Take Two: Hosea 4, Proverbs 7

Chapter 4 has left some scholars asking more questions than giving answers. From a literary standpoint, beginning here and moving forward, Hosea's personal life slips into the background and the charges that God levies against the people through the prophet Hosea take center stage.

In vv.1-2, we see a charge against the people. There is no faithfulness, kindness, or knowledge of God in the land. That is a strong charge and I imagine most of the Israelites would have taken issue with the statement. Kind of like if a pastor stood up on Sunday morning and said "80% of you are bound directly for hell because you hate God and have no knowledge of Grace." The statement is harsh...and it is parallel to the one Hosea makes here. He makes the charge based on the sins that are being committed. V.2, swearing (by baal), deception, murder...(you get the picture). THE POINT IS: you can say you are religious and love God...but what do your actions say? V. 3 lays out the consequences of judgment on the land.

V.4-10 are a charge against the priests and the religious institution. The priests had not confronted the people, rather, they had come to accomodate the practices of the people. After all, more sin means more offerings (v.8). The anointing of God would no longer be with the priests. God would reject them because they had rejected truth and their responsibilities to safeguard it.
(Paul mentions a similar thought in instructing Timothy to stand firm with the Word because a day would come when people would look for preachers to make them feel good, rather than make them feel uncomfortable).

In v.11-13, God charges that the people had become (at best) syncretistic (adopting other religious practices in addition to their own) and at worst...purely pagan and the thoughts of Yahweh were no more. The people had rejected worship as it was prescribed and decided to have "bible studies, bible fellowships, and home cell groups" under trees because the environment was more agreeable (v.13). In essence, when they made sacrifices there, they got to share in the proceeds and no one felt uncomfortable. The point is not that these assemblies are wrong...only that God did not prescribe it. You cannot call "worship" what God does not see as "worshipful (a worthy response to Him)."

v.14 is pretty strong too because God charges that He will not hold the people (women) alone responsible for the sin...but also the leaders (men) who allowed it to progress. God demands that those who are in positions of responsibility lead. To not do so...means that many people suffer. Someone once said that "all that is necessary for evil to abound is for good men to sit by and do nothing."

V.15-19 wrap up the section with a warning to Judah (Southern Kingdom) to avoid the practices and coming plight of Israel (Northern Kingdom). Perhaps this warning is extended to us today.

Proverbs 7:24-27 are the takeaway, especially verse 25. "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths." The context is obviously a warning to the young man to avoid the temptation and allure of the woman who seeks to entice him away from his standards to fulfilling passions with her. She persuades him and appeals to every sense. If he is not carefule, he will fall prey. This will not happen because he chooses, "I think I want to sin today;" rather, it will occur when he fails to guard himself from that which will turn his heart aside and cause him to stray. The best way to defeat the temptation of sin...is to avoid it.