Oseas 4

Pleito contra Israel

1 Escuchen, israelitas, la palabra del SEÑOR,porque el SEÑOR va a entrar en juiciocontra los habitantes del país:«Ya no hay entre mi pueblo fidelidad ni amor,ni conocimiento de Dios.

2 Cunden, más bien, el perjurio y la mentira.Abundan el robo, el adulterio y el asesinato.¡Un homicidio sigue a otro!

3 Por tanto, se resecará la tierra,y desfallecerán todos sus habitantes.¡Morirán las bestias del campo,las aves del cielo y los peces del mar!

4 »¡Que nadie acuse ni reprenda a nadie!¡Tu pueblo parece acusar al sacerdote!

5 Tropiezas de día y de noche,y los profetas tropiezan contigo;tu madre dejará de existir,

6 pues por falta de conocimientomi pueblo ha sido destruido.»Puesto que rechazaste el conocimiento,yo también te rechazo como mi sacerdote.Ya que te olvidaste de la ley de tu Dios,yo también me olvidaré de tus hijos.

7 Mientras más aumentaban los sacerdotes,más pecaban contra mí;cambiaron a quien es su gloria en algo deshonroso.

8 El pecado de mi pueblo es su comida;se regodean en su perversidad.

9 ¡De tal pueblo, tal sacerdote!^[a]¡Por eso les pediré cuentas de su conductay les daré la paga de sus acciones!

10 »Comerán, pero no quedarán satisfechos;se prostituirán, pero no se saciarán;^[b]porque han abandonado al SEÑORpara entregarse

11 a la prostitución y al vino,¡al mosto que hace perder la razón!

12 Mi pueblo consulta a su ídolo de madera,y ese pedazo de palo le responde;su tendencia a prostituirse los descarría;se prostituyen en abierto desafío a su Dios.

13 En la cumbre de montes y colinasqueman ofrendas y ofrecen sacrificios,bajo la agradable sombrade robles, álamos y encinas.Por eso se prostituyen sus hijasy cometen adulterio sus nueras.

14 Pero no las castigarépor sus prostituciones y adulterios,porque sus propios maridosse juntan con prostitutasy celebran banquetes paganoscon las sacerdotisas del templo.¡Es así como acaba por hundirseun pueblo falto de entendimiento!

15 »Si tú, Israel, te prostituyes,¡que no resulte culpable Judá!»No vayan a Guilgalni suban a Bet Avén,^[c]ni juren: “¡Por la vida del SEÑOR!”

16 Israel es tan indómito como una novilla.¿Cómo podrá el SEÑOR pastorearlosen campo abierto, como a corderos?

17 Efraín se ha aliado con las imágenes;¡pues que se quede con ellas!

18 Cuando ya no tienen licor,se entregan de lleno a la prostitución,¡y hasta sus gobernantes aman la deshonra!

19 ¡Por eso un torbellino los arrastrará,y quedarán avergonzados por sus sacrificios!

Oseas 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

God's judgments against the sins of the people. (1-5) and of the priests. (6-11) Idolatry is reproved, and Judah is admonished. (12-19)

Verses 1-5 Hosea reproves for immorality, as well as idolatry. There was no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God in the land: it was ( 2 Kings. 21:16 ) which would desolate the country. Our sins, as separate persons, as a family, as a neighbourhood, as a nation, cause the Lord to have a controversy with us; let us submit and humble ourselves before Him, that he may not go on to destroy.

Verses 6-11 Both priests and people rejected knowledge; God will justly reject them. They forgot the law of God, neither desired nor endeavoured to retain it in mind, and to transmit the remembrance to their posterity; therefore God will justly forget them and their children. If we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will, sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, which showed what an offence sin was to God, since it needed an atonement, the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be made at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sins of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardened one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment. Sharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lust harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength and vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull, so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secret lust, which takes away their hearts.

Verses 12-19 The people consulted images, and not the Divine word. This would lead to disorder and sin. Thus men prepare scourges for themselves, and vice is spread through a people. Let not Judah come near the idolatrous worship of Israel. For Israel was devoted to idols, and must now be let alone. When sinners cast off the easy yoke of Christ, they go on in sin till the Lord saith, Let them alone. Then they receive no more warnings, feel no more convictions: Satan takes full possession of them, and they ripen for destruction. It is a sad and sore judgment for any man to be let alone in sin. Those who are not disturbed in their sin, will be destroyed for their sin. May we be kept from this awful state; for the wrath of God, like a strong tempest, will soon hurry impenitent sinners into ruin.

Footnotes

• [a]. "¡De tal " "… " "sacerdote! " Alt. "Al pueblo le irá como al sacerdote" .
• [b]. "no se saciarán" . Alt. "no tendrán hijos" .
• [c]. "Bet Avén" , nombre que significa "casa de iniquidad" , se aplica aquí a la ciudad de Betel, que significa "casa de Dios " (véase también 5:8).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 4

This chapter contains a new sermon or prophecy, delivered in proper and express words, without types and figures, as before; in which the people of Israel are summoned to appear at the tribunal of God, to hear the charge brought against them, and the sentence to be pronounced upon them, and which would be executed. They are charged with sins of omission and commission; with want of truth and mercy to men, and with ignorance of God; with swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery, Ho 4:1,2, the punishment threatened is the sword, famine, and pestilence; which should affect the whole land, and all creatures in it, men, beasts, fowls, and fishes, Ho 4:3, then the priests and false prophets are threatened with falling into calamities along with the people, and with rejection from their office, and forgetfulness of their posterity, and a taking away their glory from them, because of their striving with the true prophets; their rejection of knowledge; forgetfulness of the law of God; covetousness, adultery, and drunkenness, Ho 4:4-11, then the discourse is turned to the people again, who are charged with divination and idolatry, which is spiritual adultery; and therefore, by way of retaliation, their wives and daughters would be left to commit adultery and fornication, Ho 4:12-14, and the chapter is concluded with advice to Israel not to tempt Judah to sin; or to Judah not to do the like, after the example of Israel, who were backsliders, idolaters, left of God and alone; guilty of bribery, and the like shameful things, and would be suddenly filled with shame, Ho 4:15-19.