Hosea 11

 

Hosea 11

 

“This chapter gives a very touching representation of God's tender and affectionate regard for Israel, by metaphors chiefly borrowed from the conduct of mothers toward their tender offspring. From this, occasion is taken to reflect on their ungrateful return to the Divine goodness, and to denounce against them the judgments of the Almighty.” (Adam Clarke)

 

11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

“I loved you when you were but slaves in Egypt, and I called you and did mighty things to redeem you from Egypt.” This is the love, faithfulness, and power of God. Love: You were nothing in Egypt, nobodies, and I loved you; Faithfulness: he loved and saved them because of his promise and covenant with Abraham; Power: they were slaves in the most powerful kingdom on earth and God brought them out without an army.

This is quoted in Matthew 2:14-15

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

This is clearly about Israel in Egypt, yet Matthew says this was fulfilled in the life of Jesus. How?

“There is no doubt, but that God in his wonderful providence intended that his Son should come forth from Egypt, that he might be a redeemer to the faithful; and thus he shows that a true, real, and perfect deliverance was at length effected, when the promised Redeemer appeared. For it behooves us to consider this, that God, when he formerly redeemed his people from Egypt, only showed by a certain prelude the redemption which he deferred till the coming of Christ…and then God fully showed him to be the true deliverer of his people.” (John Calvin)

Or in plain language, As Israel was considered by God to be His son and was called out of Egypt, so God’s true and only begotten Son was called out of Egypt. As if the call of Israel out of Egypt was a picture of the Coming One.

11:2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
11:3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
11:5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
11:6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

I led Ephraim out of Egypt by the arm; I healed them; I drew them with bands of love; I removed the yoke of slavery; I fed them. Very similar to Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. But Israel, so loved and cared for by the LORD, sacrificed unto Baal and burned incense to graven images. They rejected the LORD, so they reaped what they sowed - the Assyrian shall be his king.

11:7  And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

my people are bent to backsliding from me – Backsliding is a word I don’t hear much anymore. Backsliding occurs 3 times in Hosea (12 times in Jeremiah! [in the KJV]):

+ Hosea 4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer...

A backsliding heifer is a stubborn and rebellious heifer, one who resists the harness.

+ Hosea 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me...

My people are bent on (determined) turning away from me.

+ Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely...

This is the sweetest promise. There is a line in an old hymn, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it / Prone to leave the God I love.” God promises to heal that in us!

What is this backsliding? Just like it sounds, it is sliding back from our commitment to the Lord; it is the fire dying down; it is leaving our first love. Backsliding is a dangerous spiritual condition, and, if not checked, can lead to apostacy or falling away. It was deadly for Israel.

“Suddenly and unexpectedly the prospect changes. Beams of mercy break from the clouds just now fraught with vengeance. God, to speak in the language of men, feels the relentings of a tender parent; his bowels yearn; his mercy triumphs; his rebellious child shall yet be pardoned. As the lion of the tribe of Judah, he will employ his power to save his people, he will call his children from the land of their captivity; and, as doves, they will fly to him, a faithful and a holy people (11:8-12).” (Adam Clarke)

11:8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
11:11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
11:12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

How shall I give thee up? See God’s heart for Israel! And by Israel I mean the 10 tribes of the north. These are the folks who are so corrupt they are going into Assyrian captivity; who are now the ten lost tribes of Israel.

The love of God: I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger; I will not destroy Ephraim.

The promise of God: they shall walk after the LORD; I will place them in their houses.

Israel is in the news these days - war and rumors of war. Remember, Israel is a key to the end times. Israel is in a fight for her life now, but never forget the LORD said, How shall I give thee up? They shall walk after the LORD. I will place them in their houses. What comfort in these words!! As God remains faithful to His covenant with Israel, so He will remain faithful to His covenant promises to the Church.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee

Hosea 10

 Hosea 10

10:1  Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

Israel was prosperous, but their prosperity corrupted their heart. "They became idolatrous in proportion to their prosperity; and in proportion to their wealth was the costliness of their images." (Adam Clarke)

10:2  Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

Their heart is divided - a divided heart is a terrible spiritual condition: you don't have the joy of the Lord, you don't enjoy the world. Been there, done that. No bueno. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."

