text-hosea-l07-ch3-ch4.html

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson07,Chapters3and4
AswecontinuewithHoseachapter3today,perhapsthisisanappropriate
momenttoremindyouthat,muchlikeaParable,wehavetobecarefulnotto
readintothispropheticnarrativemorethanwasintended.Wearedealingwith
anactualaccountofwhatHoseawastoldbyTheWordandwhathedid,yetat
thesametimethepointofitallwassymbolicinordertosendadivinemessage
toEphraim/Israel.So,thewordshavebeenlaiddowninamixedliterarystyle…
almostcertainlyatthehandofahiredScribe…thatinvolvespoetry,metaphor,
irony,illustration,hyperbole,andmore.Thus,sincethepointistogetasymbolic
messageacross,thendetailsareslantedandengineeredtoaccomplishthat
purpose,andthusweshouldn’tlookforprecision;it’sthebiggerpicturethat
matters.Atthesametime,wearechallengedwiththehardrealitythatthis
prophecyofHoseawasfashionedwithinan8
th
centuryB.C.MiddleEastern
culture,andaimedtowardsthepeoplewholivedwithinthatculture.The
recipientswereintendedastheresidentsandleadersofthe10tribesthat
formedNorthernKingdomcalledIsraelandalternately,Ephraim.However,as
withalldivineinstruction,theGod-principlesembeddedinHosea’sprophecyand
theirapplication,cananddotranscendtimeandculture.
Let’sre-readthisrathershortchapter3.OpenyourBiblesthere.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER3all
Wecanonlyconcludethatthiswifeofwhoredom(Gomer)whomHoseahad
marriedsometimeearlier(shewasnotaprostituteatthattime),indeedfor
somereasonleftHoseaandengagedinsomekindofadulterousaffair.Or
perhapsforwhateverherreasonshelostherwayandtookupprostitutionasa
profession.Wedon’tneedtogetterriblyconcernedoverwhicheveritwas
becausethepointisthatshebecameunfaithfultoHosea,andthiswas
immediatelylikenedinthesecondhalfofverse1tohowthepeopleofIsrael
becameunfaithfultoYehoveh.Allalongtheactualcrimebeingcommittedby
Israelisidolatry,bymixinguptheirworshipoftheGodofIsraelwiththeworship
ofBaal,includingapparentlymuchoftheBaalworshipsystem.

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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AlthoughI’veaddressedthisinearlierlessons,andwillagaininfuturelessons,I
wanttoeditorializeforafewminutesnotsothatwecanpointfingersandhelp
beatupGomerorancientIsrael,butratherbecause(assadandgutwrenching
asitisformetoexpose)itaccuratelyreflectsthedangerousinfectionthatthe
faithChristpromotedhasbeenstruckwithafterthe1
st
century;aninfectionof
syncretismandsonow,unwittingly,operatingpredominatelyonmanmade
doctrine.Infact,thesamehadalreadyinfectedtheHebrewfaithbyYeshua’s
day.
CJB
Matthew15:3-9
3
Heanswered,"Indeed,whydoyoubreakthecommandof
Godbyyourtradition?
4
ForGodsaid,'Honoryourfatherandmother,'and
'Anyonewhocurseshisfatherormothermustbeputtodeath.'
5
Butyousay,'If
anyonesaystohisfatherormother,"IhavepromisedtogivetoGodwhatI
mighthaveusedtohelpyou,"
6
thenheisridofhisdutytohonorhisfatheror
mother.'ThusbyyourtraditionyoumakenullandvoidthewordofGod!
7
You
hypocrites!Yesha'yahuwasrightwhenheprophesiedaboutyou,
8
'Thesepeople
honormewiththeirlips,buttheirheartsarefarawayfromme.
9
Theirworship
ofmeisuseless,becausetheyteachman-maderulesasiftheywere
doctrines.'"
We’veallbeeninfectedbymanmadedoctrineandareinneedofaremedy.Like
theproverbialfroginthekettle,thingslikethisdon’thappenovernight.Error
andevilcreepsinslowly,stealthily,butneverthinkitisaccidental;itisquite
purposefulandalwaysisleader-led.KingJeroboamofIsraelhadanagendaof
makinghispeopleloyaltohimalone,andthisbeginswithmakinghiskingdom
prosperous.Akingdomornationmustbeatpeacewithitsneighborstoallowthe
conditionsforprosperitytoflourish.So,inthosedaysasitispresently,treaties
andaccommodationsaremadewithneighboringnationstoestablishand
maintainthatpeace.
Asofthetimethislessonwascreated,RussiahasattackedUkraineandtheyare
atwarastheworldwringsitscollectivehandsinastateofshockandanxiety.
Theresultisthatbothnationsaresufferingeconomically,andduetothe
connectednessoftheworldtoday,alloftheworld’seconomieshavetakenahit,
andsotheworld’soverallprosperityisindanger.Inancienttimesthereligion
practicedbyanationplayedanintegralroleineverydaylifeandinpolitics,and

