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 5 and 6 We continued to talk about how the idolatry and ungodliness of Israel was going to result in judgement of the nation which was going to mean that they would lose all the prosperity they were experiencing and that the would eventually lose their spiritual and political freedom.
Hosea 5:14-15 (HCSB)14 For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. Yes, I will tear ⌊them⌋ to pieces and depart. I will carry ⌊them⌋ off, and no one can rescue ⌊them⌋.15 I will depart and return to My place until they recognize their guilt and seek My face; they will search for Me in their distress.
Hosea encouraged them to return to the Lord and he said that if they did, even though God had judged them, He would now heal them.
Hosea 6:1-2 (HCSB)1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn ⌊us⌋, and He will heal us; He has wounded ⌊us⌋, and He will bind up our wounds.2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can live in His presence.
But they didn’t listen and their show of love for God was phony
Hosea 6:4-6 (HCSB)4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes.5 This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words of My mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning.6 For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
The prophets warned of the consequences of sin - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
At this time, God's people were still good at bringing sacrifice. But they had forsaken mercy, and they abandoned mercy because they gave up the knowledge of God and truth. God would rather have right hearts, full of truth and mercy than sacrifice.
Israel brought animals for sacrifice, but they never brought themselves as a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 (HCSB)1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
They missed what God really wants: a deep, close relationship with Him. They also missed the heart of God, focusing on the wrong and superficial things.
Chapter 7
The Oven, the Bread, and the Dove
A heart like an oven.
The sinful ignorance and willful blindness of Israel.
Hosea 7:1-3 (HCSB)1 when I heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim and the crimes of Samaria will be exposed. For they practice fraud; a thief breaks in; a raiding party pillages outside.
2 But they never consider that I remember all their evil. Now their sins are all around them; they are right in front of My face.3 They please the king with their evil, the princes with their lies.
The problem among the people and leaders of Israel was they forgot - willfully - that the LORD saw and remembered their sin. We often deliberately forget that the LORD sees and remembers when we sin. It may be secret before men, but not before God -
Even the king and the princes were so depraved as to rejoice in the iniquities which abounded in Israel. The rulers actually profited by the people's sins. Everybody was corrupt the people, the priest, the politicians. Sounds familiar doesn’t it..
Israel's heart is inflamed after idols.
Hosea 7:4-7 (HCSB)4 All of them commit adultery; ⌊they are⌋ like an oven heated by a baker who stops stirring ⌊the fire⌋ from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.5 On the day of our king, the princes are sick with the heat of wine— there is a conspiracy with traitors.6 For they—their hearts like an oven— draw him ⌊into their oven⌋. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.7 All of them are as hot as an oven, and they consume their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls on Me.
They are all adulterers, worshiping idols and also calling upon the LORD. Their evil desires burned within them like the fires of an oven. For the baker there was an interval of rest between the time when he kneaded the dough and the time when it was thoroughly leavened. So Israel would have a brief rest after one indulgence before plunging into yet greater lust and infamy. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
“All their kings fall” refers to the murder of Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah.
They are all hot as an oven seems to characterize the closing decades of Israel. Shallum, who killed Zechariah, was in turn killed by Menahem. Four of Israel's last six kings were murdered.
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
The pride and stubbornness of Israel.
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.
The idea is of a "half-baked" cake. In that day, bread was often prepared as a cake that was cooked on both sides, something like a pancake. In thinking they can serve both the Lord and idols, Israel is like an unturned pancake - burned on one side, uncooked on the other.
The foreign nations, described as strangers, had weakened Israel, which already showed signs of age, gray hairs appearing on her head. Yet Israel did not heed the sign, but assumed that she was still in the vigor of youth and able to care for her needs. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Foreign nations have devoured his strength, but he does not know it: This makes the tragedy of Israel's ruin worse. The nation is being ravaged by sin but does not know it. They should know it, because even the pride of Israel testifies to his face - yet in their blind ignorance they do not return to the LORD their God. Man has an amazing ability to deceive himself when he is in sin.
Jeremiah 17:9 (HCSB)9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
Considering how easily we deceive our self, and how our sin can be apparent to everyone but us, Israel's condition isn't unusual:
Silly like a dove.
