[:en]SCRIPTURE: HOSEA 4
“Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. ” (Hosea 4:1-2)
“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. The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness” (Hosea 4:6-8)
“The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow? Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! (Hosea 4:16-17)
THE CHARGE AGAINST ISRAEL: (vs. 1-19)
The Lord had brought the following charges against Israel:
- There is no faithfulness, no love and no acknowledgement of God (v. 1)
- There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery and bloodshed (v. 2)
- The priests ignore the law of God and sinned against Him. They exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful (v. 7)
- They feed on sins of the people and relish their wickedness (v. 8)
- They give themselves to prostitution and consult a wooden idol (v. 10)
- They sacrifice on the mountain tops and burn offerings on the hills (v. 13)
GOD’S PUNISHMENTS
- I will destroy your mother (v. 5)
- I will reject you as my priest and ignore your children (v. 6)
- I will punish the people and priests for their ways and repay them for their deeds (v. 9)
- I will sweep them away by whirlwind and their sacrifices will bring them shame (v. 19)
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