Hosea 4
1Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,because the Lord has a charge to bringagainst you who live in the land:“There is no faithfulness, no love,no acknowledgment of God in the land. 2There is only cursing, lying and murder,stealing and adultery;they break all bounds,and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3Because of this the land dries up,and all who live in it waste away;the beasts of the field, the birds in the skyand the fish in the sea are swept away. 4“But let no one bring a charge,let no one accuse another,for your people are like thosewho bring charges against a priest. 5You stumble day and night,and the prophets stumble with you.So I will destroy your mother— 6my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.“Because you have rejected knowledge,I also reject you as my priests;because you have ignored the law of your God,I also will ignore your children. 7The more priests there were,the more they sinned against me;they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful. 8They feed on the sins of my peopleand relish their wickedness. 9And it will be: Like people, like priests.I will punish both of them for their waysand repay them for their deeds. 10“They will eat but not have enough;they will engage in prostitution but not flourish,because they have deserted the Lordto give themselves 11to prostitution;old wine and new winetake away their understanding. 12My people consult a wooden idol,and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;they are unfaithful to their God. 13They sacrifice on the mountaintopsand burn offerings on the hills,under oak, poplar and terebinth,where the shade is pleasant.Therefore your daughters turn to prostitutionand your daughters-in-law to adultery. 14“I will not punish your daughterswhen they turn to prostitution,nor your daughters-in-lawwhen they commit adultery,because the men themselves consort with harlotsand sacrifice with shrine prostitutes—a people without understanding will come to ruin! 15“Though you, Israel, commit adultery,do not let Judah become guilty.“Do not go to Gilgal;do not go up to Beth Aven.And do not swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ 16The Israelites are stubborn,like a stubborn heifer.How then can the Lord pasture themlike lambs in a meadow? 17Ephraim is joined to idols;leave him alone! 18Even when their drinks are gone,they continue their prostitution;their rulers dearly love shameful ways. 19A whirlwind will sweep them away,and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
Study Context for Hosea 4
As you study Hosea 4, keep in mind the overarching themes of this old testament book: Unfaithfulness, Love, Restoration. Observe how the specific events or teachings in this chapter contribute to the book's broader message.
UnfaithfulnessLoveRestoration
Observation: What does Hosea 4 reveal about the character and nature of God? What does it reveal about humanity?
Application: How does the truth presented in this chapter change how you should live, think, or pray today?
Study introductions and prompts are supplementary aids, not Scripture. They do not replace prayerful reading, the authority of Scripture, a faithful local church, or pastoral care.
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