Oseas 5

1 Sacerdotes, oíd esto, y estad atentos, Casa de Israel; y Casa del Rey, escuchad: porque para vosotros es el juicio, pues habéis sido lazo en Mizpa, y red extendida sobre Tabor

2 Y matando sacrificios han bajado hasta lo profundo; por tanto, yo seré la corrección de todos ellos

3 Yo conozco a Efraín, e Israel no me es desconocido; porque ahora, oh Efraín, has fornicado, y se ha contaminado Israel

4 No pondrán sus pensamientos en volverse a su Dios, porque espíritu de fornicación está en medio de ellos, y no conocen al SEÑOR

5 Y la soberbia de Israel le desmentirá en su cara; e Israel y Efraín tropezarán en su iniquidad; tropezará también Judá con ellos

6 Con sus ovejas y con sus vacas andarán buscando al SEÑOR, y no le hallarán; se apartó de ellos

7 Contra el SEÑOR se rebelaron, porque engendraron hijos extraños; ahora los devorará un mes con sus heredades

8 Tocad el shofar en Gabaa, trompeta en Ramá; sonad tambor en Bet-avén; tras ti, oh Benjamín

9 Efraín será asolado el día del castigo; en las tribus de Israel hice conocer mi verdad

10 Los príncipes de Judá fueron como los que traspasan mojones; derramaré sobre ellos como agua mi ira

11 Efraín es vejado, quebrantado en juicio, porque quiso andar en pos de mandamientos

12 Yo, pues, seré como polilla a Efraín, y como carcoma a la Casa de Judá

13 Y verá Efraín su enfermedad, y Judá su llaga: irá entonces Efraín al Assur, y enviará al rey de Jareb; mas él no os podrá sanar, ni os curará la llaga

14 Porque yo seré como león a Efraín, y como cachorro de león a la Casa de Judá; yo, yo arrebataré, y andaré; tomaré, y no habrá quien escape

15 Andaré, y tornaré a mi lugar, hasta que reconozcan su culpa, y busquen mi rostro. En su angustia madrugarán a mí

Oseas 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The Divine judgments against Israel. (1-7) Approaching desolations threatened. (8-15)

Verses 1-7 The piercing eye of God saw secret liking and disposition to sin, the love the house of Israel had to their sins, and the dominion their sins had over them. Pride makes men obstinate in other sins. And as Judah was treading in the same steps, they would fall with Israel. By dealing treacherously with the Lord, men only deceive themselves. Those that go to seek the Lord with their flocks and their herds only, and not with their hearts and souls, cannot expect to find him; nor shall any speed who do not seek the Lord while he may be found. See how much it is our concern to seek God early, now, while it is the accepted time, and the day of salvation.

Verses 8-15 The destruction of impenitent sinners is not mere talk, to frighten them, it is a sentence which will not be recalled. And it is a mercy that we have timely warning given us, that we may flee from the wrath to come. Compliance with the commandments of men, who thwart the commandments of God, ripens a people for ruin. The judgments of God are sometimes to a sinful people as a moth, and as rottenness, or as a worm; as these consume the clothes and the wood, so shall the judgments of God consume them. Silently, they shall think themselves safe and thriving, but when they look into their state, shall find themselves wasting and decaying. Slowly, for the Lord gives them space to repent. Many a nation; as well as many a person, dies of a consumption. Gradually, God comes upon sinners with lesser judgments, to prevent greater, if they will be wise, and take warning. When Israel and Judah found themselves in danger, they sought the protection of the Assyrians, but this only helped to make their wound the worse. They would be forced to apply to God. He will bring them home to himself, by afflictions. When men begin to complain more of their sins than of their afflictions, then there begins to be some hope of them; and when under the conviction of sin, and the corrections of the rod, we must seek the knowledge of God. Those who are led by severe trials to seek God earnestly and sincerely, will find him a present help and an effectual refuge; for with him is plenteous redemption for all who call upon him. There is solid peace, and there only, where God is.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 5

The design of this chapter is to expose the sins of Israel and of Judah, and to declare the judgment of God upon them for them. Men of all ranks in Israel are summoned to attend to the charge brought against then, and the sentence on them, Ho 5:1. The charge exhibited is, that they were guilty of in, hating men to the slaughter of idolatrous sacrifices, though they had been sufficiently rebuked and corrected, Ho 5:1,2; of both corporeal and spiritual adultery, whereby they were defiled, and which was well known to the Lord, Ho 5:3; of obstinate persistence in impenitence, owing to the efficacy of an unclean spirit in them, and their want of the knowledge of God, Ho 5:4; of open pride, which stared them in the face, and for which they fell into calamities, and Judah with them, and should not be able with all their sacrifices to find favour with God, who had withdrawn himself from them, Ho 5:5,6; also of treacherous dealing with the Lord by their spiritual adultery, and begetting strange children, Ho 5:7; next their punishment is denounced, of which notice was to be given them by the sound of the trumpet, as an alarm of war, or as calling for mourning, Ho 5:8; since Ephraim would become desolate, of which notification had been made among the tribes, Ho 5:9; and wrath would be poured out in great abundance on the princes of Judah, who were very wicked men, Ho 5:10; and Ephraim would be oppressed and broken by the judgment of God, who would be as a moth unto them, and also rottenness to Judah, because they followed the commandments of men, Ho 5:11,12; and, what was still more provoking, when they were sensible of their calamities and distresses, they sought not help from the Lord, but from men that could do them no good; and therefore he threatens to be as a devouring lion to them, Ho 5:13,14; and yet the chapter concludes with a promise of the conversion of these people, after the Lord had dealt with them in an angry manner, Ho 5:15.