“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Series: God Speaks

Text: Hosea 4:1-19

Introduction: (What?)

The cry, “Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” was an old-world way of saying “Listen up!”. It was an announcement that something was about to be said that deserved your undivided attention. It was used by the ‘TOWN CRIERS’ in the colonies when they had an announcement to which everyone should pay attention. I use it to call your attention to the charges that God brought against Israel in Hosea’s day. Some of these charges could well be laid at our feet today.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Charges against the Priests (vv 1-6)

“Hear the Word of the LORD, people of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. For this reason the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky, even the fish of the sea disappear. but let no one dispute, let no one argue, for my case is against you priests. You will stumble by day, the prophet will stumble with you by night. And I will destroy your mother (Israel). My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you (Israel) from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.”

All of these charges, though they seem to be toward Israel, are really because the priests have failed in their ministry to the people. So really these charges are against the priests because they have not taught the people the Law of God. Most of the sins listed in v 2 are violations of some of the 10 commandments. These violations of God’s Law not only affected the people, but also the entire land, including the animals, birds and fish.

One of the heavy burdens on pastors is that they know or at least should know that they are accountable before God for what they preach and teach. If they lead the people astray by “dumbing down” the scriptures, then the people will sin and both the people and the preachers will be held accountable. Notice that there are two references to the word “priest”. One is plural, which addresses those responsible for teaching the Law to the people, and the other is singular which refers to the nation, Israel, as being God’s Priest to the world. One problem that we face in our world today is that many who claim to be Christians violate the scriptures in the way they live and in some of the things they say. While they will be held responsible for their sins, those who should have taught them the scriptures will also be accountable if they have slighted their assignment. Parents face this same responsibility especially if they have had the attitude, “do as I say, not as I do”. Someone has observed that what the parents allow in moderation the children will practice in excess.

In v 4 the people and the priests rationalize their behavior and protest their innocence. It is the old “it is someone else’s fault. Surely it can’t be me”. God does not allow for rationalizing. Instead He said through Hosea “Let no one dispute, let no one argue.” In other words, “don’t waste your breath.”

2. Charges against the People (vv 7-14)

As a result of the priests not teaching the truth, there was no mercy, no truth and no knowledge of God in the land. The people created their own gods and stopped worshipping the one True God.

“The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their glory into disgrace. They feed on the sin of My people, they have an appetite for their iniquity. The same judgment will happen to both people and priests. I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They will eat but not be satisfied, they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned their devotion to the LORD. Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one’s understanding.”

As Israel became more and more ignorant of God and His Word, they drifted further and further into sin. Their “glory” was the temple where God’s Shekinah Glory resided. Because of their sin God moved out of the church. Does that sound familiar? Biblical illiteracy is at an all time high in America today. In many churches in America God moved out long ago and nobody noticed. Promiscuity (sexual sin) is rampant in America today. Obesity also has spread throughout our country, yet obese people keep overeating and eating the wrong foods. We are just like Israel in Hosea’s day.

While we may not worship graven idols, we have created our own idols.

“My people consult their wooden idols and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray, they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God. They sacrifice on the mountaintops and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously or your daughters in law commit adultery. I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters in law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed.”

That last part of this section of scripture addresses an issue that has spread throughout our country. Men have abdicated their role as spiritual leaders in the family. They don’t disciple their children or pray with their wives. God holds men responsible for the sinful actions of their children. Although there are men who tired to do everything right and in accordance with God’s Word, a large number of men have neglected their own spiritual growth and thereby have left the impression with their children that beyond a certain age they need not practice spiritual disciplines.

The last line of v 14 is really telling. “People without discernment are doomed.” Discernment is a spiritual gift, but it is also something that every believer who is spending time in God’s Word has. It is the ability to recognize right from wrong even if you don’t know why. Every believer should pray for discernment. Those with the gift of discernment should speak of what they know in their spirit to be true.

3. Charges against Judah & Israel (vv 15-19)

The balance of this chapter deals with the charges that God brought upon both Israel and Judah. With Israel leading the way, Judah was also drifting into sin. God issued this warning to both of them.

“Israel, if you act promiscuously don’t let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven and do not swear an oath: ‘As the LORD lives!’ For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the LORD now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow? Ephraim is attached to idols, leave him alone! When the drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel’s leaders fervently love disgrace. A wind with its wings will carry them off, and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.”

The judgment of God on Isreal was also a warning to Judah not to go in the same direction. The picture of Israel as a stubborn cow, is of a cow that refuses to go up a ramp into a truck or trailer. She plants her front feet and pushes so that she slides back down the ramp. That is descriptive of a believer that stops reading and studying God’s Word, going to church or praying except in emergencies. That is what we call back-sliding.

God warned Judah not to follow the example of Israel. He specifically told them not to make pilgrimages to places of idol worship. Gilgal had been a place where God was worshipped, but became a place of idolatry. When Hosea used the name “Beth-aven” he was deliberately substituting a name the means “house of wickedness or deceit” for the name Bethel which means house of God. Bethel had also become a center of idol worship.

Ephraim is another name for Israel. It appears that God is telling Judah to stop trying to turn Israel around because they are destined for judgment. That brings to mind Abraham praying for Sodom and Gomorrah. God granted his request up to a point. There is a point where God draws the line. In Gen 6:3 “And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.””

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

Have your surrendered you life to Christ?

As a Christ-follower, are you ridding your life of those things that hinder your walk with Him?

Do you have a regular time that you spend alone with God in HIs Word and prayer?

Do you need to repent of back sliding?