What I Noticed Today (Hosea 8-14)
Hosea 8
In verses 1-3, God charges Israel with having rejected Him. They think they know the Lord, but ultimately, they have spurned Him.
In verses 4-6, God charges Samaria (Israel’s capital) with having established their own kings and making idols of gold and silver. Therefore, God will break the calf idol of Samaria into pieces.
Note: The calf idol reference is probably to the idol set up by Jeroboam I in Bethel (1 Kings 12:28).
In verse 7, the “sow to the wind” reference indicates the futility of their efforts. What they plant (try to accomplish) will bring no yield, and even if it does, others will benefit.
In verses 8-14, Israel is already useless as a nation (like a useless pot). They have gone to Assyria to make an alliance and to other nations, but soon God will judge them all. Ephraim has multiplied their altars to make sacrificial offerings, but God does not accept their offerings because they were not devoted to Him. They had forgotten God (rejected Him) and built palaces and fortified cities thinking that would keep them safe but will bring judgment that will destroy them.
Hosea 9:1-11:7
This section contains four judgments against Israel: 1) 9:1-9, 2) 9:10-17, 3) 10:1-10:15, and 4) 11:1-7.
Hosea 9
Judgment 1. In verses 1-9, the Lord warns Israel not to rejoice because they had rejected God. The prosperous years of plentiful grain and wine will end. They will be removed from the land, exiled to Assyria, and forced to eat unclean food. They will not have wine for drink offerings, and they will be defiled by eating unclean bread. Destruction was coming. Those that escaped the sword would be sent away to exile. God had given them prophets to warn them, but the people rejected them, thinking they were fools and insane (mad). They had corrupted themselves like in the days of Gibeah.
Note: The days of Gibeah reference alludes to the rape and killing of the Levite’s concubine in Gibeah (Judges 19).
Judgment 2. In verses 10-17, the Lord describes His early delight with Israel and his disappointment with their rejection of Him to worship idols. He describes them as first fruits (the best), but soon they changed and began to worship Baal-peor (idol for a fertility god). Therefore, their glory will depart: they will have no children, and even if they do, they will have no joy because the Lord has departed from them. Their evil caused God to begin to hate them so that He will drive them out of His house. Because they no longer have children, they are like a dried-up root and will bear no fruit. God has rejected them because they have not listened to him.
Hosea 10
Judgment 3. In verses 1-10, the Lord describes Israel as a luxuriant vine, a prosperous country. But their hearts are false, so they must stand in judgment. They would be conquered and lose their king but would still not fear the Lord. Their words were empty promises of covenants to God. Their idols (the calf idol) will be carried away and given to another king as a tribute. Samaria’s king will be swept away (like a twig in the water). The high places (idols) will be destroyed. No one will worship there any longer, and thorns and thistles will grow up. From the days of Gibeah (see the note above) they have sinned, and they continue to sin. The time will come when God will discipline them for their sin.
In verses 11-15, Israel is compared to a cow trained to thresh grain. (It was relatively easy to work, and the cow was free to eat the grain as it went.) But the Lord would now put a yoke on Israel and Judah, and they would both be forced to do the heavy work of plowing by themselves.
Note: While Israel was faithful to God, they were prosperous, but once judgment came, their lives in exile would become arduous.
The Lord tells them it is time to sow righteousness and seek the Lord. Instead, they have plowed iniquity, listened to lies, and trusted in themselves rather than God. Therefore, the judgment of war will come upon them, destroy their fortresses their mothers, and even the children. In the end, even their king will fall when they are conquered.
Note: This prophecy was fulfilled when Babylon conquered Israel (1 Kings 17:4-6).
Hosea 11
Judgment 4. In verses 1-7, the Lord again describes how He loved Israel in their youth, but they turned away sacrificing to Baal. The more God called them (through the prophets), the more they resisted Him.
God had led them with kindness, made their work light, and blessed them. But they had refused to return to Him. Therefore, the Lord will judge them with the sword. The people are determined to turn away from God, even though they call on Him He will not rescue them.
In verses 8-11, the Lord’s compassion and love for Israel are expressed. He will not destroy them like Admah and Zeboiim (they were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah, Deuteronomy 29:23). The Lord promises not to destroy Ephraim again. His children will return to Him from exile.
Hosea 11:13 is a transition to Hosea 12. Ephraim is described as being full of deceit while Judah is still walking with the Lord.
Hosea 12
In verse 1, the Lord describes Ephraim again as one feeding on the wind, multiplying their falsehoods and violence and foolishly making an alliance with Assyria.
In verses 2-6, the Lord announces judgment upon Judah by describing how Jacob obtained Esau’s birthright by grasped Esau’s heel. Jacob wrestled with God and at Bethel, God met with Jacob again (and changed his name to Israel). Judah, like Jacob, needed to return to God in repentance and hang onto His love and justice.
In verses 7-14, Ephraim is described as a merchant with false weights. One who likes to oppress others to make herself rich, all the while thinking they had not sinned. The Lord sees their sin and will bring judgment upon them. The Lord had given them many prophets who warned the people, but they rejected them. Gilead and Gilgal are called out for their sins. Ephraim will receive judgment for their disgraceful deeds.
Hosea 13
In verses 1-3, Ephraim is described as being exalted in Israel, but they turned to worshipping Baal. Now they have multiplied their sins by making idols and offering sacrifices to them. Because of this, they will be judged.
Note: Four similes are used to describe how quickly the idolaters will disappear: like the morning mist, like dew, like chaff in the wind, and like smoke from a fire.
In verses 4-8, the Lord reminds them how He brought them up out of Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness, yet they rejected Him (forgot Him). The Lord would judge them like a lion, leopard, or bear and devour them because they have rejected Him.
In verses 9-14, Israel is destroyed because they are rebelling against God. They have no king to depend upon. God had given them a king in His anger (probably Saul, 1 Samuel 8:6-9), and had taken him away. God remembers the sin of Ephraim (it is bound up, stored up). Israel had been given a chance to repent but was like an unwise son who did not come out at birth (both mother and son would perish). God will not ransom them from Sheol or redeem them from death. He will not have compassion on them.
Note: Some translations of verse 14 are written positively, saying, “I will ransom them; I will redeem them.” But this interpretation conflicts with the next line that says, “compassion is hidden from my eyes.” If God were to ransom or redeem them, then compassion would NOT be hidden from Him. The translation that makes more sense asks a rhetorical question, “Shall I…,” and the answer is no because compassion is hidden from my eyes.
In verses 15-16, because God’s compassion is removed, judgment is in store. Samaria will be judged because they rebelled against God; they will fall by the sword, including women and children.
Hosea 14
In verses 1-3, Hosea implores Israel to return to the Lord, to ask God for forgiveness for their sins and His mercy, to reject Assyria, and to stop their worship of idols.
In verses 4-7, the Lord promises to heal Israel and love them freely. He will bless them (be like morning dew, roots spread out). They will return to God and rest in His shade. They will flourish and blossom and their reputation restored.
In verse 8, God asks Ephraim a rhetorical question; what does He have to do with idols? God’s answer is, I am the one who looks out for you and from Me comes to your blessings (fruit).
In verse 9, Hosea ends with an admonition: 1) he who is wise will understand these things, 2) whoever is discerning will know them, and 3) the righteous will walk in the way of the Lord, but the rebellious will stumble (be destroyed).