They tried to serve God and Mammon, Yahweh and Baal: but this is impossible. Now God will do in judgment what they should have done in contrition, "break down their altars, and spoil their images." (Adam Clarke)

10:3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
10:4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

They rejected the LORD as king and now can only expect judgment.

10:5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
10:6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
10:7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
10:8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

Jeroboam I had made golden calves for them to worship and now the calves will be carried away to Assyria and the altars destroyed. Shame is their portion.

10:9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10:10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
10:11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Sinned from the days of Gibeah – referring to Judges 19 where we read of a Levite and his concubine. They spent the night in Gibeah where he was threatened by a perverse mob. He gave them his concubine and they “abused her” all night and she died. When the tribes of Israel heard of this there was war between Benjamin and the other eleven tribes - Benjamin was nearly wiped out. The whole thing was horrible.

10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Back in chapter 8 Hosea said, they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. He was speaking of their past actions, now he looks forward. This is an exhortation filled with hope.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap mercy – To sow in righteousness is to do the opposite of their sins; instead of lying, robbery, adultery, idolatry, tell the truth, be merciful, help your neighbor, love your wife, worship the LORD according to His Word.

The hope? Sow righteousness and you will reap mercy. That is, forgiveness and grace. Is this the hope of being saved by their good works? No. This is simply old fashioned repenting and turning to the Lord. Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you. (Zech 1:3) Forgiveness and grace meet me as soon as I turn from my sin and to the Lord.

Break up your fallow ground, seek the LORD, till he rain righteousness upon you. Plow, plant, pray. Full of promise and hope. If only they had responded.

We have the same encouragement in the gospel. In Galatians 6:8 Paul wrote,

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

How do we sow to the Spirit? Be filled with the Spirit; walk in the Spirit; through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body. How do we break up our fallow ground? We plow: confess and forsake our sins; we plant: avail ourselves of the means of grace (the Word, prayer, fellowship, church, the Lord’s Supper); then pray for God’s rain. It will come!

for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you – What encouragement! Not, he may come and rain but, till he come and rain upon you. Turn unto me and I will turn unto you. Amen!

10:14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
10:15 So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

But they refused. All thy fortresses shall be spoiled; in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

 

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear, saith the Lord.

Hosea 9

 

Hosea 9

This is perhaps the harshest chapter in all of Hosea. The other chapters offer a ray of hope, a note of grace, this one does not.

9:1 Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
9:2 The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
9:3 They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

They shall not dwell in the land – they will be removed from their home.

9:4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
9:5 What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
9:6 For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.
9:7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it – this has been told them, they had been warned, they had been exhorted to return to the LORD, and had steadfastly refused.

9:8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9:9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

They have deeply corrupted themselves - they didn’t just miss church two or three times, or six months, they were thoroughly corrupt.

The prophet is a snare – they still had prophets, but their prophets (and priests) were even more corrupt and led them deeper into sin and rebellion.

He will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins – This is a sober reality and is still true. O how glorious is the Gospel! Christ died for our sins! When we believe in him our sins are forgiven: And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)

9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Israel had been enticed and tempted by Baal for a long time. Baal was a god of the Canaanites, the god of fertility and rain. This means he promised fruitful fields and fruitful wombs. The Canaanites had been in the land some 400 years, and a very fruitful land it was, a land of milk and honey, worshiping him must work. And to make it even more appealing, this god of fertility was worshiped through sacred prostitutes. Yeah, then as now, sex sells.

9:11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.
9:12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
9:13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.
9:14 Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
9:15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes [are] revolters.
9:16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.
9:17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Ephraim is smitten…my God will cast them away. Why? They did not hearken unto him. Their judgment? They shall be wanderers among the nations.

