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"People who do not understand will be trampled"

Text: Hosea 4:14

HARLOTRY AFFECTING THE FAMILY

It was not just religious practices that Hosea was concerned about. The fact was that the pursuit of idolatry had damaged families severely.

“…Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your brides commit adultery.
I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your brides when they commit adultery;
For the men themselves go apart with harlots,
And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.”
Hosea 4:13-14

1. Ritual harlotry

a) This was widely practiced.

b) These were essentially temple prostitutes.

c) Part of the so-called worship included sleeping with temple priests or priestesses.

2. Daughters and brides

a) These could be offered jobs as temple harlots.

b) The poor would seize any opportunity to get a job.

c) Jobs were not easily available to women in those days.

d) Thus daughters and brides become adulterous through the practice of temple harlotry.

3. “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry”

a) In the Mosaic Law this sin was given the death penalty.

b) But the Lord would not single out the womenfolk for punishment.

4. “For the men themselves go apart with harlots”

a) If the women were to be penalized,

b) Then the men should also be punished.

c) The men were drawn to the temple harlots.

5. “And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot”

a) This was part of the religious ceremonies conducted.

b) This was appealing to the men.

6. “Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled”

a) The word “trampled” is a reference to punishment.

b) This punishment would come when God sent invaders to trample the land underfoot.