Hosea 4

At the men’s study on Thursday morning, Hosea 4 was considered and I found it frightening when thinking about the United States.  Below is the text with some notes.  May we make personal application.

It begins with – Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel

The first point is direct to us – listen to God!

The second part – children of Israel – is directed to the Jews of over 2500 years ago, not us.  Yet we, living in the United States, can learn from that ancient nation.

For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land:  “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.  By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.”

How is that not a description of our country?  Bloodshed upon bloodshed – El Paso and Dayton now – who is next?  Why is God not bringing a charge against us?  What about me and you individually?  Stealing?  Lying?  Adultry in our minds?  No mercy?  Do we clamor for truth – His Word?

3 Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

The land will mourn – quakes, floods, drought, bugs, storms, etc.  The animals will suffer.

4 “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.”

God tells the people to not go around claiming innocence, blaming another party, or casting blame on pastors.  Furthermore, those who are to deliver truth are failures, so God is going to end the nation (destroy your mother).

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Destruction and defeat come from turning away from God’s truth – the Bible.  Beware!

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; 

The nation had served the nations around as God’s voice and conscience – the United States has been that over the past couple centuries.  Rejection of God will bring a rejection by God!

Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Children will not be drawn to God and thus given to sinning and violence.  Again, thinking of El Paso and Dayton.  God says, “Do not murder” and God promises a Hell to those unrepentant.  To turn away from those truths is to leave the next generation without a moral compass.  We need the Ten in the public square, school, courts, and conversation!  We have forgotten God’s law!!!

7  The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.

Boy!  Does this not seem us?  The more we have succeeded, the more we have turned from God and into sin.  We have forgotten He Who has richly blessed us; rather we have given ourselves the glory!  Shame more and more marks us in the eyes of the world.

8 They eat up the sin of My people; they set their heart on their iniquity. 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds.

The spiritual leaders and people profit and sin.  The church profits due to the sins of the people (guilt offerings and service).  God promises punishment.  Much of the healthcare crisis is due to immorality.  Much of the infrastructure crisis is rooted in debt – debt caused by rejection of God’s ways.

10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase; because they have ceased obeying the Lord.

Part of the punishment will be a failure to be satisfied.  In seeking help, they will turn to other “truth” – intellectuals, false religions, and spiritism; none of which will give wisdom or solution.

The lesson for the USA and for each of us – look to God, listen to God, and submit to GOD!