The Hardness of the Heart
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Hosea 10:1-15
Hosea 10:1-15
Israel was a fertile vine
that yielded fruit.
As his fruit multiplied,
he multiplied altars to Baal.
As his land prospered,
they adorned the fertility pillars.
Their heart is slipping;
soon they will be punished for their guilt.
The Lord will break their altars;
he will completely destroy their fertility pillars.
Very soon they will say, “We have no king
since we did not fear the Lord.
But what can a king do for us anyway?”
They utter empty words,
taking false oaths and making empty agreements.
Therefore legal disputes sprout up
like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field.
The inhabitants of Samaria will lament over the calf idol of Beth Aven.
Its people will mourn over it;
its idolatrous priests will wail over it,
because its splendor will be taken from them into exile.
Even the calf idol will be carried to Assyria,
as tribute for the great king.
Ephraim will be disgraced;
Israel will be put to shame because of its wooden idol.
Samaria and its king will be carried off
like a twig on the surface of the waters.
The high places of the “House of Wickedness” will be destroyed;
it is the place where Israel sins.
Thorns and thistles will grow up over its altars.
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
O Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah,
and there you have remained.
Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?
When I please, I will discipline them;
I will gather nations together to attack them,
to bind them in chains for their two sins.
Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain;
I myself put a fine yoke on her neck.
I will harness Ephraim.
Let Judah plow!
Let Jacob break up the unplowed ground for himself!
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap unfailing love.
Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves,
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers deliverance on you.
But you have plowed wickedness;
you have reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of deception.
Because you have depended on your chariots;
you have relied on your many warriors.
The roar of battle will rise against your people;
all your fortresses will be devastated,
just as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
So will it happen to you, O Bethel,
because of your great wickedness!
When that day dawns,
the king of Israel will be destroyed.
Context:
Context:
Improper worship is running rampant throughout the land of Israel. The first and the Greatest Commandment is being broken. Not only is it being broken, but it is being thrown into the face of God. The very people and nation that God made a covenant with is no longer holding up their end of the covenant.
There is no room for God and other gods. There is no room for God and self. God despises the false teachings, and those who follow them. It is an abomination to God. He despises the deceitful heart, those who fail to keep their word, and the institutions that teach false religion and attitude that rebels against the established order of God.
Content:
Content:
Like every true prophet, Hosea’s job is to call the people to repentance. The concept of turn or burn. Hosea points out these decisions that the Nation of Israel is making. God is not found an any of these decisions. Where is God? The people were no longer serving God, loving God, or even making God known. They have completely abandoned God.
Intent:
Intent:
The intention of this passage is to warn. Warn the Nation of Israel that destruction is about to occur. Warn the Nation of Israel that God sees all, knows all, and judges all. This same warning is for us, that if we continue promoting the same ideas, concepts, and follow the same beliefs that the Nation of Israel did, our fate will be the same.
Circumstance:
Circumstance:
The Nation of Israel is experiencing a very prosperous time. Their vine is filled with all types of fruit, their economy is great, but instead of praising God, they have decided to praise self, baal, and the gods of their neighbors. They have become narcissistic, and self-centered. Their Nation has failed to recognize the fundamental truth of God, and His sovereignty.
Situation:
Situation:
The freewill of mankind is on display. The Nation of Israel has chosen other gods over the one true and living God. They have added to their worship, decided to make their own allegiances without the consent of God, and are living a life style that is direct defiance to the God who created them.
Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap
The parallel of our time to this passage is frightening. The Church has replaced true worship of God with our own make shift concept of worship. We have chosen to worship self, and our creations. We focus on what God is doing for us, and fail to see that not worshipping God will result in shame and death. God is preparing this earth for His second return. Look around, the pattern is this: lost of politics, land, military strength, identity, freedom, and their God.