The Northern kingdom of Israel was not only in a political & social decline, but a deep state of religious decline during Hosea’s life. The Israelites had incorporated elements of the worship of Baal (a Canaanite fertility religion) into their orthodox faith…breaking their covenant with God. This religious corruption became very popular, even to perverting the religious leaders…leading to greed, corruption, and hardening of the hearts as they not only neglected to instruct the people in the true faith, but also tolerated and even condoned this wickedness. The people had walked so far away from God that their conscience wasn’t the least bit pricked when they engaged in this abomination. But here, God wanted them to know that He could recollect every sinful action and that, “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you.”
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