Late summer in the hill country: a dried-up village pool, its mud cracked into plates, a withered terebinth at its edge holding an empty bird’s nest.

The LORD’s case

Hosea 4

Is it possible to know a lot about God and not know Him?

19 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Hosea’s marriageA wife, three names, and love bought back
4–6:3The LORD’s caseNo knowledge of God in the landChapter 4
6–11Sowing the windMist, kings, calves, and a love that won’t let go
11–14Return, O IsraelJacob’s story, death undone, and the last call

God’s Case against His People

Hosea

Hear the word of the LORD,

O children of Israel,

for the LORD has a case

against the people of the land:

“There is no truth, no loving devotion,

and no knowledge of God in the land!

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

God

Noon in a valley of the hill country in drought: a streambed run dry between pale stones, wilted vines on the terraces above, an empty sky.

Therefore the land mourns,

and all who dwell in it will waste away

with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air;

even the fish of the sea disappear.

God

But let no man contend;

let no man offer reproof;

for your people are like those

who contend with a priest.

You will stumble by day,

and the prophet will stumble with you by night;

so I will destroy your mother—

God

My people are destroyed

for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

God

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I will also reject you as My priests.

Since you have forgotten the law of your God,

I will also forget your children.

God

God

The more they multiplied,

the more they sinned against Me;

they exchanged their Glory

for a thing of disgrace.

They feed on the sins of My people

and set their hearts on iniquity.

God

And it shall be

like people, like priest.

I will punish both of them for their ways

and repay them for their deeds.

They will eat but not be satisfied;

they will be promiscuous but not multiply.

For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves

to promiscuity, wine, and new wine,

which take away understanding.

Reflect

Israel had priests, shrines and sacrifices, and still no knowledge of God. Where in your life might you know about God without really knowing Him?

God

God

My people consult their wooden idols,

and their divining rods inform them.

For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray

and they have played the harlot against their God.

God

Afternoon on a bare hilltop: a stone shrine under a great spreading oak and a terebinth, cool shade on its stones, a thin line of smoke from the altar, the hills falling away below.

They sacrifice on the mountaintops

and burn offerings on the hills,

under oak, poplar, and terebinth,

because their shade is pleasant.

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

God

And so your daughters turn to prostitution

and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

I will not punish your daughters

when they prostitute themselves,

nor your daughters-in-law

when they commit adultery.

For the men themselves go off with prostitutes

and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.

So a people without understanding

will come to ruin.

God

God

Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,

may Judah avoid such guilt!

Do not journey to Gilgal,

do not go up to Beth-aven,

and do not swear on oath,

‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

God

Morning at the edge of a stony field: a young brown heifer stands stiff-legged with head down, refusing to move, a herdsman behind her; beyond, lambs graze loose in a green meadow.

For Israel is as obstinate

as a stubborn heifer.

Can the LORD now shepherd them

like lambs in an open meadow?

God

When their liquor is gone,

they turn to prostitution;

their rulers dearly love disgrace.

The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings,

and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

Question

Quick question

Hosea gives the shrine of Bethel a new name.

Why does Hosea call Bethel “Beth-aven”?

You’ve experienced

Hosea 4

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A verse to carry with you

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

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