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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sothetreatiesamongnationsnecessarilyinvolvedrespectforoneanother’s
god-systems.Jeroboamalsohadtheproblemthathewantedhissubjectstostay
withinhiskingdomtopracticetheirreligion,andtonottraveltotheirsister
kingdomthatlaytothesouth,theKingdomofJudah,becausehedidn’twant
dividedloyalties.Yet,itwasinJudahwhereJerusalemandtheTemplewere
located,whichtheLawofMosesdictatedwastobetheoneandonlyTempleto
Yehovehthatwastobebuilt,theoneandonlyplaceofritualsacrificewasto
occur,theoneandonlyplacewheretheGod-authorizedpriesthoodwasto
operate,andwheretheoneandonlypriesthoodwastobecomprisedofLevites
thathadbeenset-apartforservicetoGod.Thiscircumstancewasamajor
fly-in-the-ointmentforKingJeroboam,sohedecidedtobreakawayfromthe
ancientHebrewfaithofAbrahamandMoses,andinsteadcreatedaunique
customizedandblendedreligionforhispeople,withitsownnewholyplaces,its
ownnewandseparatepriesthood.Thishadtheeffectofappeasinghisgentile
treatypartnersashefoldedinaspectsoftheirreligion:Baalworship.Hebegan
withfashioninggoldencalvesanddeclaringthemimagesofYehoveh.Fromthat
pointforwarditbecameeasierforthepeopletoacceptmoreandother
god-images(idols),andspecificallytoincorporatethegod-imagesoftheBaal
system.
ThethingweshouldgraspandinternalizeisthatwhileJeroboamhadanagenda
hewasfulfillingthatwasinnowayrighteous,inallhispowerandauthorityhe
spunittohispeoplethatitwas.Overtimehispeoplelearnedtoacceptit,stop
questioningandtobelieveit,andwithinagenerationorsothisnewlyfashioned
religionbecamethenormforIsrael,apparentlywithfewaskingifwhattheywere
doingwasrightinGod’seyes.ThoseinIsraelwhopushedback(thosesuchas
Hosea)werebrandedasheretics.Itwasassumedthatthisnewreligionmustbe
rightbecausetheirnewpriesthood(theirreligiousexperts)andtheirpolitical
leadershipsaiditwasright,andbecausemostIsraeliteweregoingalongwithit.
ThisbringsustoaquestionthatasBelieverswetrulyneedtoaskourselves.
WhateverbecameoforiginalorthodoxChristianity,a100%Jewishmovement,
aswefinditintheBible?TherealityisthatIdon’thavetospeculate;howwegot
herefromthereisquitewelldocumented.
WhengentileleadershiptookoverthefullylegitimatefaithmovementofChrist
andHisdisciples,thingschanged.Within200yearsofChrist’sdeath,thereligion

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calledChristianitybegantobreakawayfromtheHolyScripturesandfromits
HebraicheritageandanewHolyBookhadbeencreatedcalledtheNew
Testament.TheOldTestamentwasallbutphasedout,andallobservancesand
waysofworshipthatwereordainedbydivinecommandmentintheHoly
Scriptureswereofficiallyabolishedbywrittendecreeinthe4
th
centurybya
councilofBishopsrepresentingthenowdominantRome-basedChurch.Thestill
existingrecordsoftheChurchCouncilsofNicaeaandLaodicealayitallout.
Thereinthoserecordswediscoveradeterminedagendaofthegentileleadership
totakeoverfullcontrolofthisrapidlyspreadingfaithinJesus(withthe
adherentstoitatthattimealreadynumberinginthehundredsofthousands)and
todosofortheirownbenefit.Thismeantrewritinghistory,refutingtheoriginal
orthodoxfaithinChrist,andcreatinganessentiallynewreligiontoreplaceitthat
borelittleresemblancetoitstruebeginnings.Withinagenerationorsoafterthis
decreetherewaswidespreadacceptanceamongthegentilefollowersofJesus,
anditbecamethenorm.
Overthecenturies,asotherambitiousmenwithagendassoughttheirown
religiouspowerbases,Christianityeventuallyfracturedintoliterallyafew
thousanddenominationsasitistoday.WhilewhatI’vetoldyouisrecordedand
availableforalltosee,thenaglaringquestionis:areChurchleadersasking
themselves:arewebeingproperlyobedienttoGodandtoHiscommandments?
Iswhatwepracticebiblicallycorrect?“Yes”mostwillclaim,becauseeventhough
wemayhavelongagosubtractedtheOldTestamentandaddedsomeelements
ofpaganreligionstothefaithofChrist,itwasdoneforgoodreasons,andbesides,
wehavechangedtheuseandmeaningofthoseformerlypaganelementsinto
righteousworshipofGodandtopraiseJesus.
Whensomeonelikemyself(andthereareagrowingnumberofothers)questions
therightnessofsomeofourfaithbeliefsandwaysofworship(certainlynotall),
wearesometimeslabeledasheretics.I,forone,acceptthatlabelbecauseasit
concernsmanmadereligiousdoctrinesandpaganizedworshippractices,Iama
heretic.Infact,Iaskyoutojointheheresytothatkindofreligiouspracticeby
doingourbesttorediscoverourfaithroots,andreturningtoaGod-ordained,
Spiritfilled,Biblebasedfaith;thesameonethatYeshuapracticedandtaughtto
Hisdisciples.Thesameonethatforetoldof,andproduced,OurLordandSavior.
Thissorrowfulsituationthatourfaithinstitutionshavefallenintoisprecisely

