Oséias 4
John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
Oséias 4
Phillips - Ignorance is never accepted as an excuse in a court of law. We are expected to acquaint ourselves with the law by which we will be judged. But Israel was not merely guilty of simple ignorance; she was guilty of studied ignorance-that is, she chose to be ignorant of God. She did not want to know God, so He said, "Thou hast rejected knowledge." As we say today, there are none so blind as those who will not see. God's verdict is in Hos 4:9: "I will punish them." The people saw corruption, covetousness, and carnality in their priests, modeled themselves after the priests' example, and used it as an excuse. If such a lifestyle is good for the priests, they rationalized, it is good for us. When a nation's priests and preachers are evil and her teachers, leaders, opinion-makers, and pace-setters are unprincipled, what hope is there for her? The Russian people followed the lead of their secular "priests," Marx and Lenin, and became a nation of atheists and materialists. The Germans followed their militaristic, anti-semitic "priests," Hitler and Goebbels, into persecution, war, and destruction. The Iranians followed their narrow-minded and ruthless "priest," Khomeini, into an Islamic revolution that clamped a rigid, intolerant, militant fanaticism on their nation. A nation's behavior, no less than an individual's behavior, is governed by its beliefs, and a nation rises no higher than its priests, be they secular or spiritual. Israel's priests were evil. Jeroboam I chose them in the beginning from the lowest of the people. Only completely unprincipled people would have consented to be consecrated to his false religion. It did not take them long to establish calf worship in the northern kingdom. Then Ahab and Jezebel imported into Israel an even fouler foreign religion, complete with a licentious, pagan priesthood. Soon the people were bowing at the feet of the cruel gods of Phoenicia and reveling in every form of sexual sin as part of their worship. Jehu attempted reform, but it suited his purpose to leave the old priesthood of Jeroboam in power. Gomer had probably been one of the victims of those priests, and Hosea was indignant. With his heart broken by what the priests had done to his wife, he cried out, "Like people, like priest" (Hosea 4:9). Then he summed up Israel's religious life in three words: "Whoredom and wine" (Hosea 4:11). In a system where fornication, adultery, and sodomy were not only tolerated but also encouraged and where male and female prostitutes were available to help consummate worship at every shrine, to go "a whoring" (Hosea 4:12) after strange gods was much more than a mere figure of speech. Yet God still called the Israelites "My people." In Hosea 4:6, when God used the expression "My people," His emphasis was on their immorality. When He used the expression in Hosea 4:12, His emphasis was on their idolatry. "My people ask counsel at their stocks," He said. There is no greater folly than to pray to an idol made by man. Imagine taking a piece of wood or a slab of stone, carving it into the likeness of a man or a monster, painting it, putting it on a pedestal, and then praying to it! One might as well pray to the kitchen sink. Yet even today millions of people-Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists, Roman Catholics-pray to graven images of one sort or another. Idolatry is always demoralizing. Evil spirits that lurk behind the idols blind people's minds and lure them into sin. Hindu idolatry is often accompanied by the same kinds of moral decadence that characterized Israel's idolatry. Gomer, ruined by the priests, had been unable to settle down to a regulated home life. As brokenhearted Hosea wrote his prophecy, he had visions of his wife plying her infamous trade under the direction and control of some filthy-minded priest. (Exploring the Minor Prophets) David Jeremiah - It is not the hearers and “knowers” of God’s Word who will be blessed, but the doers. The knowledge of God’s Word is important—without it, God’s people have been known to suffer (Hosea 4:6). But great knowledge can also water the root of pride in the sinful human heart (1 Corinthians 8:1). One man said that to consume the Bible without putting it into practice is the equivalent of going into a fine restaurant and eating the menu while ignoring the meal. Which are you more focused on in your Christian life: knowing the Word for the sake of knowing it, or knowing it in order to put it into practice? Knowing the Bible should lead to living the Bible, which leads to honoring the Author of the Bible. Hosea 4:6 Devotional ILLUSTRATION OF IGNORANCE IN THE CHURCH - I recently received an amazing letter from a dear woman who was attending a Bible study in another state. At the Bible study the people were kicking around the idea of the boy who died and went to heaven and came back and told everyone about his experience. The basic idea that was being presented at this study was this experience and book and movie really proved there was a heaven. Well, the woman who wrote me the letter had just got done listening to our web site and specifically our exposition of II Corinthians 12:1-6. She said she could not believe the timing of this. She waited until all of the pooled ignorance was done and then she said–do you really believe