Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth–aven, after thee, O Benjamin.
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Hosea 5 delves into the heart of Israel's spiritual sickness, exposing the corruption that permeated its leadership and the dire consequences that awaited. This chapter serves as both a stinging rebuke and a desperate plea for repentance, highlighting the futility of seeking help from earthly powers while forsaking the Lord.
The Snare of Leadership (Hosea 5:1-7)
Hosea begins by directly addressing the architects of Israel's downfall: the priests and the royal house. He accuses them of being "a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor" (Hosea 5:1). These leaders, entrusted with guiding the people, had instead become instruments of idolatry, trapping them in a web of sin. Their actions did not allow them to return to their God (Hosea 5:4), serving as a stark reminder of the incompatibility of fellowship with God and walking in darkness. To return to God and experience His favor requires forsaking the disobedience that led us astray.
The consequences of this widespread sin are severe. Israel's pride testifies against them (Hosea 5:5). They stumble in their iniquity, and Judah stumbles along with them. Even their attempts to offer sacrifices are futile, as they "shall go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them" (Hosea 5:6). This paints a sobering picture of a nation so deeply entrenched in sin that their religious rituals become meaningless, unable to bridge the chasm between them and a holy God.
The Inevitable Consequences (Hosea 5:8-15)
The prophet then shifts his focus to the impending judgment. He envisions war and desolation descending upon Ephraim and its cities, which mistakenly believed themselves to be safe and secure (Hosea 5:8-9). Despite this looming threat, Ephraim stubbornly clung to what was worthless (Hosea 5:11), refusing to turn to God for deliverance.
In a display of misplaced trust, both Ephraim and Judah sought assistance from Assyria (Hosea 5:13). However, Hosea makes it clear that an alliance with Assyria is no match for the awesome power of God (Hosea 5:14). God declares, "I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue" (Hosea 5:14). This vivid imagery underscores the futility of relying on earthly powers when divine judgment is at hand.
The chapter concludes with a glimmer of hope, albeit a painful one. Hosea proclaims that God will withdraw until they acknowledge their guilt and seek His face (Hosea 5:15). God's favor, blessings, and fellowship are accessible only when we submit to the road of repentance. Only when they are in distress will they earnestly seek Him. This verse highlights the crucial connection between humility, repentance, and restoration in our relationship with God.
Key Takeaways for Today
Hosea 5 offers several profound lessons for contemporary believers:
- Leadership matters: Those in positions of influence have a responsibility to lead with integrity and guide others toward righteousness, not into sin.
- Sin has consequences: Unrepentant sin inevitably leads to separation from God and opens the door to judgment.
- True security comes from God: Relying on earthly powers or material possessions for safety is a futile endeavor. Our ultimate security rests in God alone.
- Repentance is the path to restoration: Acknowledging our sin, turning away from it, and seeking God's forgiveness are essential steps toward reconciliation and renewed fellowship with Him.
Hosea's message remains relevant today, urging us to examine our own hearts, repent of our sins, and seek God's face in humility and sincerity. Only then can we experience the fullness of His grace and escape the consequences of our own waywardness.
Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth–aven, after thee, O Benjamin.
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Hosea 5 delves into the heart of Israel's spiritual sickness, exposing the corruption that permeated its leadership and the dire consequences that awaited. This chapter serves as both a stinging rebuke and a desperate plea for repentance, highlighting the futility of seeking help from earthly powers while forsaking the Lord.
The Snare of Leadership (Hosea 5:1-7)
Hosea begins by directly addressing the architects of Israel's downfall: the priests and the royal house. He accuses them of being "a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor" (Hosea 5:1). These leaders, entrusted with guiding the people, had instead become instruments of idolatry, trapping them in a web of sin. Their actions did not allow them to return to their God (Hosea 5:4), serving as a stark reminder of the incompatibility of fellowship with God and walking in darkness. To return to God and experience His favor requires forsaking the disobedience that led us astray.
The consequences of this widespread sin are severe. Israel's pride testifies against them (Hosea 5:5). They stumble in their iniquity, and Judah stumbles along with them. Even their attempts to offer sacrifices are futile, as they "shall go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them" (Hosea 5:6). This paints a sobering picture of a nation so deeply entrenched in sin that their religious rituals become meaningless, unable to bridge the chasm between them and a holy God.
The Inevitable Consequences (Hosea 5:8-15)
The prophet then shifts his focus to the impending judgment. He envisions war and desolation descending upon Ephraim and its cities, which mistakenly believed themselves to be safe and secure (Hosea 5:8-9). Despite this looming threat, Ephraim stubbornly clung to what was worthless (Hosea 5:11), refusing to turn to God for deliverance.
In a display of misplaced trust, both Ephraim and Judah sought assistance from Assyria (Hosea 5:13). However, Hosea makes it clear that an alliance with Assyria is no match for the awesome power of God (Hosea 5:14). God declares, "I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue" (Hosea 5:14). This vivid imagery underscores the futility of relying on earthly powers when divine judgment is at hand.
The chapter concludes with a glimmer of hope, albeit a painful one. Hosea proclaims that God will withdraw until they acknowledge their guilt and seek His face (Hosea 5:15). God's favor, blessings, and fellowship are accessible only when we submit to the road of repentance. Only when they are in distress will they earnestly seek Him. This verse highlights the crucial connection between humility, repentance, and restoration in our relationship with God.
Key Takeaways for Today
Hosea 5 offers several profound lessons for contemporary believers:
- Leadership matters: Those in positions of influence have a responsibility to lead with integrity and guide others toward righteousness, not into sin.
- Sin has consequences: Unrepentant sin inevitably leads to separation from God and opens the door to judgment.
- True security comes from God: Relying on earthly powers or material possessions for safety is a futile endeavor. Our ultimate security rests in God alone.
- Repentance is the path to restoration: Acknowledging our sin, turning away from it, and seeking God's forgiveness are essential steps toward reconciliation and renewed fellowship with Him.
Hosea's message remains relevant today, urging us to examine our own hearts, repent of our sins, and seek God's face in humility and sincerity. Only then can we experience the fullness of His grace and escape the consequences of our own waywardness.