat … play the whore. Food will not satisfy (v. 8), and illicit sex will not produce increase. They have left the Lord, the source of life, to practice harlotry (vv. 12, 18; 2:4; 6:10; 9:1).

(11) take away the understanding. Lit. “take away the [people’s] heart,” i.e., their ability to judge and think clearly (cf. Prov. 31:4, 5).

Now we go a step further, as a result of their not teaching God’s truth to the people, they don’t even know how to worship God, so next we see:

III. Yahweh’s Dispute Over Israel’s Syncretized Worship (12-19)

A. Syncretized Worship Exposed (12-14)

(12) My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.

a piece of wood. Lit. “their wood.” This may refer to the Asherah pole beside a Canaanite shrine (Deut. 16:21; Judg. 6:25–32), to some other deity (Hab. 2:18, 19), or to a sacred tree thought to give oracles (Judg. 9:37).

staff. Probably a divining rod, or perhaps a small figurine of Asherah.

spirit of whoredom. Their spiritual adultery is caused by an intoxicating and seductive power that draws them continuously into sin (“spirit of confusion,” Is. 19:14; “spirit of deep sleep,” Is. 29:10).

led them astray. Like sheep following a wicked shepherd.

(13) They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery.

Therefore your daughters play the whore. There is a connection between following a false religion (which is spiritual adultery, vv. 12–13a) and the immoral conduct (physical adultery) of the next generation (“Therefore,” v. 13b; cf. v. 6). The parents turned away from God, and as a consequence he allowed their daughters and other young women (your brides) to stray into sexual immorality.

Though this is true, we see next who will be punished...

(14) I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

I will not punish your daughters. Not that God refused to punish the harlots and adulteresses at all (since the people as a whole will be judged), but that He would not allow them to be punished while the men who patronized them went free (cf. Gen. 38:24–26).

sacrifice with cult prostitutes. This is the only place in Hosea where shrine prostitutes are mentioned. Hosea’s wife is never called that. But here an unfaithful spouse is grouped alongside those who participate in sexual activity at pagan places of worship.

B. True Worship Removed (15-19)

(15) Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not into Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and swear not, “As the LORD lives.”

Gilgal. This important Israelite sanctuary near Jericho was situated across the Jordan from Baal-peor. From the time of the conquest, Gilgal was an important place of worship (Josh. 4:19–5:12; 1 Sam. 10:8; 11:12–15). Later in Israel’s history, Gilgal became associated with wicked and syncretistic religious practices (9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4).

Beth-aven. This was a contemptuous nickname for Bethel (“House of God”), the important royal sanctuary (Amos 4:4; 5:5; 7:13; 1 Kin. 12:28–33). Where God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (Gen 35), and Jacob built an alter to worship God accordingly. It also was where the ark resided until the temple in Jerusalem was built.

As the Lord lives. This orthodox oath (Judg. 8:19; Ruth 3:13; 1 Sam. 14:39) was forbidden here because they were lying (v. 2), or because it was being misused by associating the Lord with Baal worship.

Like playing church, being among God’s people yet not be apart of God’’s people. Jesus mention the graveness of such activities;

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

(16) Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?

stubborn heifer. Israel was kicking against all of the Lord’s efforts to care for them (cf. Jer. 31:18). Thus he could not feed them like a lamb who are easily lead.

(17-18) Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame.

Ephraim. Because Ephraim was by far the largest of the ten northern tribes, the northern kingdom of Israel was sometimes called Ephraim (Deut. 33:17 note). First time used, but he will use it 34 more times in Hosea.

leave him alone. The plural verb here may indicate an address to other prophets.

(19) A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

wind … wings. A wordplay on the Hebrew word meaning “wind” or “spirit” is probably intended. Not only was a destructive storm wind of divine judgment about to sweep away the people (Job 1:19), but “the spirit of whoredom” (v. 12; 5:4) was leading them to ruin, and has engulfed them as a whirlwind.

Similar to a balloon being carried away by the wind, having no mind or power of its own.

So, in the final analysis, the ten northern tribes were heading for judgment, and the Lord’s case against them was that:

They had broken God law; his marriage covenant, but how could this happen?

The leadership failed to teach God’s truth to the people and became greedy for gain, which led to,

The people’s ignorance of God in what is true worship, incurring God punishment.

So What?

Do you see our sin as first and foremost an offense to God?

Do you take focused, quality time to know the Lord each day, reading his word and speaking to him in prayer, with the ambition to obey him?

Are you playing church? If so, repent and turn to Christ alone for salvation.

Do you feel powerless against sin and find yourself carried along by your flesh?