Sin is serious. And comes with a serious price tag. Rebellion and apostacy, this is not fun and games. We are sometimes deceived - we sin and we are not crushed by God; even though we often pay a high price now, we still wake the next day and we are not in hell. We think, “Maybe this whole judgment thing is not true.” Oh but it is. He is giving us opportunity to turn away from our sin and rebellion, to turn to Him and find forgiveness, restoration, and life. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Hosea 8

 

Hosea 8

This is another hard chapter, speaking mostly of sin and judgment. Why so many chapters devoted almost entirely to Israel’s sin and God’s judgment? Off the top of my head I can think of three reasons. First, according to 1:1 Hosea’s prophetic ministry lasted maybe 70 years. You can preach a lot of sermons, in many different places in 70 years. Second, when folks have turned away from the Lord and then utterly devoted themselves to idolatry and immorality, as had the Israelites, they are slow to respond, if they ever do. Third, we all know that people living in sin tend to think they are immune to God’s judgment upon them, or what may be worse, believe they are beyond help; sometimes freely admitting that they are going to hell, but who still will not turn to the Lord. Hosea is warning them, pleading with them, to return to the LORD their God.

8:1  Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

Who is it who will come against the house of the LORD? First, the king of Assyria. He came against Israel, the ten northern tribes, and carried them away captive in 722 BC. He came against Judah, but the LORD delivered them from him (see 2 Kings 17-19). Then Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah away in 597 BC.

8:2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
8:3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
8:5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
8:6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee – How can this be happening to us?? we are your people! My people draw nigh unto me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

They set up kings, but not by me – they had rejected the house of David and set up a whole bunch of kings for themselves. Pure rebellion.

Thy calf, O Samaria – this is the real kicker; Jeroboam I had two calves made of gold and declared:

28 It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.  30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.  31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.  32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.  33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense. (1 Kings 12:28-33)

This was the sin of Israel; it continued the entire time of their existence. They had a substitute for everything Judah had, a pitifully poor and empty substitute.

8:7  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

This has always been a principle in dealing with God, we reap what we sow. They have sown the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind. There are three things to know about sowing and reaping:

(1) You reap what you sow.
(2) You reap more than you sow.
(3) You reap later than you sow.

Paul explains this in Galatians 6

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

8:8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
8:9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
8:10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
8:11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

Israel…now shall they be among the Gentiles – Assyria’s policy was to remove a people from their homeland, scatter them throughout their empire, then bring in another nation to live in their land.

8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
8:13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
8:14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel’s sin:

v 12 they rejected the law, God’s word and covenant

v 13 they invented their own sacrifices

v 14 they forgot their Maker, and built temples to other gods

This was sin. It was rebellion. Apostacy. Continued. Unbroken. Every generation. 250 years. They sowed the wind, and they reaped the whirlwind. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap is still true today. O may our God have mercy on us!

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.  ~Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Hosea 7

 

Hosea 7

This is a difficult chapter, it is not pretty and offers very little hope. Here God removes the covers, turns on the light, and opens the door so we can see their hearts. They were truly obstinate, stubborn, persistent, and determined to reject the LORD their God.

7:1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
7:2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

They consider not in their hearts that I remember – sin makes us stupid.

7:3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
7:4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
7:5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
7:6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
7:7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
7:9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

As an oven heated by the baker - "Calmet's* paraphrase on this and the following verses expresses pretty nearly the sense: 'Hosea makes a twofold comparison of the Israelites; to an oven, and to dough. Jeroboam set fire to his own oven - his kingdom - and put the leaven in his dough; and afterwards went to rest, that the fire might have time to heat his oven, and the leaven to raise his dough, that the false principles which he introduced might infect the whole population. This prince, purposing to make his subjects relinquish their ancient religion, at first he used no violence, but was satisfied with exhorting them, and proclaiming a feast. This fire spread very rapidly, and the dough was very soon impregnated by the leaven. All Israel was seen running to this feast, and partaking in these innovations. But what shall become of the oven - the kingdom; and the bread - the people? The oven shall be consumed by these flames; the king, the princes, and the people shall be enveloped in the burning. Israel was put under the ashes, as a loaf well kneaded and leavened; but not being carefully turned, it was burnt on one side before those who prepared it could eat of it; and enemies and strangers came and carried off the loaf.  Their captivity was the consequence of their wickedness and their apostasy from the religion of their fathers.' By this explanation Hos 7:4-9 may be easily understood." (Adam Clarke)

7:10  And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

The pride of Israel – their own obstinacy testifies against them: they do not return to the LORD their God, and refuse to seek him.

7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
7:12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria, they will try anything but turning to the LORD, but it will not work. God is now against them.

7:13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
7:14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

Behold their hearts, they fled from God, they transgressed against him, they lied about him.

