Hos 5:4 | KingComments | STEP | Unfortunately, a mind like David’s is completely alien to the people. They act in a way from which it can absolutely not be deduced that they want to repent. They are simply entangled in sins, they are completely stuck in them. They do not see the way out and they do not want to see it. They are completely in the power of a spirit of harlotry that is “within them”. This goes beyond the earlier mention of that spirit ( ), which is active and makes them wander. Here we read that this spirit is within them. This goes a step further. When that spirit has been given a place within them, it closes the door to knowing the LORD. A moving and terrifying example we see in Judas, the disciple who betrayed the Lord Jesus. First we read of him: “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon, to betray Him” ( ). This is similar to the spirit of harlotry that makes one wander. But then we read: “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him” ( ). Satan came into him and took control of his life. Fortunately, a child of God may know: “Greater is He who is in you [i.e. the Spirit of God] than he who is in the world [i.e. the devil]” ( ).

‏ Hosea 5:4

Again the Spirit of Harlotry

Unfortunately, a mind like David’s is completely alien to the people. They act in a way from which it can absolutely not be deduced that they want to repent. They are simply entangled in sins, they are completely stuck in them. They do not see the way out and they do not want to see it. They are completely in the power of a spirit of harlotry that is “within them”.

This goes beyond the earlier mention of that spirit (Hos 4:12), which is active and makes them wander. Here we read that this spirit is within them. This goes a step further. When that spirit has been given a place within them, it closes the door to knowing the LORD.

A moving and terrifying example we see in Judas, the disciple who betrayed the Lord Jesus. First we read of him: “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon, to betray Him” (Jn 13:2). This is similar to the spirit of harlotry that makes one wander. But then we read: “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him” (Jn 13:27a). Satan came into him and took control of his life. Fortunately, a child of God may know: “Greater is He who is in you [i.e. the Spirit of God] than he who is in the world [i.e. the devil]” (1Jn 4:4).