Monday 30th June Hosea 4.1-19

Qn. 1

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land, (1): Hosea was given the reasons for that controversy: 1) Faithfulness is no longer anywhere to be found, 2) There is no steadfast love among the people; 3) They have no knowledge of God; 4) They swear and yet break all bounds; 5) Murder; 6) Theft; 7) Adultery; 8) Breaking bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed (1-2). That’s why the land mourns (3): It doesn’t end with just mourning, but also everyone in the land will despair. Similar consequences of the people’s sins will also affect the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea. When the people behave well, peace prevails not only among the people, but also other creatures, but when they sin, the consequences of their sin spreads to every person and every other creature (Rom. 8.19-20). Though you play the whore, O Israel, let not Judah become guilty. Enter not….(15): Israel was being warned not to contaminate Judah with her whoredom as well. There are times when a person who doesn’t repent transfers his iniquities to others, especially the weak who may be tempted to take him as their model, and they may end up believing that sinning is not bad at all. Warning: Whoever causes the people of God to sin will be severely punished (Mat. 18.6-7).