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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whatTheWordwascommunicatingtoHoseaaboutIsrael.Thereisn’tmuch
differenceotherthantheerainwhichitisoccurring.AndjustaswithIsraelwhen
soonthecommonpeoplewillsufferexile,itwillbebecausetheirleadershiphas
failedthembyleadingthemastray.Isaythisasonewhohasbeenpartofthe
Churchmyentirelife,eventhoughagoodlypartoftheChurchlikelythinksI
have,orwisheswould,abandonit.Ipray(andaskyoutopray)forrevelation,
repentanceandreformation,notdestructiverevolution.Hosea’sprophecy,as
withnearlyallprophecy,isfulfilled,andthenlaterithappensagainundersimilar
circumstances.Thosewithears,hear.
Inverse2,HoseaobeysGodandgoesafterthisunfaithfulwife,evenpaying
someonesothathecanbringherhome.However,verse3showsthattheold
secularproverbof“forgiveandforget”doesn’taccuratelyreflecthowGod
operates.Hosea,atGod’sdirection,lovesthiswomanandforgivesher
sufficientlytopayapricetoredeemherfromherfallenways,butatthesame
timehersinfuldeedscannotbeeasilyforgotten.Weseethatsheisgoingtopay
adreadfulpriceforherfollyandwillnotbeallowedallthetypicalbenefitsthata
wifecanexpect.Thisisexplainedingraphic,highlysexualizedterms.Remember:
thewaythisstoryisconstructedissothatIsraelunderstandsthatthisprophecy
builtaroundHosea’sfamilyissymbolicofwhatGodisgoingtodowiththepeople
oftheNorthernKingdom.Gomerisgoingtobeplacedintoseclusionathome.
Actually,thisrestrictionissomewhatpar-for-the-courseforawomanwhohas
shamedherselfandherhusband.Ashamedwomanwasnotallowedoutto
wanderthestreets.Further,thisseclusionandshaminginGomer’scasecanbe
likenedtohousearrest,largelyforherowngood.Hoseasaysthatsheis“tobe
mine”andnolongeraprostitute.Thatis,shewillbereturnedtoamonogamous
relationshipwithhimandpreventedfromfraternizingwithothermen.Thisis
expressedbynotallowinghertocontinuetosharesexualfavorswithanyone
elsethanHosea.But,Hoseasaysthatdespitebringingherhomehewon’t
accommodatehernormalfemaledesiresofintimacywithherhusband.So,to
usemodernvernacular,she’scutoff.Thisispunishment.Atthesametime,Isee
itlikeatreatmentofsorts.Ilikenhertoadrugaddict;andtheonlywayforan
addicttokickthehabitistostopdoingtheaddictivebehavior.Iseeitthisway
becausethereisnoexplanationprovidedastowhythismarriedwomanwould
leaveherhusbandandbecomesopromiscuous.Mayshehavebeenthrownout
byHosea?Hadshebecomesexuallydissatisfiedintheirrelationship?Evenso,

