CHAPTER 8

Hos 8:1-3 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. 2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

Hosea is to "sound the trumpet," or to WARN the nation. The purpose of the warning is to let Israel know that an "eagle" is about to come and devour them.

To me, the fact that God would use the term "eagle" represents two things: First, the disaster will come by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria who is compared to the eagle; Second, the disaster by ravenous manner.

The REASON for the disaster being sent is that they have "cast off the thing that is good" (See verse 3). They have thrown off the dominion of God, and have thus refused to be used for His purposes in the world.

Is this an appropriate warning to Christians in the world today? Let us follow the study of this chapter and see.

Here is HOW they have "cast off the thing that is good."

4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

They had refused to allow God's choices in leadership by choosing ungodly men as leaders. When God would uproot one corrupt king, they would choose another, rather than seek His guidance.

Have we Christians been involved enough in the choices of leadership in our countries? Are we choosing worldly leaders over godly leaders?

They had refused to worship God alone by setting up "idols" and worshipping them. The very first king of Israel, Jeroboam, set up two golden calves for the specific purpose of keeping the people from going to Jerusalem and worship God only (See 1Kings 12:27-30). Following Jeroboam, other kings set up more idols!

Worship of things other than God is usually precluded by sensual desires. Idols are simply manifestations of men's desires. Are we setting up IDOLS today?

Paul wrote that Christians are "free" from idols because of our salvation in Jesus. Then he said, "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is DEATH." (Romans 6:21)

God was angry with them because of idolatry (verse 5), and He would prove to them that He ONLY is GOD (verse 6).

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

The law of sowing and reaping is that:
1) there is no reaping without sowing,
2) one reaps the same type of thing as one sows,
3) one reaps MORE than he sows.

Israel had sown "wind" when they worshipped idols, now they will reap the "whirlwind" of destruction! They would be "swallowed up" by Assyria, and the labor of their sowing would be lost. The "bud" would "yield no meal," and if it did, "strangers" would "swallow it up."

Ephraim (Israel) had "hired lovers." They had tried to make alliances with strong nations for power. But they would find that sin breeds destruction.

They had erected many altars to idols. God said those altars were of SIN. God had warned them of this, and had made it the FIRST of His commandments.
"3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6)

God shows mercy and pours out grace to those who love Him and live according to His Word. But God will not bless those who believe Him and then worship idols.

Hos 8:12-14 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel had heard from many prophets (vs 12), but they did not listen to God's direction. Instead they had offered the sacrifices due to God on idol altars! And now, if they did make sacrifices and offer to God, He wold not accept them (vs 13). The statement "return to Egypt" means they will be again placed in EXILE!

In verse 14, Hosea says that Israel has "forgotten God." Over the generations, their idol worship had led to a diffusion of the importance of GOD ONLY! Now He had become just another of their idols. He was no longer seen in their eyes as GOD ONLY!

Notice in verse 14, Hosea says that Judah had "multiplied fenced cities." They had built up fortified cities and palaces for themselves. They were showing signs of living in pleasure and relying upon strength rather than relying upon God.

Friends, Christians cannot rely upon SELF. We are totally dependent upon God. When a Christian tries to stand alone, he is showing signs of APOSTASY!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.