that God would allow some kid to go to heaven and come back and tell everyone about it when He would not permit Paul to even speak what he saw and heard? She said she was totally dumbfounded that no one at this study knew sound doctrine. That is a major problem in most churches today. Many people today want to live their lives by feelings and experiences and not sound doctrine. But the truth is unless God’s people are serious about understanding the books of the Bible and the Doctrines of the faith, they will end up as pathetic as Israel. They will end up ashamed and God will hold leadership accountable. (David Thompson) ILLUSTRATION - Related to leaders misleading the people of Israel - Hurrying my 11-year-old daughter to school, I turned right on red where it was prohibited. "Uh, oh," I said, realizing my mistake. "I just made an illegal turn." "It's all right," my daughter said. "The police car behind us did the same thing." Question: "How are people destroyed from a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)?" Answer: Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” What was it that Israel did not know, and why was that lack of knowledge so dangerous? The rest of verse 6 helps explain: “Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (KJV). It’s important to note the structure of the verse: “rejected knowledge” is parallel to “forgotten the law.” This fits the context of the opening verse of the chapter, which states that Israel failed to acknowledge the LORD as their God (Hosea 4:1). The people did not simply lack knowledge; they actively rejected it. Another parallel offers a deeper understanding of the passage. Because Israel had “rejected” knowledge (God’s Law), God would “reject” them. Because Israel had “forgotten” God’s Law, He would “forget” their children (He would remove His future blessing from the nation). As a result of God “rejecting” and “forgetting” Israel, they would be destroyed. Hosea’s message is in line with Moses’ warning to the nation that God would remove His blessing from a disobedient people (Deuteronomy 28). Hosea 4:1-2 emphasize that Israel’s lack of knowledge was not mere ignorance, but active sin against God: “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” The people were only ignorant of the Law because they actively ignored it. Hosea’s warnings went unheeded, and Israel was conquered by Assyria during his ministry. Yet, even in judgment, God spares a remnant and restores His relationship with them. The prophecies of Hosea reflect this pattern. Israel was judged, yet the Lord would later restore His people whom He loved. The coming of Jesus Christ illustrates God’s love to the fullest degree. Jesus died for the sins of all people, offering every person the opportunity to come to faith in Him (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). To those who do believe, Jesus is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Because of Christ, there is no need for anyone ever again to be “destroyed from a lack of knowledge.” John
Oséias 4
Phillips - He then likened his own nation to a "backsliding heifer" (4:16), a significant description since Israel's chief idol was a golden calf. Hosea, a country man, had seen many intractable, untamed animals pull back from the yoke when they could. If they could not avoid the yoke, they would pull sideways or backward. Israel was just like them. Judah had, in the mercy of God, been pulled back from the abyss, but let her beware of backsliding again! Hosea 4:16KJV - Backsliding - In Depth Analysis with numerous references - The peril of the drifting life… For most of us the threat of life is not so much that we should plunge into disaster, but that we should drift into sin. There are few people who deliberately and in a moment turn their backs on God; there are many who day by day drift farther and farther away from him. There are not many who in one moment of time commit some disastrous sin; there are many who almost imperceptibly involve themselves in some situation and suddenly awake to find that they have ruined life for themselves and broken someone else's heart. We must continually be on the alert against the peril of the drifting life (cf 1Pe 1:13, Heb 2:1, Mt 26:41, etc). The Word will never drift from us. The danger is our drifting from the anchor provided by the Truth of God's Word. The harbor of salvation is absolutely secure. It is Jesus Christ, Who never moves, never changes, and is always available to anyone who wants the protection and security of His righteousness. (From William Barcaly's commentary on Hebrews - however see critique of Barclay or here for some of his beliefs) Charles Naylor (1941) speaks about those saints who are drifting - "They have become used to being unspiritual. They are not just altogether satisfied with it, but they would rather be as they are, than to make an effort to be more spiritual. So they drift along. Oh, of course, they would like to be more spiritual like their brethren, but they have become used to being as they now are, and as they are doing pretty well, why bother about things? To be sure, they have lost their former zeal, but they have got used to being without it. They used to feel very keenly when they omitted spiritual duties, but now they have become used to omitting them and it does not bother them so much. We can get into a place