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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menwereobligatedtosupporttheirwives,whethertheylikedtheirwivesornot.
So,whateverherreasonforbeingawayfromHoseaandadoptingtheshameful
lifestyleshedid,itcertainlywasn’tbecauseshewasescapingsomedesperate
situation,sofarasweknow;sheenteredinto,orcaused,thisadulterouslife
becausethat’swhatshesoughtafter,perhapsnotunliketheProdigalSon.
Wealsoneedtonoticethat,froma30,000-footview,Hosea’sintentwasnotto
bringGomerhometoharmher,butrathertorehabilitateandprotecther,even
thoughseveredisciplinewascertainlypartofthatrehabilitation.Hewantedher
tostophersinningwaysbeforeitwentevenfurther.Iadoptthisviewand
explanationbecauseintheenditisGod’scharacterthatisbeingexpressed
throughHosea’sactions,anditisIsrael’scharacterthatisbeingexpressed
throughGomer’sactions.
Verse4thenmakesthedirectsymbolicconnectionofwhyandwhatHoseais
goingtodowithGomertowhatGodisgoingtodowithIsrael.Itsaysthatlike
Gomer,Israeltoowillsufferseclusion,andthen6separatethingsarelistedthat
Israelwillbeforcedtodowithout.First,theywillhavenoking.Thisofcourse
meansnoHebrew(Israelite)king.ThisalsomeansthatIsraelwillnotbeanation,
andwithoutanationtheirsocietalframeworkisdissolved.Theywillalsobe
withoutwhatisusuallytranslatedasa“prince”,butIthinkthatmissesthepoint
inmodernEnglish.TheHebrewissar,andinthisuseitmoremeansa
governmentofficialoragent.So,lestIsraelthinkthey’llbewithoutaHebrew
king,butstillbeundersometypeofHebrewgovernmentruleledbyanofficial
insteadofaking,thatthoughtshouldbeabandoned.Andsinceweknowin
hindsightthatIsraelwouldfallundertheruleofAssyriaandthenthe
Israeliteswouldbescatteredtomanygentilenations,thisprophecyprovedto
bequiteaccurate.
Whilethefirst2consequencesIsraelwillfaceinvolvesgovernment,nowthenext
4involvesthepracticingoftheirreligion.Theywillbewithoutsacrifice;this
meansthattheywillnotbeabletoperformsacrificialritual,whichhadmany
purposes.ThebiblicalHebrewfaithhas,atitscore,sacrifice;but,sodovirtually
allpaganreligions.EventhoughwhatIsraelhadbeenpracticingforatleasta
centurywasnotrightorrighteous,what2ofthesenext4restrictionsare
speakingofiselementsoftheproperorthodoxbiblicalHebrewfaith.So,Israel

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willnotbeabletoimmediatelyreturntowhatisrightandeffectiveworship,
whichisessentiallythemostimportantcomponentofhavingarelationshipwith
God.Atthesametime,weseeGodisgoingtokeepthemawayfromimportant
paganritualworshipelements.Thepillar,orstandingstone,thattheywere
accustomedtoincorporatingintheirworship,wasastandarditemthatwas
erectedlikeamonumentatthemanyscatteredpagansacredshrines.Standing
stoneswereconnectedtowhateverdeitythatparticularshrinewasglorifying.In
theTorahwereadthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy16:21-22
21
"Youarenottoplantanysortoftreeasasacred
polebesidethealtarofADONAIyourGodthatyouwillmakeforyourselves.
22
Likewise,donotsetupastanding-stone;ADONAIyourGodhatessuchthings.
So,theuseofthesestandingstonesisspecificallyprohibitedbyTheLaw.Next
thetextshiftsbacktolistingsomethingthatislegitimate:theephodthatwas
wornbytheHighPriest.Thiswasaspecialgarmentthatseemedtohaveapouch
sewnontoitinordertoholdtheUrimandThummimstones.Nooneknows
preciselyhowthesestonesoperated,buttheyapparentlyprovidedprovideyes
ornoanswersfromGodtoquestionsbroughtbeforeHimbytheHighPriest.After
thatitem,wegobacktosomethingpagan:teraphim.Teraphimwasthecommon
nameusedforimagesandidolsusedbyBaalworshippers.Soherewehavebeen
presentedwithIsrael’scustomized,blended,syncretized,andthusidolatrous
worshippracticeslaidout,almostitembyitem.Israelrationalizedtheiruseof
thesepaganworshippracticesandobjectsbymeldingthemintotheirworshipof
Yehoveh,butYehovehrejectedit.ThetrulyterrifyingthingforIsraelisthatGod
saysthisso-calledseclusiontheywillendureisgoingtogoonforalongtime.
And,indeed,ithasbeenalongtimebecauseonlyrecentlyhavethedescendants
ofthose10tribesbeguntheirjourneybacktotheirhomeland.
TotrytoillustratewhatwashappeningtoIsraelandmakeitmorereal,impactful
andpersonalforusandourfaith,I’llgiveyousomeexamplesasillustrationsthat
havefullparallelsinwhatGodisaccusingIsraelofhavingdone.Althoughthey
arenotfoundinthecountlessstandardChristiandepictionsofHeaven,angels,
andevenofbiblicalcharacters,halosarenotfoundintheBible.Sowheredid
haloscomefrom?Theywereborrowedfromtheregularsundisksymbolofthe
MishrainSunGodworshipsystemthatwasprevalentintheRomanEmpire