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.
The fickleness of Israel is stressed in terms of a silly dove, having no understanding. First it calls to Egypt, then goes to Assyria. Hosea saw alliances with both Egypt and Assyria as evidence of lack of confidence in the Lord. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
They think they can escape God by running to other nations, but the Lord says, "I will spread My net on them."
In running to the nations, Israel has run away from God.
Hosea 7:13-16 (HCSB)13 Woe to them, for they fled from Me; destruction to them, for they rebelled against Me! Though I want to redeem ⌊them⌋, they speak lies against Me.14 They do not cry to Me from their hearts; rather, they wail on their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine; they turn away from Me.15 I trained and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against Me.16 They turn, but not to what is above; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the cursing of their tongue. They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.
Israel fled from God like a bird scared out of its nest, but in doing so she left her only safe abode. God desired to show mercy to his confused and erring people, but they had hardened their hearts. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Israel saw their problem, but not their sin. When God allows trials man h easily sees he has a problem but often does not see it as sin against the LORD. So when Israel had problems, they wailed upon their beds, but not to the LORD. They tried to figure it out themselves, just like we do. We trust ourselves or a “so called” expert rather than God
.Proverbs 3:5 (HCSB) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
Because they needed food, they assemble[d] themselves for corn and wine, desiring the gift but not the Giver. A variant reading of some Hebrew manuscripts, followed by the lxx, reads, they cut themselves, alluding to the practice of cutting the body as a sign of mourning - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Deuteronomy 14:1 (HCSB)1 “You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or make a bald spot on your head on behalf of the dead,
Leviticus 19:28 (HCSB)28 You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am Yahweh.
Hosea adds another image, of a faulty bow that won't shoot an arrow straight. Everything that comes from Israel misses the mark, because they are like a treacherous bow. They are like a useless and dangerous weapon.
A deceitful bow fails to shoot the arrow at the chosen target. So Israel's political moves did not accomplish their aim. The princes had spoken boastful words in defiance of the Lord, but the rage of their tongue would be their undoing. They expected help from Egypt, but all they would get would be derision. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Chapter 8
SOW THE WIND, REAP THE WHIRLWIND
Sowing idolatry, reaping exile.
Casting off God and embracing idols.
Hosea 8:1-6 (HCSB)1 ⌊Put⌋ the horn to your mouth! One like an eagle comes against the house of the LORD, because they transgress My covenant and rebel against My law.2 Israel cries out to Me, “My God, we know You!”3 Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.4 They have installed kings, but not through Me. They have appointed leaders, but without My approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction.5 Your calf-idol is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?6 For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!
The prophet is bidden to warn of the approaching foe. The Assyrian would come as an eagle. Hebrew nesher, the carrion-eating vulture. The bird of prey is an appropriate symbol of Assyria, which sought to control all of western Asia through a policy of unparalleled cruelty. Although the Northern Kingdom (Israel) had separated itself from Judah, the two together were still reckoned as God's house. -The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
In their distress, Israel would cry, My God, we know thee. The word order is: My God, we, Israel, know thee. In time of affliction Israel would stress the fact that she had known the Lord. In times of prosperity she had been content to forget. -The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
It will be the same way for many church-goers today.
Matthew 7:21-23 (HCSB)21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ⌊only⌋ the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
Jesus is really talking about false teachers and prophets here.
The mere performance of spectacular deeds (even supernatural ones) is not necessarily divine authentication.
Examples:
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (HCSB)1 “If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,2 and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’3 do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.4 You must follow the LORD your God and fear Him. You must keep His commands and listen to His voice; you must worship Him and remain faithful to Him.5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery, to turn you from the way the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from you.
Matthew 24:24 (HCSB)24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (HCSB)9 The coming ⌊of the lawless one⌋ is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. ⌊They perish⌋ because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false,12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.
That’s why it’s important the not just look at signs and wonders but look at the lifestyle and listen to the words to make sure that all those things line up with the Word of God. Pray for teachers who will alert you to those things that are false. God has given some of us the spiritual gift of discernment to be able to decipher truth from error and lies.
