Sermon Central
Hosea 4-5
The Charge Against Israel 1Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land.
2There is only cursing,
3Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.
4“But let no one bring a charge, let no one accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.
5You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother—
6my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
7The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God
8They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness.
9And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
10“They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves
11to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding.
12My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
13They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
14“I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!
15“Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven.
16The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
17Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
18Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways. 19A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.
Judgment Against Israel 1“Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
2The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
3I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4“Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD .
5Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
6When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.
7They are unfaithful to the LORD ; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour
8“Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven
9Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
11Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.
12I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.
13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.
14For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. 15Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”