Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 4:1

1 HEar the word of the LORD , ye children of Israel : for the LORD hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land , because there is no truth , nor mercy , nor knowledge of God in the land .

Attend, consider, and duely weigh; it's the hearing of the Mind, as well as of the ear is here required.

He that speaks is the great God, though the Messenger he a man, the message is not Man's, but it is the Word, the Message of the Sovereign, Holy, Just and Mighty Iehovah, who ever speaks most important things; things that respect our duty and safety.

You of the ten Tribes with whose Ancestors my Covenant was made, who received the Law by the disposition of Angels, but have not kept it, you that have turned aside from your God to Idols.

Who knoweth your sins, who hateth, threatneth and will judge, and punish unless you repent, it is he that speaketh, and summoneth you to plead with him.

Just matter of debate or arguing against you, you have wrong'd him and he will right himself yet so that he will be clear in his Judgment, all shall see that the just Lord doth justly, and that this peoples sins are the cause of all their sufferings, that God doth not delight to afflict the Children of men.

Who dwell in the Cities and Towns of Israel divided from the house of David, and from the house of God; ye that dwell with Idolatrous Neighbours; it is not a few, but the generality of the Inhabitants; 'tis the whole Land I have an action against.

No Faithfulness in their Minds, Words or Works; they cover falshhood with fair words, till they may fitly execute their designed frauds. There is neither plain heartedness, nor constancy in their purposes and words.

Kindness or gentleness of mind, all are hardned, and restrain their Bowels which should be open'd toward the indigent, and necessitous. There is neither Compassion nor Beneficence among them, they pity not, nor relieve any.

All generally are ignorant, know not what God hath done for them, or what God is in himself, or what candor and truth, or what tenderness and beneficence he requires in his word; if they have a sleight knowledge of those things yet they consider them not. They have rased the knowledge of God out of their Minds.

This speaks the universal Ignorance, mercilesness and unfaithfulness of that age.

Marginal references: Isa. 1.18. & 3.13. Jer. 25.31. chap. 12.2. Mich. 6.2.