"To choose leaders without the direction of God is not only sinful, it is foolish. Those who follow their own wisdom in the choice of leaders inevitably get what they deserve." (Boice)
Israel sought aid from a succession of rulers: Yet the kings of Israel lacked God's blessing and brought the people no lasting good. Kings and princes were of no real help when idolatry was rampant in the land. For us today that’s true our leader are of no real help when sin is running wild. Remember we read last week that because of the worship of idols that violent crimes were happening in Israel. That’s why we should pray for our leaders so that we will continue to be able to worship and witness in peace.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (HCSB)1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The calf at Samaria was probably similar to those set up by Jeroboam at Bethel and Dan, which became an occasion for sin in Israel. -The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
1 Kings 12:28-30 (HCSB)28 So the king sought advice. Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”29 He set up one in Bethel, and put the other in Dan.30 This led to sin; the people walked ⌊in procession⌋ before one of the calves all the way to Dan.
Israel made beautiful idols out of silver and gold, but they will not stand. In judgment, God will break them to pieces.
Israel judged and regathered.
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.
It will seem to Israel that the judgement they receive is worse than the sin they committed. This isn't true in the sense of God being worse to us than our sin deserves, but it is true in how judgment feels. This is usually because our sin is sown over a long period of time, but often reaped in a contracted period of judgment.
There is a statement ”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”.
Not only crops, but Israel, the nation, is swallowed up. The tribes were taken into exile, cast aside as a worthless vessel, i.e., a piece of cheap pottery. 9. Israel in exile is likened to a wild ass which wanders from place to place. Asses usually travel together, but a solitary, stubborn ass sometimes obstinately pursues its own path. Turning their back on the covenant love of God, Israel hired lovers. She tried by gifts to win aid from Assyria and Egypt.
Though Israel had sought to purchase favor from the nations, God would gather them (i.e., the Israelites) and send them into exile. They shall sorrow. They would become impoverished, because of the burden imposed upon them by the king of princes, an expression used only here, which may refer to Tiglath-pileser III, known as "the king of kings." - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
Why God will not accept their offerings?
Israel considers God's word a strange thing.
Hosea 8:11-13 (HCSB)11 When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.12 Though I were to write out for him ten thousand points of My instruction, they would be regarded as something strange.13 Though they offer sacrificial gifts and eat the flesh, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their guilt and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt.
Israel foolishly built many altars for sin. So it is no surprise that those altars became altars for sinning. When we put ourselves into positions of temptation it’s not surprising that we yield to it.
God had raised up prophets to Israel who had boldly declared his Law and it didn’t matter no matter how many times that warned them and urged them to come back and observe the law of God. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
They treated what the prophets were saying as something strange. This is the way that carnal man or the unsaved think about the Bible and God’s word.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (HCSB)14 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.
Human ears cannot hear high-frequency radio waves; deaf men are unable to judge music contests; blind men cannot enjoy beautiful scenery, and the unsaved are incompetent to judge spiritual things, a most important practical truth. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
This tells us the way the Bible is received by the natural man. Paul expressed the same idea in1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The Word of God and the things of the spirit are great things, but seem like a strange thing when man is in sin and idolatry.
When God's people forget their Maker, there is no refuge.
Hosea 8:14 (HCSB)14 Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has also multiplied fortified cities. I will send fire on their cities, and it will consume their citadels.
Hosea charges Israel with forgetting God, and building temples (av). The alternate meaning of the word, viz., palaces, fits better here. Judah is similarly charged with building fenced cities, i.e., fortified cities. Palaces and fortified cities are not evil in themselves, but they were evidence of a secular trust in things material, which was the counterpart to spiritual decay. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
While Israel practiced outright idolatry, Judah was guilty of a more subtle sin. They trusted in the fortified cities they built against the Assyrians. Those cities would be of no help (I will send fire upon his cities), and the only the LORD would preserve Judah from total destruction (Isaiah 37:33-36).
Perhaps we can capture some of the ungodly heart of Israel and Judah by examining our own attraction to bigness and nice facilities. What could be wrong with success and nice buildings? They easily become idols if your heart turns from God. If God brings size and great buildings, it is wonderful - as long as we don't turn our eyes of Him, making those things idols.
Next week we start with chapter 9
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