![]() ![]() They are condemned as spiritual prostitutes and slaves to the false religion that is practised throughout the nation. Priests, common people and the royal family are all corrupt. The idolatry, greed and immorality of Israel will be the cause of its destruction (17-19). God cannot bless those who stubbornly go their own way (15-16). Judah is warned not to follow Israel in trying to mix the worship of the living God with the false religion that operates at places such as Gilgal. Their young women become religious prostitutes, though the chief blame lies with the men, who, by their immoral desires, made the women into prostitutes (11-14). They offer sacrifices under sacred trees at the Baal high places. They look for guidance by superstitious ceremonies using sacred sticks. They become drunk at their religious feasts. Throughout the land people follow religious practices of the worst kind. God will make sure that their hopes are disappointed (9-10). They look for increase in their families, flocks and herds through the Baal practice of carrying out sexual rites with religious prostitutes. The priests are as bad as people in general and are guilty of the same sins. The more the people sin, the more sin offerings the priests receive (7-8). Since they receive the meat of the sin offering, the priests welcome the people’s sins. Instead they have encouraged the people to offer more sacrifices so that they (the priests) can profit. They have not taught God’s law to the people (4-6). Chiefly to blame for this nationwide corruption are the priests. Their wickedness is the reason for the present drought they are suffering (4:1-3). The people have no knowledge of God or his law, and therefore they are unfaithful to him and deceitful in their dealings with one another. It consists of collections of numerous short messages that Hosea apparently delivered on various occasions over a number of years.Ĭorrupt religion corrupt people (4:1-5:7) There appears to be little chronological order or logical development in this section. Hosea now turns from his personal experiences to the conditions in Israel that they illustrated. ![]()
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