God says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children."
2006-08-21 01:29:50 · 16 answers · asked by terry_kenobi 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not sure, but remember it is the Tree of Knowledge that Adam and Eve ate from that caused them to be cast out of Eden.
2006-08-21 01:34:52 · answer #1 · answered by dxle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For future reference, it might be helpful to mention the source of your quotation (in this case, it is from Hosea 4: 6)...
From a contextual basis, it is important to remember that this is the period before the destruction of (northern) Israel by the Assyrians. At this time, the people of Israel have been led to idolatry since the division (the entire books of Kings, when referring to a king of northern Israel, will describe them and its people as "evil in the eyes of the Lord"). From here, we can look at it from a Biblical point of view.
In the Old Testament, knowledge will usually refer to either "knowing God" or "the fear of the Lord"; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (Proverbs 1: 7) is one good example of this point. From here, we can see that "knowledge" refers to knowing, believing and obeying God. Some versions reflect this fact by translating knowledge as "acknowledge [God]".
Thus, we can understand that the Israelites were steeped into idolatry and disobedience, worshipping many other gods (hence the source of the many priests and how they can sin against God in verse 7 of Hosea 4)... it is a reflection of God's judgment on Israel for breaking the covenant, just as He promised in Exodus 20: 4 and other verses in the first five books of the Old Testament...
2006-08-21 09:15:02 · answer #2 · answered by Shepherd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with corrupt religious leaders who used the people that they were supposed to be teaching the ways of God as a means of support and not treating them as God's chosen people.
Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. 4 Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. 5 You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. 9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Instead of teaching the people to live holy lives in accordance with the laws of God the priests would live off of the sin sacrifices of the people.
It's like some of the churches today where preachers tell people that God is love and no one is going to hell or they tell people that if you sin then just come and confess and don't worry about it and be sure not to forget to put your offering in the box when it comes around. The people don't want to repent of their sins and the preachers don't have a vested interest in exhorting them to do so.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2006-08-21 08:45:25 · answer #3 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is the Biblical reference? Scripture cannot be taken out of context, it is important to read what comes before and after this isolated piece of scripture.
It almost sounds like old testament and God is talking to the children of Israel that would be (my people)
Knowledge is the word of God or the Bible and God is rebuking them for once again not following and being obediant to His knowledge (word). Because of their lack of obediance, God says that He will reject them and their children and even though they claim to be a priest or worshipper on God's behalf, God wants no part of them.
This is true of Gods feelings today toward Christians that reject His word/knowledge of the Bible. (God wants no part of them)
2006-08-21 08:48:43 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really is funny if you think it odd that for first embracing knowledge, humanity lost Paradise. Now, he speaks of a rejection of knowledge. Well, some priorities change for someone all-knowing.
So very merciful, God is.
2006-08-21 08:39:43 · answer #5 · answered by silenceheldstill 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knowledge of God and his expectations. He was rejecting these people because they were ignoring him acting like they had no knowledge of him.
2006-08-21 08:47:22 · answer #6 · answered by golden oldy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you truly want the meaning of a Bible verse, it would be helpful if you give the reference so that those interested can get the context of the passgae. Far too many religions exist based upon ONE or TWO verses of the Bible that mean nothing standing alone.
King James version
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Contemporary English version
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, people of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land!
Hos 4:2 Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
Hos 4:3 For this reason the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes, along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; even the fish of the sea disappear.
Hos 4:4 But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for My case is against you priests.
Hos 4:5 You will stumble by day; the prophet will also stumble with you by night. And I will destroy your mother.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
Hos 4:7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me. I will change their honor into disgrace.
Hos 4:8 They feed on the sin of My people; they have an appetite for their transgressions.
Hos 4:9 The same judgment will happen to both people and priests. I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
Hos 4:10 They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply; for they have abandoned their devotion to the LORD.
Hos 4:11 Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one's understanding.
Hos 4:12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray; they act promiscuously in disobedience to their God.
Hos 4:13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and they burn offerings on the hills, and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters act promiscuously and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
Hos 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they act promiscuously or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go off with prostitutes and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes. People without discernment are doomed.
Hos 4:15 Israel, if you act promiscuously, don't let Judah become guilty! Do not go to Gilgal or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven, and do not swear an oath: As the LORD lives!
Hos 4:16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the LORD now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow?
Hos 4:17 Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone!
Hos 4:18 When their drinking is over, they turn to promiscuity. Israel's leaders fervently love disgrace.
Hos 4:19 A wind with its wings will carry them off, and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.
The people were focused upon themselves and worshiping false gods instead of relying upon the One True God. Their "religion" was not only meaningless, it was offensive to God. He was letting them know that He was on to their game and that there would be retribution for their selfishness and betrayals.
We should take a lesson and a hard look at ourselves and consider the many hypocrisies of our own ways.
2006-08-21 08:43:42 · answer #7 · answered by steve 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds pretty self explanitory to me. "seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God..." Their lack of knowledge is their lack of knowing the law of God. Same problem we face today 2500 years later.
2006-08-21 08:36:10 · answer #8 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say knowledge of himself and his ways...ppl lack knowledge because they dont read there bible and go to a church that teaches them the Word of the Lord.
2006-08-21 08:48:16 · answer #9 · answered by holyghost130 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lack of knowledge concerning God's ways and the operation of his commandments. At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, |Solomon reminds us that it is the whole duty of man to obey God and his commandments. Failure to do so is failure to receive the knowledge of God. Failure to receive this knowledge is failure to recognize God as being in control. Jesus loves you.
2006-08-21 08:38:14 · answer #10 · answered by Preacher 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