Hosea 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Since they had sunk to such degradation and lack of sense, continually offending God, He declared, ‘I will bring their honor to shame.’ This indicates that their most prized possessions will become sources of disgrace. How might this occur? They will no longer take pride in their numbers when war sweeps through and devastates their ranks, leaving homes and cities devoid of people. This was the very reason the prophet Jeremiah wept over Judah, proclaiming, ‘How has a city multiplied in its people? The ruler of the nations is desolate’ (Lamentations 1:1). Alternatively, when we fail to honor God, we remove ourselves from all true glory, engaging in actions unworthy of us and sometimes taking pride in that of which we should be ashamed. Thus, it is justly observed that their ‘glory is in their shame’ (Phil. 3:19). In this context, the statement ‘I will bring their honor to shame’ takes on profound meaning. And is there any doubt regarding the fact that some are given over ‘to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done’ (Rom. 1:28), especially when the apostle Paul addresses this issue so clearly?

They consume the transgressions of My people, not only failing to admonish them for their sins but instead celebrating and glorifying them as righteous individuals. As Isaiah proclaimed, My people, who are called blessed, have been misled, and their paths are filled with confusion (Isaiah 3:12). The Psalmist also laments, ‘The wicked is praised for the desires of his soul; blessed is the one who commits iniquity’ (Psalm 9:24). Therefore, both the people and the priest will meet the wrath of a furious God; they will be held accountable not just for their actions, depicting their conduct, but also for the intentions that prompted those actions. Punishment will be meted out for both the sinful act itself and the thought that led to it. This is evident among those who stray from the truth; the larger their number, the more they offend God, seeking glory among the nations and leading the vulnerable astray by consuming the sins of the people, cloaking their deceit in flattering words (Luke 20:47). When they witness others sinning, they proclaim that God desires only genuine faith, asserting that if one possesses it, their actions matter little. By promoting such falsehoods, they embolden their souls in transgression and refuse to repent, walking proudly in their wrongdoing. Thus, both the people and the priests, those who instruct and those who learn, will all face the same judgement.