Backsliders

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

The LORD is speaking to Israel; hear me now: you are opposing my way. There is no truth or mercy in the land.God is truth, ignoring him and his commands and making our own truth is as to make ourselves as God. As we have received mercy we are to be merciful; but they were self centered, lustful and greedy. There was no knowledge of God in the land, they did not fear him, nor did they obey him. Knowledge of a person is to know them intimately, face to face.The LORD knew their ways but they did not know him.

Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Because of their evil ways they would be judged. They would languish, become weak exhausted and droopy, as unfed beasts of the field; also the birds and the fish of the sea shall be taken away.

The gulf oil spill is as this judgement from God on our nation.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Hosea 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

These sinners are always accusing others. People even blame God for their troubles. If they do not trust God, they will not trust his witness or his holy word.

Deu 17:12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
Deu 17:13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Hosea 4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

The false prophet shall fall, and thy mother Israel shall be destroyed.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Isa 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

The priests had turned way from God's word and were filled with iniquity.If a people turns from God, he will turn from them,

Hosea 4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

The more the priests increased, the more popular, the larger the attendance, the more they sinned against God. He would turn their self glory to shame.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Hosea 4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
They eat up the sin offerings and they set their hearts to sin more.
Hosea 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
Hosea 4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

Lev 26:26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
Lev 26:27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
Lev 26:28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

Hosea 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
Hosea 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

Jer 2:27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

Isa 1:29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
Isa 1:30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

The people followed the cult leaders.

Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Hosea 4:15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

Judah would be saved if they did not follow the ways of Israel. Gilgal and Bethaven were places of idol worship.

Hosea 9:15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.

Hosea 4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

A lamb in a large place is separated from the flock and an easy prey to predators. Backsliding separates you from God; return to him and feed on his word.

Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Epraim was the largest tribe in Israel and represented israel. He has chosen idols and the LORD gave them over to them.

Hosea 4:18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

The leaders have left them unprotected and are greedy for more money.

Micah 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

Hosea 4:19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

The enemy will come swiftly and Israel will be ashamed because of their idolotry, Where is your trust? Do you know and love the LORD? If so, the nation may be under his wrath, but you are his beloved.

Psa 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
Psa 33:14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Psa 33:15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
Psa 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
Psa 33:17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psa 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.