Good morning. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!
We begin today in Hosea 4, verse 10 & 11: 10 For
they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and
shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. 11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
It is possible that the *priests forgave people too easily. The
*priests did this if the people gave them money. So the *priests lived from the
people’s *sins This is what the word ‘eat’ means. But the food will not be
enough. The old wine and new wine make the people "stupid" or "non-respondent" therefore, they will not follow God.
12 My
people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto
them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have
gone a whoring from under their God.
In the NIV it speaks of a wooden idol and a diviners rod. God, through
Hosea, is saying how smart you are. You create a wooden idol and then
worship something you made. The spirit of whoredoms means they are
prostituting their relationship with God - worshiping false idols.
13 They
sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the
hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is
good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses
shall commit adultery.
Wowsers! This is
very strong. God says they do what is convenient, sacrificing under
shade trees, and then....yes----and then---their daughters begin
prostituting themselves and the wives commit adultery. Hosea does not
mean that the women were *prostitutes.
It is a way of saying that they, too, *worshipped other gods. But there
were
*temple *prostitutes. The men offered their *sacrifices and then had sex
with
them. The commentaries I consult leave me slightly unsure of exactly
what this meaning is, the NIV states:
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
What I take from this is the priests and the people are perverting and
prostituting their relationship with God. This next verse I will switch
from KJV to the NIV for a clearer understanding for me.
14 “I will not punish your daughters
when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!
when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!
These people do not understand what a true relationship with the living
GOD is, therefore, what they are doing in life, in the temples, will
one day destroy them. This reflects a lot on the generations throughout
history and even today.
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!’
Hosea’s message is sometimes the same as the message of Amos
(Amos 5:5). They both do not want Israel to *worship at Gilgal or Beth Aven.
Gilgal was an important place for the people of Israel. They stopped there
after they crossed the river Jordan (Joshua 4:19). Beth Aven means ‘House of
Trouble’.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Backsliding heifer here refers to the fact that you can put a lamb in
an area to graze and they will graze that area. Whereas a heifer, or
cattle do not just remain contently where they are, but search other
places to go. Ever see cows reach through the fence to eat grass on the
other side, when there is grass, good grass on the side where they are
standing?
NIV -
17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! 18 Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways.
19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
19 A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
The mighty wind or whirlwind that would sweep Israel away refers to the
Assyrian invasion that would destroy the nation about 20 years later.
Hosea is experiencing through Gomer what God is experiencing through
Israels idolatry. A hard cookie to swallow. Any other insights would
be appreciated. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
Thought for today: What is the difference between a little "white lie" and a regular or "black" lie? Thoughts?
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