Catholic Commentary on Hosea 5

“When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.” (Hosea 5:6)

Judgment on Israel and Judah

Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you. The arrogance of Israel testifies against him; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face.

The Catechism draws from the withdrawal of God the principle that persistent refusal of the covenant eventually produces the experience of divine absence, which is itself the invitation to return (CCC 2090).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, they will seek the LORD but not find him, for he has withdrawn himself from them. The ritual observance without the heart, the flocks and herds without the love and acknowledgment, produces a seeking that finds nothing. God is not found by the performance of religion but by the return of the heart. Return the heart first. Then seek.

Prayer

Lord God, let us not seek you with flocks and herds while our hearts are far from you. Give us the heart that finds you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
Judgment on Israel and Judah
1 “Hear this, O priests!
Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O royal house!
For this judgment is against you
because you have been a snare at Mizpah,
a net spread out on Tabor.
2 The rebels are deep in slaughter;
but I will chastise them all.
3 I know all about Ephraim,* 5:3 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14
and Israel is not hidden from Me.
For now, O Ephraim,
you have turned to prostitution;
Israel is defiled.
 
4 Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God,
for a spirit of prostitution is within them,
and they do not know the LORD.
5 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;
Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
even Judah stumbles with them.
6 They go with their flocks and herds
to seek the LORD,
but they do not find Him;
He has withdrawn Himself from them.
7 They have been unfaithful to the LORD;
for they have borne illegitimate children.
Now the New Moon † 5:7 Or their New Moon feast or the coming month will devour them
along with their land.
 
8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
the trumpet in Ramah;
raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:‡ 5:8 Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28-29.
Lead on, O Benjamin!
9 Ephraim will be laid waste
on the day of rebuke.
Among the tribes of Israel
I proclaim what is certain.
10 The princes of Judah
are like those who move boundary stones;§ 5:10 See Proverbs 22:28 and Proverbs 23:10.
I will pour out My fury
upon them like water.
11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
for he is determined to follow worthless idols.* 5:11 Or to follow human precepts
12 So I am like a moth to Ephraim,
and like decay to the house of Judah.
 
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness
and Judah his wound,
then Ephraim turned to Assyria
and sent to the great king.† 5:13 Or to King Jareb
But he cannot cure you
or heal your wound.
14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim
and like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I, even I, will tear them to pieces
and then go away.
I will carry them off
where no one can rescue them.
15 Then I will return to My place
until they admit their guilt and seek My face;
in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

*5:3 5:3 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14

†5:7 5:7 Or their New Moon feast or the coming month

‡5:8 5:8 Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28-29.

§5:10 5:10 See Proverbs 22:28 and Proverbs 23:10.

*5:11 5:11 Or to follow human precepts

†5:13 5:13 Or to King Jareb

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