Thoughts on Hosea 4:1

Thoughts on Hosea 4:1 by John W. Ritenbaugh

"Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: 'There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.'"

The reality is that many believers do not know God. They merely know about God. They believe in the existence of a god, but they are not really acquainted with the one true and living God.

They do not really love God because, if they did, the sins we see occurring so rampantly in our society would not be happening. If believers truly feared Him, they would have enough respect to restrain themselves, regardless of what anybody else did.

And that is the solution to the problem! Each individual must restrain himself regardless of whether he sits on the throne, is in Parliament or Congress, is on the Supreme Court, is a doctor or nurse, policeman, athlete, entertainer, or student or retiree.

Everyone's responsibility is to restrain himself. It is the responsibility of the individual. We will never live in a society without violence, corruption, thievery, rape, without illegitimacy until individuals take it upon themselves to restrain themselves and live within the limits of the law of God because they fear God.

The problem is right here—the problem is with you and me, the individual. The problem is in the mirror.

The problem is not Joseph Stalin or Adolf Hitler. People have to begin to look to themselves for the solution. As the song says, "Let it begin with me," and then it will begin to stop.