Hosea 4:6-11

Priests and people.

The prophet addresses himself in this section to both priests and people, but chiefly to the priests, whom he regards as mainly responsible for the people's defection.

I. PRIESTS AND PEOPLE ALIKE IN THE REJECTION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD . ( Hosea 4:6 )

1. The tack of the knowledge of God . Israel possessed this knowledge of God once. It did not possess it now. There was little right knowledge of God's character, of God's Law, and of God's past gracious dealings. Jehovah was regarded practically as one of the Baals. Destitute of right ideas of his spirituality, holiness, and moral demands, the people in their sinning did not feel how far they were going astray. Right ideas on these subjects could hardly penetrate into minds besotted with wine, whoredom, and the unholy rites of Baal and Astarte worship. In our own land of Bibles and churches , what dense ignorance of God and of Divine things might be found to prevail, if the matter were inquired into!

2. Causes of this lack of knowledge . The knowledge of God was lost, not through any fault on God's part in not giving the means of knowledge, or in not sufficiently inculcating on the people the importance of using the means. God had given the people a Law ( Hosea 8:12 ); he had laid upon the Levites the duty of teaching and of promoting the knowledge of its requirements ( Deuteronomy 33:10 ; Malachi 3:5-7 ); he had laid the same duty on parents ( Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ); he had warned all of the dangers of inattention and forgetfulness. How, then, came the knowledge to be lost?

3. The fatal effects of this lack of knowledge .

II. PRIESTS AND PEOPLE ALIKE IN SIN . ( Hosea 4:7 , Hosea 4:8 ) The sins alluded to are pride and covetousness.

1. Pride was the sin of the people. "As they were increased, so they sinned against me." This is the danger of prosperity. "Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked" ( Deuteronomy 32:15 ). The heart grows haughty, and rebels at the restraints of the Divine Law. Moses foretold the danger, and warned against it ( Deuteronomy 8:10-20 ). Retribution would correspond in character to the sin. "I will turn their glory into shame."

2. Covetousness was peculiarly the sin of the priests. "They eat up the sin of my people," etc. The reference is to the flesh of the sin offerings, or, more generally, to revenues derived from transgressions (atonement money, etc). The priests prostituted their sacred office for gain. They were glad at the iniquity of the people, if it brought them more income (cf. the Romish sale of pardons, etc). It is shameful, under any circumstances, to seek gain by conniving at sin.

III. PRIESTS AND PEOPLE ALIKE IN THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN . ( Hosea 4:9-11 ) "Like people, like priest." It is difficult to say which has the greater influence on the other, priest or people. The people are readily corrupted by their leaders. The leaders, on the other hand, are too apt to take their tone from the community. They act and react, and tend to a moral level. Alike in sin, priests and people are made alike in punishment. "I will punish them," etc. The punishment would be:

1. Congruous with the nature of the sin . "They shall eat, and not have enough," etc. For plenty there would be substituted scarcity; greed would find its recompense in not having enough to satisfy; the nation that boasted of its increase would be made few in number. This is the general character of God's punishments.

2. In part wrought out by the sins themselves . Sin strikes round to be its own avenger. Luxury and waste lead to poverty. The greed of the priest overreaches itself, and leads to the altar being deserted, and the office held in contempt ( 17:9 , 17:10 ; 1 Samuel 2:36 ). Pampered appetite becomes a tyrant and tormentor. Licentiousness diminishes population.

3. Prepared for by infatuation . "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart." "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first madden." Infatuation precedes doom.—J. O.