They have not cried unto me with their heart – “There was no sincerity in their hearts, no change in their doings. Their cry was a mere howling. Their heart was set wholly on their earthly wants.” (E.B. Pusey)

7:15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
7:16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

They return, but not to the most High - it’s all for show, not from the heart. What is it that God wants from us? What does he look for? What will he respond to? The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

As I said, this is a hard chapter, but in this very hardness we can see the cause and cure for their judgment and ours.

Joel 2:12-13  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 

 

* Antoine Augustin Calmet (1672–1757);  a French Benedictine monk - He was a celebrated exegete and produced a commentary he named, A literal Commentary on all the Books of the Old and New Testaments. The work inaugurated a new method of Biblical exegesis, inasmuch as its author very sensibly departed from the general custom of giving an allegorical (mystical) and tropological (moral) interpretation besides the literal, and confined himself to the literal. 

Hosea 6

 

Hosea 6

6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Hosea has some of the sweetest notes of grace scattered throughout his prophecy, and this is one of them. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he cries out this wonderful invitation.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD – return seems to be one of Hosea’s favorite words. He uses it (the Hebrew word) 22 times, it is translated 16 times return (in the KJV).

Whenever this invitation is offered it always includes the hope of acceptance. This is no exception: he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight – Do you see what I see? When did God revive us, raise us up, so that we shall live in his sight? In Christ, in his resurrection on the third day! What a picture of the grace of God!

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD – Come let us return to the LORD and he will do all this for us. Hallelujah! This is promised to Israel, yet the grace of God is so great that He has included us Gentiles too.

6:4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
6:5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
6:7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings – O how easy, how tempting to major on the ritual and miss the real. I am so much better at ritual (going to church, serving on this committee, avoiding that crowd) than I am at the real (which is the heart of true religion: showing mercy, being kind and generous, reading the Scriptures, prayer). This is such an important truth that the Lord Jesus quoted it twice in his ministry: In response to the question, "Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners?" (Matthew 9:13) and when the Pharisees said, "Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful on the sabbath" (that is, plucking/harvesting grain on the sabbath) Matthew 12:7). Mercy is such an important virtue. As the prophet Micah said,  "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  

But they are as a man transgressing a covenant (Septuagint) – they have dealt treacherously against me in despising and breaking my covenant.

6:8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
6:9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

I desire mercy and what do I see? Iniquity, robbery, murder, lewdness.

6:10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
6:11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

I have seen an horrible thing in Israel, the whoredom of Ephraim.

O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee – O Judah, here is thy harvest; they who have led Israel into captivity shall lead thee also into the same. The Assyrians and Babylonians were the same kind of people; equally idolatrous, equally oppressive, equally cruel. “Some suppose this to be a promise of return from captivity. While it is true that Judah was gathered together again and brought back to their own land, the majority of the Israelites did not return, and are not now to be found.” (Adam Clarke)

In this chapter we see God’s grace, Come and let us return to the LORD, and the very essence of the covenant, I desired mercy and not sacrifice. We also see the heart of the Israelites, iniquity, robbery, murder, lewdness; whoredom, defilement, and as a result, God’s judgment on them. 

Therefore it is imperative that we heed the urgent call of the Holy Spirit:  

"Seek ye the Lord, and when ye find him, call upon him; and when he shall draw nigh to you, let the ungodly leave his ways, and the transgressor his counsels: and let him return to the Lord, and he shall find mercy; for he shall abundantly pardon your sins." (Isaiah 55:6-7 Septuagint)

Hosea 5

 

Hosea 5

5:1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
5:2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

Hear ye this…hearken…give ye ear – he addresses priests, people, and king, the whole nation was sin sick; the priests and king were a snare and a net to the people, that is, they were luring the people into sin.

5:3  I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

We like to think that when we forget God he forgets us, if we ignore Him He ignores us. No, I know, Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me.

5:4  They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.

They will not frame their doings – I like the phrasing! They will not turn unto their God, they refuse to turn to God. Look unto me, and be ye saved.

the spirit of whoredoms – once again we see that this is an intense spiritual battle; they opened their hearts to this unclean spirit.

they have not known the LORD – this, of course, is the real problem; they don’t know the LORD, they refuse to turn to Him, as a result they have this demonic spirit in their midst, urging them on to idolatry and immorality.

