The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is studying the book of Hosea. Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord is depicted by Hosea in terms of a wife who has turned her back upon a faithful husband in order to follow evil lovers. These posts are my notes for each session. Please study with us. You can participate by asking your questions or making comments below. We welcome your thoughts, questions, comments, and prayers.
Review
Last week in chapters 7 & 8
Israel's worship of God was like a “half-baked” cake or unturned pancake. Cooked on one side and uncooked on the other or like a cake not done, all soggy inside. They were still worshiping God but also worshiping the fertility idols thinking that it was them that was the reason for their prosperity.
Hosea 7:8-10 (HCSB)8 Ephraim has allowed himself to get mixed up with the nations. Ephraim is unturned bread baked on a griddle.9 Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not notice.10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to Yahweh their God, and for all this, they do not seek Him.
They were still prosperous but they turned to Assyria, the big bad world power in that day. The paid tribute to try to appease them and they went to Egypt as an ally against Assyria but it wasn’t going to work. In turning to other nations they were in effect turning away from God.
Hosea 7:11-12 (HCSB)11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove; they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria.12 As they are going, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the sky. I will discipline them in accordance with the news that reaches their assembly.
In chapter 8 Hosea said that they sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind.
Hosea 8:7-10 (HCSB)7 Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up.8 Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like discarded pottery.9 For they have gone up to Assyria ⌊like⌋ a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love.10 Even though they hire ⌊lovers⌋ among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to decrease in number under the burden of the king and leaders.
Our example was that we can start out with what we consider a little sin, but that leads to bigger and bigger sins over a period of time then BOOM!!! all at once the hammer falls and it falls hard. The statement that I used was “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”.
Chapter 9
Israel exiled in judgment.
The end of the good life in Israel.
Hosea 9:1-4 (HCSB)1 Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly as the nations do, for you have acted promiscuously, leaving your God. You have loved the wages of a prostitute on every grain-threshing floor.2 Threshing floor and wine vat will not sustain them, and the new wine will fail them.3 They will not stay in the land of the LORD. Instead, Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.4 They will not pour out their wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him. Their ⌊food⌋ will be like the bread of mourners; all who eat it become defiled. For their bread will be for their appetites ⌊alone⌋; it will not enter the house of the LORD.
What would eventually happen to Israel's worship?
When they went into exile they wouldn’t have anything to sacrifice to God or to their idols either.
Not only would God curse their grain and grape harvest, but He would also cast them out of the land in exile to both Egypt and Assyria. In the lands of exile there would be no bread or food for sacrifice to the LORD, only for survival.
At the time Hosea brought this prophecy, things perhaps were not so bad in Israel. Maybe there were plenty of fun and good times among the people. But they shouldn't rejoice like other peoples, because judgment was on the way.
Israel practiced idolatry on the threshing floor. They worshipped idols here because they believed that it helped the harvest. Because of their idolatry, the LORD would curse their harvest, and the threshing floor and the winepress shall not feed them
How is this result a natural outgrowth of their sin?
The days of Israel's punishment in Egypt.
Hosea 9:5-9 (HCSB)5 What will you do on a festival day, on the day of the LORD’s feast?6 For even if they flee from devastation, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them. Thistles will take possession of their precious silver; thorns will invade their tents.7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have come. Let Israel recognize it! The prophet is a fool, and the inspired man is insane, because of the magnitude of your guilt and hostility.8 Ephraim’s watchman is with my God. The prophet ⌊encounters⌋ a fowler’s snare on all his ways. Hostility is in the house of his God!9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
Hosea 9:5-9 (HCSB)5 What will you do on a festival day, on the day of the LORD’s feast?6 For even if they flee from devastation, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them. Thistles will take possession of their precious silver; thorns will invade their tents.7 The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have come. Let Israel recognize it! The prophet is a fool, and the inspired man is insane, because of the magnitude of your guilt and hostility.8 Ephraim’s watchman is with my God. The prophet ⌊encounters⌋ a fowler’s snare on all his ways. Hostility is in the house of his God!9 They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.
