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.