Hosea 4:4 NLT “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you.“
In today’s New Testament era, the Bible says we are all a Kingdom of priests, so the Old Testament speaks to all of us. What is going on in the context of Hosea? Everything is falling apart, and God is telling them not to pass the buck on responsibility.
Hosea 4:1-3 NLT “Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.
2 You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another.
3 That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing.“
Now the question, why is this happening? One main reason besides the reasons in verses 1-3.
The answer is in verse 5.
Hosea 4:5 NLT “So you will stumble in broad daylight, and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother.“
Today, since the ability to hear God is available for all, even though not all qualify, the false prophet can be the person looking in the mirror as one keeps adhering to the false voice. One becomes the false prophet as one allows the false prophet spirit to reign in an individual or household.
So do not be so eager to hear God’s voice when we have yet to die of our carnal flesh, greed, jealousy, coveting, poverty, offense, insecurity, lust, not even having read the whole Bible, and the likes. Otherwise, you will be mixed or completely deceived! Work on being co-crucified with Christ first to stand before His presence rather than trying to show off.
Pastor Steve Kim