What seemed to be the prevailing attitude toward the prophet, that is, the person who spoke for God?
The prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is insane: This is what the people of Israel said about Hosea. When things prospered and everyone was happy, Hosea announced coming judgment and called for repentance. They thought he was a fool and crazy.
"They said in effect, 'Who in his right mind would prophesy a judgment like this when we are in the midst of such a bountiful harvest, in itself a proof of God's blessing?'" (Boice)
Judges 19 describes horrific crimes of perversion and violence in Israel in the days of the Judges. Hosea says that in his day it is just as bad in Israel.
The story of what happened in Gibeah is in Judges 19 but in summary there was a man who lived in the tribal territory of Ephraim, who had a concubine ((in polygamous societies a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives. a mistress), she ran off to her father, the guy went and found her after several months and on his way back home he stopped to spend the night in Gibeah, which was in the tribal territory of Benjamin. That night the men of Gibeah, much like the men of Sodom hundreds of years before, wanted the guy who owned the house where they were staying to let them take the man so they could have sex with him. The owner of the house pleaded with the men not to do this and let them have his virgin daughter and his guest’s concubine. Well they ended up raping and killing her and leaving her on the doorsteps. The husband then cut up her body and sent parts throughout Israel, which was still united at the time. Then there was war with all the other tribes against Benjamin,
How do you see these same things happening in our own time?
People say that those who speak for the Lord are nuts today. They say that we are intolerant. Call us holy rollers, Jesus freaks, dumb for believing in something that you can’t see.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (HCSB) But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Israel's idolatry involved merely adopting the accepted ways of doing things in order to be more prosperous. What are some guidelines we might use to evaluate the way things are done around us to decide if we can participate in them and still avoid being drawn into idolatry?
Does it ridicule God or Jesus; is it clearly something that the Bible says we shouldn't do; does it uplift or encourage others; does it exalt evil or Satan; does it put the focus on something other than Jesus, etc.?
What aspects of your worship life need to be reexamined to see if they are endangering your walk with God?
Israel barren and dried up in judgment.
God sends barrenness and bereavement.
Hosea 9:10(HCSB)10 I discovered Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, consecrated themselves to Shame, and became detestable, like the thing they loved.
In your own words, describe God's feeling about beginning his connection with Israel?
Like grapes in the wilderness … as the firstfruits on the fig tree: God fondly remembers the days when Israel was faithful and fruitful unto Him.Grapes in the wilderness and the firstfruits on the fig tree are unexpected blessings. There was a time when Israel was something special to God, as if one found luscious grapes in the wilderness.
"While they were faithful, they were as acceptable to me as ripe grapes would be to a thirsty traveler in the desert." (Clarke)
What happened to disrupt that early relationship?
Israel's sin and idolatry. It was similar to what happened at Baal Peor in Numbers 25, before they entered Canaan.
Numbers 25:1-4 (HCSB)1 While Israel was staying in the Acacia Grove, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.2 The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods.3 So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD so that His burning anger may turn away from Israel.”
This happened, by the way, soon after Balaam, who was paid to curse Israel couldn’t do it, prophesied about them being blessed.
Israel loved their disgraceful idols, and they have become detestable like them. We will become like the god we love and serve, whether it is the Lord or like an abomination.
Hosea 9:11-17 (HCSB)11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird: no birth, no gestation, no conception.12 Even if they raise children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!13 I have seen Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a meadow, so Ephraim will bring out his children to the executioner.14 Give them, LORD— What should You give? Give them a womb that miscarries and breasts that are dry!15 All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I came to hate them. I will drive them from My house because of their evil, wicked actions. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.16 Ephraim is struck down; their roots are withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will kill the precious offspring of their wombs.17 My God will reject them because they have not listened to Him; they will become wanderers among the nations.
These verses contain powerful images of the effects of Israel's sin. What do the images have in common?
