Link to full passage on Bible Gateway
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Spirit of Harlotry is Within Them
Why did a spirit of harlotry lead
the people of God astray? God blames the leadership: the priest, the prophet
and king (Hosea 4:4-6 and 5:1). “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My
priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your
children” (Hosea 4:6). The Lord said that there was no faithfulness or kindness
or knowledge of God in the land. Rather, swearing, deception, murder, stealing
and adultery. “They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore, the land mourns and everyone who lives in it languishes.” This is
what happens when people reject God and His righteousness. And sadly, their
deeds do not allow them to return to their God, “for a spirit of harlotry is
within them and they do not know the LORD” (Hosea 5:4). How do we expect God to
respond when people reject His righteousness and His ways? How can we blame Him
for saying, “I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their
guilt and seek My face” (Hosea 5:15)? And how can we fault God for afflicting His
people who are led by a spirit of harlotry? For, affliction is God’s tool to
bring us back to Him. Dear Father, why do people prefer swearing, deception,
murder, stealing and adultery over Your righteous ways that bear the fruit of
peace and joy and patience and kindness and faithfulness and love? Help us, Your
people to reject the spirit of harlotry and embrace Your righteousness. May we
humble ourselves and pray and seek Your face. And may You hear from heaven and
forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
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