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before,during,andafterthecouncilsofNicaeaandLaodiceathatcreatedthe
foundationforgentileChristianity.RabbitsandeggsasusedatEasterwereand
remainstrictlyfertilitysymbolsofpaganreligions,andcanbefoundnowherein
orthodoxbiblicalworshippractices.Firtrees,oftendecorated,werealso
standardatpaganworshipsites.Thetreesweren’tnecessarilyworshipped,they
weremeanttohonorthepresenceofAshtorethwhowasthoughttobeBaal’s
wife.Aswejustread,thisuseoffirtreesinreligiousactivityforGod’speoplewas
specificallyoutlawedintheTorah.JustasIsraelhadincorporatedsomeofthese
attractiveandcommonpaganthingsintotheirworshipofYehoveh,seeingno
harminit,itseemssohasChristianityfallenvictimtothattemptation.Both
groupsclaimingthatwasformerlybadanddisobedientisnowgoodandholy.
Verse5,however,bringsgoodnews.Backandforthwereadofwrongactions,
consequences,andthenGodcomfortingIsraelbytellingthemthese
consequencesaren’tpermanent.Hegivesthemhopethatatthepropermoment
inhistory,asdeterminedbyHim,thesesanctionsagainstIsraelwillbelifted,and
theirnationalrelationshipwithHimwillberebornastheyarereturnedtothe
landtheywereexiledfrom.Inotherwords,Goddoesn’tsentenceIsraelto
destructionordivorce.Rather,Israelwillfullyandfinallyrecognizetheirguilt
andthedepthoftheirdepravationbyservingothergods,andrepentofit.Atthat
time,Godwillsetthemonapathtofullredemptionandarestoredrelationship
withHim.Butthenwegetanotheramazingprophecythathaslongbeen
recognizedbyJudaismandChristianityasbelongingtotheEndTimes.
ItsaysthatnotonlywillIsraelseekYehoveh,theywillalsoseekDavidtheirking.
IhaverealdoubtsthatthoseoftheNorthernKingdomtookthisveryliterally;
althoughI’msurethattheinhabitantsofJudahhappilydid(eventhoughthis
prophecywasnotdirectlyconnectedtothem).AsfarasIsraelwasconcerned,a
rebirthofDavid’sdynastywouldbegoodnewsfortheSouthernKingdom…but
notfortheNorthernKingdom.DavidbelongedtothetribeofJudah,and
thereforetotheKingdomofJudah.Nonetheless,JewsinChrist’sdayunderstood
thatthismentionofKingDavidwasspeakingaboutaMessiahthatwouldcome
fromDavid’sroyalline,andnotofDavidhimself;theydidn’tbelievein
reincarnation.BythetimeofHoseaDavidhadbeendeadforover200years.But
let’sbecarefulnottoconfusetherecognitionofYeshuaasthatDavidic
King/MessiahbysomeGalileans,Judeansandafewothersinthe1
st
centurywith

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whoHosea’sprophecyisspeakingabout.Hoseaisspeakingaboutthe10tribes
thatwerestillscatteredinChrist’seraandhadyettobegintheirjourneyhome.
ThiscanonlybespeakingaboutChrist’ssecondadvent;MessiahYeshua’sreturn,
oratleasttheyearsthatimmediatelyleaduptoit.So,whenIstandatBen
GurionAirportandwatchflightswithscoresofmembersofthose10exiled
IsraelitetribesmigratingtomodernIsraelfromfarflungnationsinAsiaand
Africa,itgivesmethechills!Arewewitnesstothe10tribesatlastemerging
fromtheirseclusion,aspromised27centuriesago?
Let’smoveontoHoseachapter4.
READHOSEACHAPTER4all
Chapter4bringsusbacktoalegalcourtsetting,usinglegalcourtterminology,
withGodastheaccuserandthejudge.Thischaptercanbedividedinto4
sectionsforthepurposeofstudy.Thefirst3sectionseachmakeaccusations
againstaspecificgroupofIsrael.The4thsectionisabouttheprophesiedfallof
thefalsecultthatIsrael’sleadershadcreated,andthepeoplehadbeenblindly
following.
ForthoseofuswhoaretheleadersofthosewhotrustinJesus,weneedto
closelynoticethattheblameforwhathasbroughtIsraeltothisdreadful
condition,andthecalamitytheyareabouttoexperience,isplacedsquarelyon
theshouldersoftheirreligiousleadership.I’mnotsurethere’sabookintheBible,
OldorNewTestaments,thatdoesn’tsomewherealongthewayspeakofthe
leadershipofthepeople,andthegreatresponsibilityandaccountabilitythatGod
placesupontheshouldersoftheleadersHehassentinplace.Why?Because
poorleadershipwillleadGod’speopleintomuchharmandanestranged
relationshipwithYehoveh.
SometimeswelosesightthatnearlyeverythingGodordainsisnotsomuch
accomplishedsupernaturallyasitiscarriedoutbyhumans.Forinstance:God
wantsHispeopletolearnaboutwhoHeisandwhatHiswaysandcommandsto
usare;butHegivesthatresponsibilitytoleaderstoteachittothepeople.God
alsowantsHispeopletohavegoodexamplestofollowsotheycanseehowHis
waysaretooperateonearth.Thismustnecessarilybeaccomplishedbyhumans