In contrast to their past fruitfulness, now Israel will experience barrenness and bereavement given to them by the God they rejected.
Verse 11 - no birth, no gestation, no conception.
Verse 12 - Even if they raise children, I will bereave them of each one.
Verse 13 - Ephraim will bring out his children to the executioner.
Verse 14 - Hosea prays Give them a womb that miscarries and breasts that are dry!
Verse 16 - their roots are withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will kill the precious offspring of their wombs.
They were a proud nation. Remember a couple of weeks ago we said that the nation had a lack of knowledge of the Word of God and that they were proud.
In verse 14 it looks like Hosea was getting ready to ask the Lord to “really put it to the people” and then he paused. See the dash or the colon. Then he prayed that the women would miscarry so that they may be spared the horror to come. That is a metaphor. God's judgments are right, and Hosea prays that the children of Israel may be cut off before they are born, that they may be spared the horrors to come.
Sometimes those who see themselves as more spiritual and closer to God than others in a church or group get angry and frustrated with those who don't seem to have hearts burning for the LORD. Their frustration is understandable but the pause in Hosea's prayer should give them pause. It is a good thing too long for revival and spiritual passion among God's people, but if that makes us proud, angry, or bitter against others then Satan has won a great victory.
My God will cast them away, because they did not obey Him: This is exactly what the Lord promised under the terms of the Old Covenant
Deuteronomy 29:24-28 (HCSB)24 All the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’25 Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which He had made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.26 They began to worship other gods, bowing down to gods they had not known—gods that the LORD had not permitted them ⌊to worship⌋.27 Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against this land, and He brought every curse written in this book on it.28 The LORD uprooted them from their land in ⌊His⌋ anger, rage, and great wrath, and threw them into another land where they are today.’
Thankfully, we can come to God by faith in a new and better covenant, where He promises to remember our sins no more
Hebrews 8:10-12 (HCSB)10 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.12 For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.
Hebrews 10:16-17 (HCSB)16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,17 ⌊He adds⌋: I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.
Chapter 10 - The analysis of Israel's sinful state.
What were the results for the Israelites of disrupting their relationship with God?
Hosea 10:1-2 (HCSB)1 Israel is a lush vine; it yields fruit for itself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better they made the sacred pillars.2 Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
God blessed Israel with material abundance, but they spent it on themselves and their own idolatrous desires . Israel enjoyed the blessing of God, but used those blessings in ungodly ways.
Paul warns against the same sin
Galatians 5:13 (HCSB)13 For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
Sometimes as Christians we take the liberty and blessing God gives and use them in ungodly ways.
While liberty is inherent in the Christian call to salvation, it must not be converted into license. This is what happens when liberty is viewed as an opportunity for the flesh to satisfy its desires. The one effective countermeasure is the service of others by love. The thought may be paraphrased as follows: You profess to be very zealous for the Law, which I have told you is bondage. But if you are really seeking bondage, there is a type that is harmless, even beneficial. I commend that to you. Be in bondage to each other to demonstrate love. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Because Israel has received blessing, they were more responsible than ever to use it wisely. But they didn’t.
In verse two it reads their hearts are divided. In my translation HCSB it say their hearts are devious. The word Hebrew word for divided is halaq, which has the ideas of "divided", of "smooth" or slick, or of "flattering". So, it may be accurate to translate this phrase as their heart is divided, but it may also be that God wants to say that Ephraim has a "smooth, flattering," insincere heart.
The idea of Israel's "smooth" or "insincere" heart is reflected by the adulteries of Hosea's wife Gomer earlier in the book. In the same way that an unfaithful spouse will say they love their partner, all the while living a lie, is the same way Israel's heart was towards God.
Because Israel had an insincere heart, and expressed it on the altars of idolatry, He will break down their altars. "Now GOD will do in judgment what they should have done in contrition, 'break down their altars, and spoil their images.'" (Clarke)
Next Week Chapter 10 Cont'd, Chapters 11 and 12
Next Week Chapter 10 Cont'd, Chapters 11 and 12
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