5:5  And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

The pride of Israel – “their insolence and the deep depravity of their heart; but their pride and arrogance shall be humbled.” (Adam Clarke)

5:6  They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.

They will seek the LORD but not find him, he hath withdrawn himself from them. This is very serious. Why will they not find him? I see two possible reasons: They lacked repentance, and it was too late. But, can it ever be too late?

“Then shall it be too late to knock, when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice.” (A Commination, Book of Common Prayer)

5:7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
5:8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
5:9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

Blow ye the cornet and trumpet – the trumpet of war; God is pursuing them.

after thee O Benjamin - "Benjamin, fly for thy life! The enemy is just behind thee!" This is a prediction of the invasion of the Assyrians, and the captivity of the ten tribes.

I have made known that which shall surely be – pack your bags, it's going to happen.

5:10  The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

The princes of Judah will be spared this time, but they are on thin ice.

5:11  Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

It was the first king of Israel, Jeroboam I, who introduced the false gods and alternate priesthood and sacrifices, but the people followed willingly – they were not innocent in all this idolatry and immorality.

5:12  Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

How terrible it is when God is against you and not for you.

5:13  When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

When they saw their sickness and wound, did they turn to the LORD? No! They would not frame their doings to turn to the LORD, instead they sent to Assyria for help. Not only could he not heal you, it would be Assyria who would take them away.

5:14  For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

I will take away, and none shall rescue - Again, it is God himself who is against them. O the glory of the gospel! When we turn to God by faith in Christ, God is now for us and not against us. If God is for us, who can be against us?

5:15  I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

This is a hard chapter. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence. Their hearts are hard and judgment is certain, yet it ends on a note of grace and hope – in their affliction they will seek me early.

There is hope and promise and certainty in this last verse. God is not through with Israel. Yes, they sinned and were sent into exile. Yes, we still speak of “the 10 lost tribes of Israel”. Yet there is hope, as the Apostle Paul said in Romans 11

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

What is all this to us? As Paul says, For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. There’s an urgency in the gospel and grace of God, Now. Now is the time to come to Jesus. Now is the time to return to Jesus. Now, before sin hardens our heart so that we can’t come. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

Hosea 4

Hosea 4

4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

The LORD hath a controversy – controversy, strife, dispute; “what we should call a lawsuit, in which God is plaintiff, and the Israelites defendants. It is Jehovah versus Israel and Judah.” (Adam Clarke)

Houston, we have a problem.

What’s the problem? There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God, as a result they are marked by swearing, lying, killing, stealing, adultery. 

4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

Therefore shall the land mourn and the people languish. Be sure your sin will find you out.

4:5  Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

Therefore shalt thou fall - Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge – What knowledge did they lack? “They have not the knowledge of God, nor of sacred things, nor of their own interest, nor of the danger to which they are exposed. They walk on blindly, and perish.” Ignorance is not bliss! How did they come to have no knowledge?? They rejected knowledge. They said No to God and then looked elsewhere for how to live and who to worship.

seeing thou hast forgotten, I will also forget thy children - This was intentional, deliberate. There is a high price to pay for rejecting God. Not because He is petty, but because He is life.

4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
4:8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

They set their heart on their iniquity – they didn’t slip into this, or wake up one day and find themselves idolaters, no, they set their heart on their iniquity and quite intentionally rejected the LORD.

4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

they have left off to take heed to the LORD – they walked away from God with eyes wide open: they rejected knowledge, set their heart on their iniquity, and flat out said No to God. O how sin hardens the heart!

4:11  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Sin devastates the heart, takes it away from the LORD. This why we need to be healed of our backsliding, because sin damages the heart.

4:12  My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.

This is what rejecting knowledge looks like, you turn from the living God to stocks and stumps (idols), fortune tellers, astrology, and new age gurus.

spirit of whoredoms – the Word often names the unclean spirits (demons) who attack and tempt us and here is one, the spirit of whoredoms; this spirit whispers, “There is a better and more popular way”. Remember, the devil’s goal is to separate us from God, so he entices us, he woos us to embrace these other ways, “You don’t need Jesus, you can be spiritual without him.” O how it appeals to our rebellious spirit.

