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"Because they have ceased obeying the LORD"

Text: Hosea 4:10

THE ROOT PROBLEM HIGHLIGHTED

The LORD sought to highlight the root of the problem through His prophet. With sharp precision, Hosea addressed the problem of sin.

“For they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.”
Hosea 4:10

1. “For they shall eat, but not have enough”

a) This is a problem with reference to the priests especially.

b) They were serving the people in the hope of benefitting from the sin offerings given.

c) They will have food to eat, but they will never feel satisfied (meaning of the word “enough”).

d) Nothing is ever enough:

i) The craving for more.

ii) The sin of covetousness will never be satisfied.

iii) Sin feeds on sin.

2. “They shall commit harlotry, but not increase”

a) This is a problem associated with the people who came to the priests.

b) They would come and ask for the priests to pray for the blessing of children.

c) They will go from one priest to another but that blessing of increase will not be given.

d) They will look for priests that promise greater fertility but that will result in nothing.

e) There were many idols that promised fertility to their devotees.

f) But the increase will not come, for ultimately this blessing comes from the LORD.

3. “Because they have ceased obeying the LORD”

a) Obedience was what the Lord desired from His people.

b) This was a truth that the prophet Samuel articulated to Saul, the first king of Israel.

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22

c) Cessation of obedience to the LORD

i) This was the root problem.

ii) The Lord’s Law was neglected, ignored and then rejected!

iii) This would lead to the consequence of being punished by the LORD.