Hosea 8-10

Introduction

This portion begins the third major division of the book - 1) Actual example of Hosea and Gomer (Hosea 1:1-3:5). 2) True condition of Israel (Hosea 4:1-7:15). 3) Poetic proclamations of God and Hosea (Hosea 8:1-14:9).

Antiphonal: Two groups that sing by toggling back and forth, liturgical term; i.e. Handel’s Messiah.

Passage toggles back and forth between 1st and 3rd person reminding us that this is a divine message while both the message giver and the messenger have experienced the unfaithfulness of their chosen bride

Remaining Outline:

8:1-10:15 | False Security and False Prosperity

11:1-13:16 | Judgment on Apostate Israel

14:1-9 | Future Grace

8:1-10:15 | False Security and False Prosperity

Divine complaint against the false security of Israel (8:1-14)

Talk about Lament and Complaint: we recently talked about the importance of praying our complaints to the Lord and the importance of Lament as a major prayer genre. Here in this portion of scripture the Lord has a complaint which he levels against his people Israel for their unfaithfulness. to him.

Because Israel has trusted in an artificial piety

False reliance on the Covenant (1-3)

You cannot trust in the covenant of God if you do not honor or follow the statutes of the covenant. Israel wanted to cry out to God on the basis of their relationship, but the problem was…they had no relationship!

Raising up a Calf (4b-6)

Q1: What things resulted from the calf and how is the result opposite from a life committed to the Lord?

From the hands of men

Their own actions destroyed them

Spurned by God

Kindles his anger

Will be broken to pieces

Reaping the Consequences of their false worship (11-13)

Contrast with Hebrews 8:12

Because of Jesus their is hope for the false worshippers - this is the same hope the Israelites spurned: Turn (or return) to the Lord.

Because Israel trusted in political protection

Choosing their own kings (8:4)

Seeking foreign help (8:8-10)

Building palaces (fortresses) (8:14)

The main problem here is that Israel had forgotten “his” maker - the Lord is the Creator of all things and that distinction is important to maintain.

Q2: What responses flow from a person who acknowledges the Lord as Creator?

Prophetic complaint against Israel as a barren prostitute (9:1-9)

Q3: What recurring themes do you see in vv. 1-9?

Prostitute (1)

Egypt/Bondage (3)

Empty Sacrifices and worship days (4-5)

Fowler’s snare (8)

Punishment of sin (9)

There is an interesting historical reversal here in vs. 6 - Israel is pictured as fleeing destruction just like Ex. 14; but instead in this passage God says they will be overtaken and destroyed by their opponents. The Lord will not fight for them as he did in their history but will instead fight against them by using the hand of Egypt to overcome them and destroy them.

Divine complaint against the fruitlessness of barren Israel (9:10-17)

Hosea, Joel 1. First Series: False Security and False Prosperity (8:1–10:15)

In this text Yahweh declares his dismay at the apostasy of Israel to the Baal of the shrine of Baal Peor and his anger over the sins at Gilgal. Infertility and the death of children dominate this section. This emphasis reflects the Baal cult, a religion that was purported to guarantee fertility for people, their livestock, and their crops alike. This text thus reflects the warnings in 2:4–9, which say that Yahweh would have no pity on Israel’s children and that he would eradicate the agricultural benefits supposedly conferred by Baal. Following 9:1–9, which describes famine conditions, this text goes a step further and foresees not just the ruin of crops but the obliteration of the next generation of Israelites.

Pattern: Sin | Ephraim | Judgment

Occurs twice over in these verses

Teachings from the LORD:

You become like the things you love (v.10)

The promises of false worship can only be fulfilled by true worship

Life and prosperity come from the hand of the Lord alone - when he departs life ceases to be sustained. (v.12, 16)

Even those with the highest potential find ruin if they do not pursue the Lord.

Cain. (v.17)

Prophetic complaint: The Vine and the Bull (10:1-9)

Vine (1-4)

What began as a fruitful vine has turned into a poisonous weed.

Illustrate with Kudzu

Bull (5-8)

The fear, honor, worship and commitment that the Lord deserves were instead offered to images of bulls - the greatest symbol of strength in the Assyrian world. God reveals how shameful this kind of practice is and how his vengeance for his own glory is so terrible that the recipients will wish the mountains to crush them instead of facing the wrath of God.

Divine Complaint: Military Arrogance

Israel trusted in their own might and prowess instead of depending on the Lord for strength. They pursued a misplaced trust and will reap what they sowed. (13)

Vs 12 offers a hopeful close to readers at the end of this first “verse:” sow righteousness and break up the hard soil and you will reap love and the blessing of the Lord.

Conclusion: There is much in the waywardness of man that rightfully produces divine complaint. God was right to be indignant towards the sins of his people. We see in these chapters that creation defies the creator and exerts great effort into the replacement of God. People do not want to surrender to the Lord. Instead, they want to trust in their own strength, depend on their own ideas, look to develop their own wealth, and seek happiness and meaning in their own things. This however is death. Death for the rebels and death for their children.

This rebellion and hard-heartedness is especially vile when it is true of the covenant people of God - that is a reason why God’s judgment is so harsh. They knew better. They had options. The truth was laid bare before them countless times yet they would not surrender.

As the people of God - we must surrender to him. We must forsake all other forms of false worship and acknowledge the Lord as our Creator. We must understand that for those who know the truth and walk away from it; the judgment of God will fall on their lives in one way or another. We must look to our Savior and his Spirit who lives within to protect us against our own fleshly tendencies as we seek to be people who are faithfully committed to the Lord.