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"Like people, like priest"

Text: Hosea 4:9

THE BLAME GAME

The priests in Judah were no better than the priests in Israel. The priests in the Temple in Jerusalem may have come from the Aaronic line, but they were full of iniquity and thus their ministry was rebuked and rejected by the Lord. But there was little point in blaming the priests, for the people were as blameworthy.

“And it shall be: like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And reward them for their deeds.”
Hosea 4:9

1. “And it shall be”

a) This introduces a familiar proverbial style saying.

b) The sinfulness of the nation was well reflected in the proverbial saying.

2. “Like people, like priest”

a) This is similar to the English proverb, “Like father, like son”.

b) The difference is the proverbial saying makes the people as guilty as the priests.

3. Whose responsibility

a) The responsibility of the priests

i) It was certainly their responsibility.

ii) They had been trained to teach the Law.

iii) They had been tasked to teach the people the commandments of the Lord.

iv) The task of teaching the Law was their duty as priests.

b) The responsibility of the people

i) They were responsible for themselves.

ii) They were responsible to their own consciences.

iii) They should have known right from wrong even if the priests had failed to teach.

iv) They should have understood the consequences of their sinful activities.

4. “So I will punish them for their ways”

a) The punishment from the Lord is the natural consequence from their sinful ways.

b) The punishment would be commensurate with the sins both people and priests committed.

5. “And reward them for their deeds”

a) The priests expected to be rewarded for their services.

b) The people expect to be rewarded with blessings from the priests.

c) The LORD will reward them according to their sinful activities.