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"The prophet is a fowler's snare"

Text: Hosea 9:8

THE PROBLEM OF FALSE PROPHETS

True prophets were rare. But false prophets abounded in the land of Israel.

“The watchman of Ephraim is with my God;
But the prophet is a fowler’s snare in all his ways-
Enmity in the house of his God.”
Hosea 9:8

1. The Ministry of a Prophet

a) He is a servant of God.

b) He has a number of duties:

i) He proclaims the Word of God.

ii) He teaches the Law.

iii) He prays for the nation in intercession.

c) A special function: Being a watchman.

2. “The watchman of Ephraim is with my God”

a) The true prophet must seek to fulfil this role.

b) He must note the warning signs of doom.

c) He must warn all of the judgment of the Lord.

d) The only way he can do this effectively is to truly “be with God”.

3. “But the prophet is a fowler’s snare in all his ways”

a) The true prophet can end up being a false one.

b) In this context the prophet is compared to “a fowler”.

i) He is a hunter of birds.

ii) He has many ways to catch birds.

iii) He himself is like a snare in all his ways.

iv) He catches the gullible and the unsuspecting.

4. “Enmity in the house of his God”

a) The false prophet does not have an easy time.

b) There are other prophets whose views and methods may be in conflict with others.

c) Thus, enmity is found among the prophets.

d) He would certainly have a hard time with the true prophets of God.

e) Elijah was in constant conflict with the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).