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Wine and whoredom remove the heart and restraint against sin. Their ability to comprehend the difference between right and wrong was dulled by their sin. They were inquiring, seeking direction from their wooden idols. Expecting their wooden staff to show them the way in which they should go. An adulterous spirit (ruwach) had come upon the people, replacing the spirit of the Lord. They were committed, totally given over to this spirit and were controlled by it. A spirit of this nature would naturally lead them astray and away from all that was righteous or holy. Hos. 4:12 In their gross disobedience they had opened their spirit being to this unclean spirit, a spirit of the world, and were now under its full control. Eph. 2:2.
Their places of worship, of the burning of incense were many. The prophet mention the names of five places where their sinful activities were carried on. Interesting, five being the number of atonement. Does it leave a message that the Lord was willing to forgive and receive again a repentant people? Because of their wayward activities and the example set before them, the youth followed the same pattern. Adulterous acts became rampant and the norm. Hos. 4:13 Woe to a person, a people or a nation when the conviction of the Lord is removed. He will no longer execute punishment on those who follow this path of sin. The condition described by Paul in the first chapter of Romans would certainly apply here. Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness. Rom. 1:24 As now, so then, the people lacking knowledge of the true and living God, would fall and be destroyed. Hos. 4:14.
A warning from the Lord. Though Israel, (the ten tribes of the northern kingdom), have become wholly offensive with their false worship, let Judah (the two tribes, plus the Levites), refrain from following them and falling into the same trap. Human kind, even Christians are prone to add to their worship, places which are historic in their Christian experience, inanimate objects (such as a cross), physical activities, mannerisms, prayer cloths,shawls, closets, towers and mountains, all of which are substitutes for the presence or moving of the Spirit of the Lord. We have seen people dance in the Spirit of the Lord and it is beautiful and exalting to the Lord. Now, we do not wait for the moving of the spirit but have dancing girls in churches. If I wanted to see a dance or a ballet there are sufficient dance troupes who travel from city to city and display their talents. I could go there, though I have no interest and consequently do not go. In church, it becomes a fleshly substitute for the real thing. True worship is in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The righteousness of the Law cannot be revealed in a people who are not walking in the Spirit of the Word and of the Lord. Rom. 8:4 Ritualistic, habitual worship, though in the name of the Lord will not accomplish the will of the Lord. Those who do HIS will find a place in heaven. Mt. 7:21.