In our study of Hosea chapter eight we will compare proper worship of God with the altars of sin that plagued Israel at the time of the prophet. Throughout the Bible, an altar is a place for man to meet and worship God but, as we shall see, God's people had been corrupted and their worship was not accepted.
Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.
"Put the shofar to your lips! Like a vulture [he swoops down] on the house of ADONAI, because they have violated my covenant and sinned intentionally against my Torah.
As we see in Numbers 10, the trumpet was used to signal the Israelites to gather together. Throughout the Bible, an eagle is the symbol of speed and, through these words, we see that the judgement was almost upon them. The people had broken the contract between them and God that had been given through Moses in the desert. This covenant required the people to be loyal to God alone and to follow His decrees. Their idolatry had directly violated the terms of the deal.
Will they cry out to me, 'We are Isra'el, God, we know you'? Isra'el has thrown away what is good; the enemy will pursue him.
Not only did they reject following the ways of God but they did so even as they were calling on His name. God's covenant was meant to give them guidance into all of the good things of life but, because they rejected His instructions, they were going in the wrong direction. In much the same manner, many today have accepted Jesus Christ but are not walking in His ways.
They make kings, but without my authority; they appoint leaders, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, but these can lead only to their own destruction.
This is speaking of the fact that, after the division of the kingdom, the kings of Israel were not from the line of David. This led to Ahab and his marriage to Jezebel who came from Baal worship. She and Ahab led the people of the northern kingdom (Israel) into idolatry and that is what this verse is talking about. The same type of thing can happen today in the life of a Christian if they choose to marry someone who does not know Jesus Christ.
Your calf, Shomron, has been thrown away; my fury burns against them. How long will it be until they are able to make themselves clean? Here is what Isra'el produces: a craftsman makes something - it's a non-god; the calf of Shomron will be broken to pieces.
This calf-idol is Baal worship and that is how Jezebel and Ahab led Israel astray. We may be quick to say that we do not have golden calves, but we have to ask ourselves is their something else that we have elevated to God's position in our hearts.
For they sow the wind, so they will reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no ears, so it will yield no flour; and if it does yield any, foreigners will swallow it up. Isra'el is swallowed up; now they are among the Goyim like a vessel nobody wants. For they have gone up to Ashur; like a wild donkey, alone by itself, Efrayim has bargained for lovers.
This passage speaks of famine and the enemy that is assigned to carry out God's judgment (Assyria). Israel went to them and tried to buy them off but it did not work. Israel is described as worthless because she has become like the nations that surround her and the same principle applies to us, as Christians, in the world today. We are called to be different and not a part of the world and its ways. Many have taken this to mean withdrawing from the world and that is how many cults have been formed but that is not what it is saying. We are called to be a bright and shining example to the world. In order to do this, we must be different but we must also be visible and not tucked away like some crazy cult.
But even if they bargain among the Goyim, now I will round them up. Soon they will start to feel the burden of these kings and leaders.
The people looked for assistance from other nations instead of from God and so God is going to show them that He is the provider.
For Efrayim keeps building altars for sin; yes, altars are sinful for him. I write him so many things from my Torah, yet he considers them foreign.
The people were worshipping God in man's traditions instead of the way prescribed by God. The same type of thing can happen in our places of worship today. Many gather and do things that directly contradict the Word of God. The practices may be disguised as worship but, in fact, they are sin and God will not accept that kind of worship.
They offer me sacrifices of flesh and eat them, but ADONAI does not accept them. Now he will recall their crimes and punish their sins - they will return to Egypt.
The people were going through their rituals and using words but did not realize that words and rituals could not save them. In fact, rituals become a trap and ultimately lead to slavery. This is a reminder for us that we are saved by the grace of God and not through anything that we have done or will do. We may be quick to judge Israel's actions here but, even in the church today, rituals and traditions can become a trap that causes men to fall from grace.
For Isra'el forgot his maker and built palaces; and Y'hudah made more fortified cities; but I will send fire on his cities, and it will consume their strongholds."
The charge against God's people is simply that they placed their trust in man's efforts instead of God's provision. Men struggle with their desire to do something to earn favor and salvation from God instead of following Him by faith. It was true during the prophet's time and it is just as true today.
Read about what we do with the data we gather and the rules you agree to by using this website in our privacy policy.