4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

Idolatry always leads to adultery; when you turn away from the Lord and set another as your god, you eventually fall into sexual sin. This is how the spirit of whoredoms works, we turn away from the Lord so we can satisfy the flesh. Sadly, if affects our families as well. The people that do no understand shall fall. O that we would take heed to this warning!

4:15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Let not Judah offend – he appeals to Judah to cling to the Lord.

a backsliding heifer - just as the cow keeps turning her head, refusing the reins, so Israel says in her heart, "I’ll not have the LORD reign over me."

Let him alone. How sad. This is the danger of backsliding, we need to catch ourselves before we reach this point.

4:18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
4:19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

they have committed whoredom continually – he is referring to both spiritual adultery (idolatry) and physical adultery (immorality).

Give ye – The rulers were seeking prosperity at the expense of the people. This is a common, persistent, even ancient evil, using religion to personally prosper.

There are many spiritual dangers mentioned in this chapter that are just as relevant today. We need to be diligent to avoid these pits, but most of all we need God’s mercy and grace to help us. The ancient liturgy includes the following prayer:

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
    that takest away the sins of the world,
    have mercy upon us.

Amen! 

Hosea 3

 

Hosea 3

Chapters 1-3 all have the same theme - Hosea and his family are pictures of God and Israel, and this is the conclusion. The rest of Hosea, chapters 4-14, are stand-alone chapters. As you can see, chapter 3 is very short.

3:1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
3:3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

In chapter 1 Hosea was told, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms. Here he is to find and love an adulteress. I think this is the same woman, that they married, had three children (ch 1), then she left him. She may be living with another man at this point. The LORD again makes it clear that all this represents God and Israel. 

According to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel - Hosea was to go find her and love her, just as the LORD loves his people, even though they have left him.

I confess, I don’t understand v 2-3, I mean, Buy her? from who? Perhaps she fell on hard times and sold herself into prostitution? The point is, here was a woman who had fallen upon hard times through bad decisions, but Hosea restored her. And this is a picture of what God will do for Israel. Israel fell into adultery and whoredom by prostituting herself to the false gods of the Canaanites, and she would pay a dear price for her sin: she would be removed from the land and scattered among the nations (v 4).

the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice  - Don’t be deceived, sin is costly. And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:15-16) We saw the promise of grace and restoration in chapters 1 and 2, and here it is again.

Afterward - a synonym for in the latter days, which occurs at the end of the verse.

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God – What a promise! They fell into sin and idolatry and refused to turn to the LORD, as a result they went into captivity; but in the latter days the children of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God, they will repent and return to the LORD.

and David their king - This means Messiah or Christ. This tells us when this will happen, in the days of the Lord Christ. Must be at the second coming because this hasn’t happened yet.

"This is the Son of David, the same, of whom God says, I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even My servant David, and He shall be their Shepherd, and I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a Prince among them (Ezekiel 34:23-24).He who was to be raised up to David, a righteous Branch and who was to be called the LORD our Righteousness (Jer 23:5-6); David’s Lord, as well as David’s Son. Whence the older Jews, of every school, Talmudic, mystical, Biblical, grammatical, explained this prophecy, of Christ. Thus their received paraphrase is: 'Afterward the children of Israel shall repent, or turn by repentance, and shall seek the service of the Lord their God, and shall obey Messiah the Son of David, their King.' " (Albert Barnes)

They shall fear the LORD and his goodness – All this - return, seek, fear the LORD, David their king – means they will be saved. Is this not what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:26-27

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Paul seems to be conflating or combining two verses: Isaiah 59:20, There shall come out of Sion the deliverer (he is quoting the Greek Septuagint) and Jeremiah 31:31-34, my covenant…when I take away their sins.

In 2019 I did a series, Christ in Jeremiah, in which the final post asked and answered the question, “Does Israel still have a future as a nation? Or, Hath God cast away his people?” You can read the entire (excellent!) post here. 

When God makes a covenant and promises salvation he means it, according to the love of the LORD to the children of Israel. What does this mean for me? I am the LORD, I change not. He is gracious, loving, and faithful still. “How marvelous, how wonderful, is my Saviour’s love for me!”