Hosea chapter 8
The people constantly violated the covenant.
THE PEOPLE CONSTANTLY VIOLATED THE COVENANT
VERSE 1. “Put the shofar to your lips! Something like an eagle is over the LORD’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.
Put the shofar to your lips! The message must sound out clearly! A battle is impending!
In the New Testament, St. Paul uses that phraseology in a spiritual sense. He says our message about Jesus Christ needs to sound clearly, like a trumpet:
1 Corinthians 14:8. For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
Something like an eagle. That is, the Assyrians.
The Assyrians were ready to swoop down on Israel like a powerful eagle.
VERSE 2. They cry to me, ‘My God, we Israel acknowledge you!’
They made a pretense of devotion to the LORD God, acknowledging him with their words. However, this was mere lip service.
In our day, this is like many Christians in the U.S.
They make a pretense of devotion to the LORD God, acknowledging him with their words. However, it is mere lip service.
VERSE 3. Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.
VERSE 4. They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
VERSE 5. Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
his calf idol. This was probably the image set up by Jeroboam I at Bethel:
1 Kings 12:28. So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
Hosea 8:5. Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
Hosea 10:5. The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.
VERSE 6. For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
VERSE 7. For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.
they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. This verse is where the famous phrase comes from.
Isaiah 41:16. You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them. You will rejoice in the LORD. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
VERSE 8. Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.
a worthless thing. The NASB translation says:
a pot in which no one delights
VERSE 9. For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
VERSE 10. But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
the king of mighty ones. That is, the king of Assyria.
VERSE 11. Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.
VERSE 12. I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing.
VERSE 13. As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it; But the LORD doesn’t accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt.
they sacrifice meat and eat it. They offered meat to idols, and then ate it.
VERSE 14. For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses.”
HOSEA
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
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