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andnotangels.GodwantsHispeopleprotectedfromharmandfromevil;more
oftenthannotthisisaccomplishedbyarmiesofhumanwarriors.Evenso,
individualsareheldaccountableforacceptingwhatpoorleadershipteaches
them.Goddidn’tcreaterobots.So,thecontentionGodhaswithIsraelisthat
thusunfaithfulnessofIsraelhashappenedbecauseofthesinsofthepriesthood.
Godmakesitclearthatbecauseofthem,Hispeoplehavebeenledtoindulgein
wickednessinsteadoftheleadershipstoppingthem.
Verse1begins,“hearTheWordofYehoveh”.Thefirstwordofthoseopening
wordsisregularlytranslatedaslisten,ortakentomeanthatanditoughtnotto
be.IntheoriginalHebrewitisshema;itmeanstohearinordertoobey.Hear
andobeyareorganicallyconnected.Thisisn’taboutapassive“listening”
experiencebecauseshemainherentlyincludesanactiveresponseoftheones
whoheard.AfterthatweagaingettheHebrewdabbar…TheWord.Thisisnot
theword,asinspeechorwhatiswrittendownastext;itisTheWordasina
speciallivingmanifestationofGod.Butthecontextoftheauthoritybehindwhat
TheWordcommunicatesnotHisown;itisYehoveh’s.TheWordistheMediator…
theagent…betweenYehovehandtheProphet.So,let’sre-wordthisdynamically
accordingtotheHebrewthoughtbeingcommunicated.Itisthis:“Hearand
respondtowhatyoureceivefromTheWord,thedivineagentofYehoveh”.Who
istohearandrespond?TheIsraelitesandtheirleaders(meaningthe10
NorthernTribesofIsrael).
Thisrepresentsthe1
st
accusationofGodasProsecutor,anditisagainstthe
inhabitantsoftheland.ThelandistheNorthernKingdom.The“inhabitantsof
theland”meanstheentirepopulationandsociety.What’stheproblem?In
Hebrewitisthelackofemeth,chesed,andda’ath.Orasittypicallytranslated,no
truth,nomercy,andnoknowledge.InthiscontextthebetterchoiceofEnglish
wordsisnofaithfulness,noloving-kindness,andnoknowledge.Here’sthething;
theHebrewtermchesedisanotherofthosecomplexHebrewconceptsthatis
expressedinasingleHebrewword.Chesedcertainlycanentailmercy,kindness,
andgoodness.Butthosetermsallcomebundledtogetherundertheumbrellaof
faithfulnesstoGod.So,theHebrewconceptofchesedinherentlyinvolvesoneof
ajointandcomplementaryrelationshipbetweenGodandman.Knowingthis,
thenthefirstwordintheseries,emeth,wouldbebettertranslatedas
faithfulnessratherthantruth.Andknowledge,da’ath,the3
rd
intheseriescomes

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astheresultofknowledgeofGod…Hisname,Hiscommandments,andHis
character.Noneofthese3godlyattributesthatoughttoexistinIsraelduetothe
expectedreciprocalrelationshipbetweenIsraelandGod,actuallydo.Thisisnot
unlikewhatYeshua’sNewTestamentstatementaboutfalseprophetsand
prophecyisaddressing:
CJB
Matthew7:15-20
15
"Bewareofthefalseprophets!Theycometoyou
wearingsheep'sclothing,butunderneaththeyarehungrywolves!
16
Youwill
recognizethembytheirfruit.Canpeoplepickgrapesfromthornbushes,orfigs
fromthistles?
17
Likewise,everyhealthytreeproducesgoodfruit,butapoortree
producesbadfruit.
18
Ahealthytreecannotbearbadfruit,orapoortreegood
fruit.
19
Anytreethatdoesnotproducegoodfruitiscutdownandthrowninthe
fire!
20
Soyouwillrecognizethembytheirfruit.
Israel’s(the10tribes’)fruitbearsnoresemblancetoapeoplewhohave
supposedlypledgedloyaltyandallegiancetoYehoveh,GodofIsrael,andtotheir
covenantswithHim.TheiridolatrousworshipofBaal(Israel’sfruit)provesthat
theyhavenoloyaltyorallegiancetoYehovehdespitetheirurgentpleadingsthat
theydo.
Inverse1wehaveaccusationsofomission(nofaithfulness,noloving-kindness,
andnoknowledgeofGod).Inverse2wehaveaccusationsofcommission:
swearingandlying,killingandstealing,andcommittingadultery.Eachoneof
theseisaspecificviolationofoneortheotherofthe10Commandments.
SwearingprobablymeansmakingavowusingGod’snameastheguarantor,but
doingitfalsely.
NAS
Exodus20:7"YoushallnottakethenameoftheLORDyourGodinvain,for
theLORDwillnotleavehimunpunishedwhotakesHisnameinvain.
Lying,killing,stealingandcommittingadulterywefindinExodus20:13.
NAS
Exodus20:13"Youshallnotmurder.
14
"Youshallnotcommitadultery.
15
"Youshallnotsteal.
16
"Youshallnotbearfalsewitnessagainstyourneighbor.

