In our study of Hosea chapter seven, we look at the idolatry of the northern kingdom of Israel and how a really bad marriage can be the root cause. We will look at the example of Ahab, Jezebel, and the city of Samaria and apply the lessons to our daily walk with Christ.
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when I am ready to heal Isra'el, the crimes of Efrayim confront me, along with the wickedness of Shomron.
In chapter 6, we saw that God offered Israel a new life if they would repent of their sin and turn back to Him. That is what is referred to by "whenever I would heal Israel". Now, we see that they did not as "the sins of Ephraim are exposed". The sins of Ephraim refers to idolatry as that was the tribe that started and spread open idolatry to the tribes of Israel. The phrase "crimes of Samaria" refers to the fact that the city of Samaria had become the capitol of the northern kingdom. This city was built by King Omri whose son, Ahab, married a woman by the name of Jezebel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal who was the king of the Sidonians. The Sidonians were descendants of Canaan who was cursed by God because of his father Ham and what he did to Noah. When Ahab became king, he built an altar to Baal (a pagan god) in the city. We see that this sin of idolatry became "crimes of Samaria".
For they keep practicing deceit; thieves break in, bands of robbers raid outside. They never say to themselves that I remember all their evil. Now their own deeds surround them; they are right in front of me.
We see that Israel had lost the sense of shame that usually accompanies sin. Instead they bring their sin out into the streets for everyone to see and are even proud of it. The people do not see that they are only building up judgment for themselves as God sees and remembers all. This tells us what was going on in the northern kingdom at this time but it seems that it is even more relevant to the world today as we see people (even Christians) openly and even proudly taking part in the sin of the world.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the leaders with their lies.
The leaders of Israel had led the people into sin. We see that the entire government was corrupt in the sight of the Lord as they even sponsored the sin of the people. It seems like that is exactly what is going on in our world today as laws are passed saying that what God calls sin is not sin anymore.
They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker, who doesn't stoke the fire from kneading time till the dough has risen.
This verse gives us the picture of a fire that has been established in the oven and no longer needs tending. Likewise, the idolatry of the Israelites had become established in their hearts.
"On their king's special day the leaders inflame him with wine, and he joins hands with scorners,
Once again, we see that the leaders of the people took part in the sins of the people instead of leading them out of it. We see that they do it all the time including on the holy days. This is the same thing that is happening today as not even a single day of the week is set aside for the things of God anymore.
who ready themselves like an oven while they wait for their chance. Their baker sleeps through the night; then in the morning it bursts into flame.
Even in their sleep, the people are constantly filled with evil thoughts. When they awake in the morning they go right back into their sinful ways.
They are all as hot as an oven, and they devour their judges. All their kings have fallen; not one of them calls out to me.
This verse refers to the fact that the northern kingdom (Israel) never had a good king. The talk of the oven and devouring the rulers brings to mind the story of the soldiers that threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace and died (Daniel 3).
"Efrayim mixes himself with the peoples, Efrayim has become a half-baked cake.
The mixing with the nations speaks of their marrying people that God forbade. This is the same type of thing that Solomon did and it led to the division of God's people (Israel & Judah). If you have ever tried to cook a pancake, you can understand the significance of the second part of the verse. If a pancake is not turned, it will burn on one side and be raw on the other and so not fit to eat. So it is with our worship if we try to worship God and yet practice idolatry.
Foreigners have eaten up his strength, but he doesn't know it; yes, gray hairs appear on him here and there, but he doesn't know it.
This mixing with the nations led them away from God and into idolatry. When they turned their back on God, they lost their strength. This same principle applies to us today as followers of Jesus Christ. If we choose to marry someone who does not know Jesus, it will be difficult and they will probably pull us away from doing all that God has for us. We will have some distance between ourselves and God in our daily lives and this will rob us of much of the power that we have through Him.
The pride of Isra'el testifies in his face, but in spite of all this they haven't returned to ADONAI their God or sought him.
Even as their strength was failing and they could see the effects of their sin, they refused to repent. In their arrogance they said that they were God's people but, in fact, they were not. The same type of thing is happening to many people today as they have a false idea of salvation from attending a place of worship as a child and maybe even being sprinkled with some water at a "church". Through this false teaching comes an arrogance and sinning in the face of God.
Efrayim behaves like a silly, foolish dove - going to Egypt, then to Ashur for help. Even as they go, I will spread my net over them; I will bring them down like birds from the sky; I will discipline them, as their assembly was told.
A dove flies everywhere in search of the food that they need. In the same manner, Israel had been looking to other countries for its sustenance instead of trusting in the Lord. When God brings down the nations that they have put their trust in, they will be brought down as well. This is a good reminder for us, as Christians, that our trust must be in God alone and not our own efforts or the power of others.
Woe to them! for they have strayed from me. Destruction to them! for they have wronged me. Am I supposed to redeem them, when they have spoken lies against me?
Instead of listening to God and His correction, they had turned to these great nations for help. This is much the same as what we see in the world today. God is calling His people to be holy and allowing trials and troubles to refine us but many want to take the easy way out. So, they turn to governments, false religions, and all kinds of other things instead of listening to Him.
They have not cried out to me from their hearts, even though they wail on their beds. They assemble themselves for grain and wine, yet turn away from me. It was I who trained and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.
Instead of looking to God to sustain them, they turned to other nations. His people had forgotten what God had done for them and so, when times got tough, they turned to everyone but God. We see much the same thing in our world today as, even people who say they are Christians, put their hope and trust in government handouts or even secular charitable organizations. In many cases, this occurs because the local body of believers (church) has forgotten what God has done for them and how He has called them to be the source of help for the hurting.
They return, but not upward; they are like an unreliable bow. Their leaders will die by the sword because of their angry talk. They will become a laughingstock in the land of Egypt.
Because of this lack of faith in God, they would be laughed at by the Egyptians.
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