Hosea
10 – Israel’s Sin and Captivity
The
more prosperous Israel became with a multitude of fruit, increased altars, and
sacred pillars, the more they increased their idolatry and rejected the Lord.
God accused them of being double-minded. (Matt. 6:24).
Jeroboam
had set up the calf of Beth Aven (Bethel). Hosea indicated the idol would be
carried to Assyria, while the people and priests would mourn and shriek. Israel
would also mourn the loss of their king and the destruction of their high
places. If only the people of Israel had grieved their sin and their loss of
God’s favor!
Hosea
urged Israel to see the Lord by sowing righteousness and reaping God’s mercy.
God’s future gift of righteousness would be so abundant that it would be as
rain.
Hosea
11- God’s Continuing Love for Israel.
God
is both angry and compassionate as God’s commitment and Israel’s contempt meet
head-on. It would be difficult to understand such a rebellious response to such
a perfect love, except that we today are so much like Israel.
Because
God is not man, He does not act as a human would – in blind, unbridled
vengeance. Rather, God expresses a love reminiscent of Jesus’ lament over
Jerusalem. (Matt.23:37). Jesus’ unshakeable devotion to the city that rejected
Him is consistent with the heart of His Father, a heart filled with compassion
for the rebellious nation of Israel.
The
wicked cities of Admah and Zebolim were destroyed along with Sodom and
Gomorrah. The Lord’s lion-like roar will
someday call His exiled people home and they will, like swift birds, return to
their land.
Unlike
Ephraim, Judah had a few kings and priests who continued to honor God. Yet
Hosea often spoke direct warnings to Judah.
Please
read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.
If
you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.
Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible
Dr.
David Jeremiah Study Bible.
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