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ThelastwordsofHosea4:2arethatbloodshedfollowsbloodshed.Thatmeans
thatmurderbegetsmoremurder.ThiswasespeciallysoinHosea’serawhen
revengekillingwasmoreorlessthewayofjustice(thiswasatleastpartlywhy
theSanctuaryCitieswerecreated).Revengekillingswouldinvariablyleadto
deadlybloodfeudsthatmightgoonforgenerationsbetweenfamilies.Thishas
directconnectiontothenextverse,especiallywiththeopeningwords.
Verse3beginswith:“Thereforethelandmourns”,andfromtheretheverse
speaksofhoweverythingassociatedwiththelandsuffers;eventhebirdsthatfly
overitandthefishinitslakeandcoastalsea.TheLawofMosesintheTorah
addressesthisexactthing.
CJB
Numbers35:31-34
31
Also,youarenottoacceptaransominlieuofthelife
ofamurderercondemnedtodeath;rather,hemustbeputtodeath.
32
Likewise,
youarenottoacceptforsomeonewhohasfledtohiscityofrefugearansom
thatwouldallowhimtoreturntohislandbeforethedeathofthecohen.
33
Inthis
wayyouwillnotdefilethelandinwhichyouareliving.Forblooddefilestheland,
andinthislandnoatonementcanbemadeforthebloodshedinitexceptthe
bloodofhimwhoshedit.
34
No,youarenottodefilethelandinwhichyoulive
andinwhichIlive;forI,ADONAI,liveamongthepeopleofIsra'el.'"(LY:vii)
Whatisbeingexplainedisthatblood(meaningunjustifiablekilling…murder)in
whichthekillerisnotbroughttojusticeandhimselfexecuted,hasthelasting
effectofpollutingtheland.Therefore,goingbacktoHosea4:3,thelandofthe
NorthernKingdommourns(figurativelyspeaking)becauseofallthebloodshed
thathasnotbeenproperlybroughttojusticeanddealtwith.Irealizethatthis
issueofexecutingamurdererhasbecomeasensitiveone.ModernWestern
societieshaveusedanynumberofreasonstojustifywhyexecutionofa
murdereroughtnottohappen.Whatthisreasoningallfallsbackonisthat
humans…primarilyChurchleaders…havedecidedthatourhumandefinitionof
mercyandjusticeoverridesGod’sdefinitionofmercyandjustice;oritsaidthat
thisisthenewwaythatJesusordained.Theconsequenceofcarryingoutthis
wrongreasoningisthatitleaveslawabidingpeoplevulnerabletorepeatviolent
criminals,anditdefiesGodafterHe’stolduswhatMUSTbedonewithmurderers.
And,thatofallcrimes,notexecutingamurderleavesthelanditselfdefiledand
thisproducesmanynegativeconsequences.Let’sfaceit,doeshardlyadaygoby

