They shall not pour drink-offerings of wine to the Lord, and their sacrifices shall not please him. Such sacrifices shall be like mourners’ bread; all who eat of it shall be defiled; for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the Lord. What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the festival of the Lord? For even if they escape destruction, Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents. (Hosea 9:4-6)

Compared to most church-going Americans, the people of Israel were conspicuously religious. Daily prayer, regular sacrifice, and deep belief are all in evidence.

For Hosea Israel's whoring is not a matter of ignoring God so much as misunderstanding and misuing God. Israel approaches God to get rather than give.

Despite the threshold floor accusation, the whoring of Israel is a high class affair: more like a smart young gold-digger pursuing a distinguished older man.

A gold-digger or prostitute is at least seeking something in return. If they were whoring, Hosea would find us promiscuous beyond belief, discounting the value of every relationship.

We are to engage God - and each other - not for benefit but in love. This is not a matter of exchange, it is a value-in-itself. It is the ultimate value.

Above is an illustration copied from an 8th Century BCE pottery shard. Hebrew inscription reads, "... I bless you before Yahweh of Samaria and his asherah." Courtesy of Keel and Uehlinger: Gods, Goddesses and Images of God in Ancient Israel.