where it is just natural for us to love righteousness and to hate iniquity, to desire to do all we can for God and not hold back from effort. We can get used to service and sacrifice, and this we must do if we are to prosper in our souls as God designs that we should prosper. But woe unto us, if we sacrifice those qualities of righteousness in the soul, and get used to sin." (Read the entire article if you are drifting or beginning to drift - They Got Used to It!) Stubborn (05637)(sarar) means to be stubborn or to be obstinate, 16/17x as Qal participle and 4x in parallel with mārāh which means rebellious. A similar verb in Arabic means "to be angry" and in Akkadian "to be deceitful." The Septuagint (Lxx) translates sarar in Hos 4:16 with the rare verb (only found in Septuagint, here and Ezra 2:6) paroistrao which means to rage madly, to be provoked, to be incited (of animals, e.g. a young cow). Gilbrant - Sārar refers to a stubborn, rebellious people in general (Ps 66:7; 68:6, 18; Jer. 6:28); more specifically, it refers to a stubborn generation of Israel's forefathers (Ps. 78:8), to a stubborn son who was incorrigible and whose parents had to take him before the tribal elders for execution (Deut. 21:18, 20), to the stubborn princes of Israel who led their people into sin (Isa. 1:23; Hos. 9:15), to the stubborn people of Israel who sought counsel, but not from the Lord (Isa. 30:1), and walked in their own ways (Isa. 65:2) and to a stubborn harlot pictured figuratively as personified folly lurking in public places to ensnare the simple (Prov. 7:11). Sārar is also used figuratively of Israel's rebellion to describe the heart of the people of Israel (Jer. 5:23). Israel was stubborn like a stubborn calf (Hos. 4:16). Sārar is used as an adjective to modify kāthfiph, "shoulder," in an idiom meaning "to shrug the shoulder"—literally "to give a stubborn shoulder" (Neh. 9:29; Zech. 7:11). (BDB 710, KB 2:770, NIDOTTE 3:298-300, Strong 5637, TWOT 2:635) (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Patterson - The root is clearly displayed in the case of the wayward and rebellious son who is publicly denounced and executed (Deut. 21:18ff., see under sābāʾ). Most often it portrays Israel's total rebellion against God (Isaiah 1:23; Jeremiah 6:28). Indeed, the "stubborn and rebellious son" may be one who is not merely disobedient to parents, but who has rebelled likewise against their God. In that case, the verses teach that even the parent should condemn the apostate son. Cf. for a similar thought Deut. 13:6-11. It is a rebellious generation (Psalm 78:8) or heifer (Hosea 4:16) which walks in its own way (Isaiah 65:2). It has a stubborn shoulder (Neh. 9:29), a deaf ear (Zech. 7:11), and a stubborn and rebellious heart (Jeremiah 5:23). (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Sarar - 16x - rebellious(6), rebels(2), stubborn(8), stubbornly rebellious(1). Deut. 21:18; Deut. 21:20; Neh. 9:29; Ps. 66:7; Ps. 68:6; Ps. 68:18; Ps. 78:8; Prov. 7:11; Isa. 1:23; Isa. 30:1; Isa. 65:2; Jer. 5:23; Jer. 6:28; Hos. 4:16; Hos. 9:15; Zech. 7:11 Screwtape advises Wormwood on how to attack All the healthy and out-going activities which we want him to avoid can be inhibited and nothing given in return, so that at least he may say, as one of my own patients said on his arrival down here, ‘I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked.’ The Christians describe the Enemy as one ‘without whom Nothing is strong’. And Nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man’s best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble that the man is only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off. You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts (The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis) Joel Beeke asks "What is backsliding? Backsliding is a season in the life of a professing Christian when his sin grows stronger and his obedience declines. Not all sin is backsliding. The Christian life is a constant cycle of sin and repentance, all under the atoning blood of Jesus. But at times the cycle of repentance is broken for a while. This is backsliding. It could lead to outright apostasy or falling away from Christ, thus showing that the person is not saved. But by God’s grace not all backsliding is deadly to the soul. Our Physician can heal fallen runners. Healing begins with diagnosis. The most dangerous injury is one where you do not recognize how serious it is. Many Christians are like people who know something is wrong with their bodies but refuse to go to the doctor until a friend forces them to—-or until it gets so bad they have no other choice. Sadly, avoiding diagnosis can be deadly. The infection turns into gangrene. The cancer metastasizes and spreads. Early diagnosis can save your life." (Read the full article Getting Back into the Race) Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. KJV Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Greek of Septuagint (Lxx) - metochos (companion of, partaking in [the cult of idols]) eidolon Ephraim etheken (histemi: 3SAAI: has set) heauto skandala (plural = stumbling blocks or snares Rev2:14) English of Septuagint - Ephraim partaking with idols has set stumblingblocks (skandalon - not singular but plural) in his own path. (Who's fault then is the subsequent destruction?) NET Hosea 4:17 Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him! NLT