(4:4-10 and 6:9-10)

Soon after condemning the people of Israel, Hosea turned his attention to the priests, the religious leaders of the people who were expected to serve the Lord and His people better.

The Lord revealed to Hosea that no one had to accuse His people or reprimand them. Instead, the Lord had his complaints against the priests.

Hosea said that the priests of Israel blundered on day and night and were no better than the prophets.

The prophet noted that the people of Israel were doomed because of the priests. They had misled them into sinning thus they were now going to be destroyed.

He observed that the priests had refused to acknowledge the Lord as their God and certainly were going to be punished.

Besides, the priests had rejected the teaching of the Lord. For this reason, the Lord had also rejected them and would never acknowledge their sons as His priests.

The priests continued to sin against the Lord the more as they became numerous. This meant that the priests were unrepentant and for this reason, the Lord would turn their honour into disgrace.

The priests were growing rich from the sins of the people. They wanted to see the people sin more and more. For this reason, they would suffer the same punishment as the people.

The priests of Israel had become greedy. They could eat a share of their sacrifices but could still feel hungry.

Hosea accused the priests of worshipping fertility gods. However, he assured them that they would have no children.

The priests of Israel turned away from the Lord in preference to following other gods. By doing so, they misled the people of Israel.

The priests were corrupt and they accepted bribes. Therefore, they were not different from the leaders of the time.

The priests of Israel were blasphemous. They ended up eating the best parts of sacrifices meant for the Lord.

Hosea blamed the priests for being interested in material possession instead of leading the Lord's people into righteousness.

Hosea saw that the priests of Israel were like a gang of robbers waiting in an ambush for someone.

The priests of Israel committed murder to an extent that they could do it even on the road to the holy place at Shechem.

He condemned the priests for having twisted justice among His people. For this reason, they too would be judged.

The priests took part in Baal worship. Because of this, they refused to recognize that they were the Lord's servants.

The priests ignored the messages of the true prophets of the Lord. Instead, they chose to listen to false prophets.

The priests were involved in divination and magic. This had seen them ask for revelations from a piece of wood.

Revision Questions

1. Account for Hosea’s condemnation of the priests of Israel.

2.    Justify Hosea’s accusation against the priests of Israel.

3.    Why would Hosea condemn the priests in Uganda today?

•  Discrimination    

•  Pride and arrogance

•  Corruption and bribery     

•  False teaching

•  Murder

•  Religious syncretism

•  Power struggle  

•  Hypocrisy

•  Materialism

•  Alcoholism

•  Individualism     

•  Misinterpretation of the bible

•  Ignoring God's true prophets  

•  Conflicts and rivalry among themselves

•  Sexual immorality