Israel Plays and Judah Not Offended - Hosea 4:15

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said to the nation of Israel, “I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that does not understand shall fall”, and in chapter four and verse fifteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend” where we read,

Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend;

and come not you unto Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethhaven, nor swear, The LORD lives.

The verse begins, “Though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend;” Hosea began with the words, “though you, Israel” or “if, whether and in case you, the nation of Israel, whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “play the harlot” which means “commit fornication and adultery”, “yet let not Judah offend” or “still do not allow or permit Judah, whose name means praised and is the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon, trespass, commit an offense and do injury and wrong”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God commanded the nation of “Judah” not to commit an offense or do injury even if the “nation of Israel” commits idolatrous adultery. 

The verse goes on to say, “and come not you unto Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethhaven, nor swear, The LORD lives.” Hosea continued with the words, “and come not you unto Gilgal” or “and do not enter, light upon or go into Gilgal whose name means a wheel or rolling and was the dwelling place of prophets in northern Israel for about four miles”, “neither go you up to Bethhaven” which means “no and not in any way ascend, climb or retreat unto Bethhaven whose name means house of vanity and was a city east of Bethel”, “nor swear” or “no and not in any way adjure or take an oath”, “The LORD lives” which means “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God is alive, lively and active”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God directed the nation of Israel not to go to “Gilgal” or “Bethhaven” to worship even if they take oaths in keeping with Jehovah God's name. 

When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God was aware of the spiritual idolatry and adultery of the nation of Israel, and He warned the nation of “Judah” not to be a part of their ways. “Gilgal” and “Bethhaven” were places where the people within the nation of Israel worshiped, and the people of “Judah” were not to go there. God wants us to worship Him and Him alone. He is the only True God who sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us worshiping only Him through His Holy Spirit. 

Next time Hosea says, “Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".