Hosea 4:17 Leave Israel alone, because she is married to idolatry. ESV Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone. CSB Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone! NIV Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! NAB Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is an associate of idols, let him alone! NKJ Hosea 4:17 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. NJB Hosea 4:17 Ephraim has made a pact with idols- let him alone! GWN Hosea 4:17 The people of Ephraim have chosen to worship idols. Leave them alone! NRS Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols-- let him alone. YLT Hosea 4:17 Joined to idols is Ephraim, let him alone. Ephraim: Ho 11:2 12:1 13:2 let: Ho 4:4 Ps 81:12 Mt 15:14 Rev 22:11 Hosea 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE HORROR OF DIVINE ABANDONMENT! Ephraim is joined to idols - In the Septuagint (Lxx) translation of this verse the Greek word metochos which describes one who shares with someone else as an associate in an enterprise or undertaking. In the present context it speaks of Ephraim participating in, partnering, in sharing in idolatry. Metochos is first word in the Greek translation for emphasis of this horrid sin that speaks of unfaithfulness to God, her "Husband." (cf Jer 31:32, Isa 54:5). The language of marriage was used in Hoses 2 where we read "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion." (Hos 2:19) THOUGHT - Notice the repetition of the verb betroth - The selection of the bride was followed by the BETROTHAL, which was similar to modern “engagement” but was far more binding (modern engagements being virtually meaningless) and involved a formal proceeding, undertaken by a friend or legal representative on the part of the bridegroom and by the parents on the part of the bride. From the time of betrothal the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed (Dt 28:30; Jdg 14:2, 8; Mt1:18-21). It was confirmed by oaths and accompanied with presents to the bride. The act of betrothal was celebrated by a feast, and among the more modern Jews it is the custom in some parts for the bridegroom to place a ring on the bride’s finger. The ring was regarded among the Hebrews as a token of fidelity (Ge 41:42) and of adoption into a family (Lu 15:22). Betrothal could be dissolved only by a legal divorce. Infidelity during that period on the part of the bride might even be punishable by death (Dt 22:23,24). Joseph, however, was a "righteous man" (Mt1:19), who loved Mary who was pregnant with Jesus and was unwilling to divorce her for supposed "infidelity". Dear reader, if you belong to Jesus, do you realize you are inseparably bound to Him as your Bridegroom? It behooves us to learn from the unfaithfulness of Ephraim (and what it cost them) and seek by the power of the Spirit to walk in purity and holiness to the Lord.
Oséias 4
Phillips - Holding Israel up as an example to Judah of the end result of sin, Hosea made one of the most terrible statements in the Bible: "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone" The nation was so besotted by its idolatry that no Holy-Ghost-inspired, God-breathed word, voiced either in tones of yearning love or in terms of boiling wrath, would make any difference. So God said, "Let him alone." When God gives up on an individual or a nation, all that remains is judgment. How like Hosea's day is our day! How like Hosea's homeland is our homeland. He would probably describe our country the way he described his country: "Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love [or, do love shame]" (Hos 4:18). Like us, Hosea lived in a pornographic society in which those who should have been on the side of Biblical morality and simple decency supported permissiveness and upheld every form of moral and religious decadence. What hope was there? None! Israel had long since sown the wind and she was about to reap the whirlwind (see Hos 8:7 and Hos 4:19). All Hosea could see ahead was doom. (Exploring the Minor Prophets) THOUGHT - This begs the question - is there yet hope for America? We have rejected God and His Word (outlawing public prayer in schools and reading the Bible in schools). How long will God be longsuffering with America? Only God knows, but revival is always a viable option. If you are reading this, let me encourage you to begin to intercede fervently and frequently that God would send the winds of revival to our land, once a God respecting nation, even if not all genuinely believed. Ro 3:18 has become the byword describing the post-Christian (becoming even anti-Christian) American culture “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” (Penned in June, 2019). Let him alone: Ephraim was the largest and strongest of the ten tribes in the northern kingdom of Israel and is often used as synonymous with the entire nation of Israel. By this time, all ten of the Northern Tribes were so consumed by idolatry that they were beyond hope of revival. As a result, God instructed Hosea and other prophets to quit trying to revive them (compare Ge 6:3). Their remaining burden was to call the Southern Kingdom of Judah (and Benjamin) to retain her faith in the true God (Hos 4:15) rather than following after the whoring of the 10 Northern Tribes. In short Judah was warned to stay away from the Northern Kingdom (Mt 15:14).