Hosea 4 - John Darby's Synopsis of the New TestamentHosea 4Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. The following commentary covers Chapters 4 and 5.In chapter 4 we see that the prophet addresses the whole people together. In Verse 15 (Hosea 4:15) he distinguishes Judah from Israel, warning the former not to follow the apostasy of the latter. He dwells upon the sins (Hosea 4:2) of which the people were guilty. Israel is rejected from being a nation of priests unto Jehovah-a glory which had been promised them (Exodus 19). This introduces the judgments of the priests, properly so called, who took pleasure in the sins of the people, that they might enrich themselves with their sacrifices. The proverb, "Like people, like priest," was exemplified in them. Whoredom and wine took all sound judgment from the heart; and the people of God asked counsel of their stocks and of their staff, sacrificed in the high places, and committed whoredom there. God would give them up to the fruits of their iniquity. It is then that God exhorts Judah not to follow this course. Nevertheless, the Spirit of the Lord, in unfolding all the iniquity of Ephraim committed in His sight, shews that Judah also was guilty before Him (Hosea 5:10; Hosea 5:13). Priests, people, king, all are addressed as objects of the judgment; all had given themselves up to violence. Although God had rebuked them, they would not return to Him. Afterwards they should seek Him and not find Him. He would have withdrawn Himself from them. Another sin is imputed to them both. Ephraim had perceived his weakness, the consequence of his sin, and Judah his wound; but they had gone too far from Jehovah to have recourse unto Him; they had sought help from the Assyrian. Could he deliver the sinful people from the judgment of Jehovah? Surely not. God would be to them as a lion that rends its prey; and then He would go and return to His place, until they should acknowledge their offence. In their affliction they would diligently seek Him. Hosea 4:2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.Hosea 4:3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.Hosea 4:4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.Hosea 4:5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.Hosea 4:7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.Hosea 4:8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.Hosea 4:9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.Hosea 4:10For 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.Hosea 4:11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.Hosea 4:12My 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.Hosea 4:13They 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.Hosea 4:14I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.Hosea 4:15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.Hosea 4:16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.Hosea 4:17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.Hosea 4:18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.Hosea 4:19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. |