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
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thatwedon’thearofajailedmurdererattackingorkillingaprisonguardor
anotherinmate?Itdoesn’tevenmakethefrontpageanylonger,sofrequently
doesithappen.Thekillersthemselveswilltellyouthatthereisutterlyno
deterrenttostopthem,becausetheworstthatcanhappenistoreceiveanother
lifesentencetogoalongwiththeonehealreadyhas.What’sthedifference
between1lifesentenceand10?ApparentlyIsraelwasalsonotdealingwith
murderersjustlyandthishasnegativelyaffectedthelanditself,thebirds,the
animalsthatdwellontheland,andthefishinthesea.Inotherwords,Israel’ssin
ofnotproperlydealingwithbloodcrimesandbloodcriminalsinthewayYehoveh
commandsaffectsall3spheresofnatureandlifeonearth:theland,thesky,and
thewater.
Verse4usesalotofwordstosayessentiallysayonesimplething:thepriestand
thepeoplebehavethesameandhaveadoptedthesamecharacter.So,no
individualhastherighttosay:we’renotevillikethepriests.Andthepriests’
havenorighttosay:we’renotevillikethepeople.There’splentyofblameand
responsibilitytogoaroundfortheabsolutelyabominableconditionIsraelhas
literallybroughtitselfto.So,inverse5,Godsaystothepriestsingeneral,you
willstumblebyday,andtotheprophetsoftheland,youwillstumbleatnight.
Thisiscalledacoupletandtheobviousimplicationisthatthemanyprophets
roamingaroundtheNorthernKingdomareseenbyGodasbeingfalseand
equallyasatfaultandcorruptasthepriesthood.Theseprophetsdidwhatthey
didformoney;preyinguponthepeople.Ithinkthebestwaytoapprehendthe
pointistoseepriestandprophetastogetherrepresentingtheentireclergyof
Israel;theentiretyofIsrael’sreligiousleadershipandauthority.It’snot
surprisingthatGodwouldcondemntheprophetssinceiftheypracticedthestate
religionalongwitheveryoneelse,itdidn’tmatterwhichgodorgodstheyclaimed
theywereprophetsof,theywerecertainlynotYehoveh’sprophets.So,justas
thepriestsoftheNorthernKingdomwerenotlegitimatepriestsforGodneither
weretheprophetslegitimateprophetsforGod.
I’mnotcertainwhatthecommentthatendsthisverse,“Iwilldestroyyour
mother”,means,exactly.Somescholarsthinkitisacorruptionofthetext.That’s
certainlypossiblebecausethosewordsaredifficulttodecipher.Ontheother
hand,assumingthattheyareauthentic,thenonethingiscertain:thecorrupt
priestsandprophetsarecharacterizedashavingacommonmother.So,mother

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
14/13
mightbeanexpressionthatreferstothesourceofevilthatbirthedthisentire
corruptreligioussystemandalltheirleadership.Otherwise,Ijustdon’tknow.
Verse6,astrongstatementforthecauseofIsrael’sfall,needstobenailedtothe
frontdoorofeveryChurchandSynagogueintheworldsothatallofuswhohave
beengiventhetaskofleadingGod’sflockrememberit.
CJB
Hosea4:6Mypeoplearedestroyedforwantofknowledge.Becauseyou
rejectedknowledge,Iwillalsorejectyouascohenforme.Becauseyouforgot
theTorahofyourGod,Iwillalsoforgetyourchildren.
WhywouldGod’speoplenothavecorrectknowledgeofHim?Becausethepriests
andprophets…thoseassignedthejobofteaching…rejectedthatknowledge
themselves.Howcanaleaderofacongregationrejectsomeorperhapsallof
God’sHolyScripturesandthenturnaroundandclaimHeknowsGod?Because
thesereligiousleadersofEphraim/Israelhaveadoptedthisattitude,Godrejects
themaspriestsforHim.Andwhyhavetheyadoptedsucharidiculousattitudein
thefirstplace?BecausetheyforgottheTorahofYehoveh.Thesenseoftheterm
“forgot”doesn’tsomuchmeananunintentionallackofmemoryorrecallasit
doestointentionallyturntheirbacksonwhathasbeengiventothem.Therefore,
GodwillturnHisbackonthemandonIsrael.
EvenifmostBibleversionsdon’tusetheterm“Torah”,whichbythewayis
indeedtheoriginalHebrew,andinsteadusestheterm“law”(whichisnotagood
translationoftheworldtorah),thebottomlineisthesame.Afterlistingseveral
ofthe10Commandmentsthatthepeopleregularlybroke,andrefusingtofollow
God’sjusticesystemformurderersasfoundintheTorah(TheLaw)God
essentiallysaysthatitwasalwaysavailableforthem,buttheyrejecteditand
thereforetaughtsomethingmanmadeinstead.IfinditironicthattheChurch
likestotellitscongregantsthattheyarethenewpriesthoodofGod,andthen
turnaroundandnotteachthisnewpriesthoodtheTorahofGod.Godsayshere
thatbecausethosewhothinkofthemselvesaspriestsrejectHisTorah,andso
don’tteachHisTorah,thentheydon’thaveactualknowledgeofYehoveh.
InterestinglythissamethoughtcomesfromJesus’smouthintheGospelof
Matthew.

Lesson07-HoseaChapters3&4
15/13
CJB
Matthew5:17-19
17
"Don'tthinkthatIhavecometoabolishtheTorahorthe
Prophets.Ihavecomenottoabolishbuttocomplete.
18
Yesindeed!Itellyou
thatuntilheavenandearthpassaway,notsomuchasayudorastrokewillpass
fromtheTorah-notuntileverythingthatmusthappenhashappened.
19
So
whoeverdisobeystheleastofthesemitzvotandteachesotherstodosowillbe
calledtheleastintheKingdomofHeaven.Butwhoeverobeysthemandso
teacheswillbecalledgreatintheKingdomofHeaven.
We’llcontinueinHoseachapter4nexttime.