HOSEA: LOOKING BEYOND JUDGMENT TO RESTORATION

XII: God's Naming Of Israel's Rebellious Sins

(Hosea 8:1-14)

I. Introduction

A. God's punishment is very painful, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, Hebrews 12:11.

B. This was the theme of Hosea, the "'death-bed prophet of Israel'" and the last prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel before it fell to Assyria in divine judgment. (ESV Introduction to Hosea)

C. Hosea 8:1-14 describes God's naming of Israel's rebellious sins in her turning away from Him, so we view it for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. God's Naming Of Israel's Rebellious Sins, Hosea 8:1-14.

A. Hosea announced the need to blow the trumpet, warning that Assyria was about to swoop down over the temple of the Lord literally as a "vulture," ready to eat the flesh of the slain, a picture of Assyria's taking personal advantage of its slaying of many Hebrews, Hos. 8:1a; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Hos. 8:1.

B. The reason for this impending judgment of God by means of an Assyrian invasion was Israel's transgression of the Mosaic Covenant in her rebellion against God's Law, Hosea 8:2. It fulfilled Deuteronomy 28:15, 49-57.

C. From Israel's perspective, she would cry out to God, saying, "O our God, we acknowledge you!" while simultaneously rejecting what is good in contrast to her claim of being devoted to the Lord, Hosea 8:3a. For that reason, the enemy Assyrians would pursue the people of Israel in the invasion, Hosea 8:3b.

D. In Hosea 8:4-14, God listed five examples of Israel's rebellion, Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1397:

1. Israel had appointed kings and other leaders without consulting the Lord, Hosea 8:4a. This violated the Law at Deuteronomy 17:15a where God directed Israel to set up only the men He had chosen to be king.

2. Israel had made idols for herself, Hosea 8:4b-7. This violated Exodus 20:1-6 of the Ten Commandments, and the Lord explained the depth of Israel's rebellion on this issue in Hosea 8:5-7 (as follows):

a. God spurned the golden calf that was placed in both Dan and Bethel, Hosea 8:5a; 1 Kings 12:25-33.

b. Since the nation persisted in this wickedness, God's anger against Israel also persisted, Hosea 8:5b.

c. The golden calf was made by a craftsman in Israel, so it was no god, and would be broken to pieces, v. 6.

d. Thus, all Israel's efforts for self-preservation would result in self-destruction, for she had figuratively sown the wind, so she would reap the whirlwind: the standing grain had no heads, so it would yield no flour, and were it to yield any flour, foreigners would come and devour it in divine judgment, Hosea 8:7.

3. Israel's seeking alliances with foreign nations for security robbed the nation of its strength and identity as God's people, and that to her own loss of blessing due to financial costs of paying tribute to foreigners and God's resulting judgment, Hosea 8:8-10. This activity violated Deuteronomy 17:15b-16 where God directed Israel not to set foreign rulers over the nation nor to return to Egypt for help, but instead to trust the Lord and put only Hebrew kings in power who obeyed and trusted in the Lord.

4. Israel practiced "hypocritical ritualism" in violation of Scripture, B. K. C., O. T., p. 1397, Hosea 8:11-13:

a. She built many altars for sin offerings, but those altars became for her altars for sinning, for though offering these sacrifices, the people regarded God's commands as something foreign, not heeding them, Hosea 8:11-12 NIV. This violated God's Deuteronomy 28:1 call that Israel heed Scripture for blessing.

b. Thus, offering sin offerings while sinning only left God still displeased with the nation so that He would only remember her sins and punish her for them. He would send her back into captivity akin to what occurred in the Egyptian bondage, but this time in Assyria, Hos. 8:13 NIV; Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to Hos. 8:13.

5. Israel had become self-sufficient in her thinking, building palaces and fortified cities for self-defense instead of trusting the Lord (Hosea 8:14a). This action violated the spirit of Deuteronomy 17:16 where Israel's king was not to multiply horses to himself so as to trust in them, but to rely on God for the nation's defense. Accordingly, the Lord would destroy this false crutch, this idol of self-sufficiency, causing the fortified cities and strongholds to be destroyed by fire through the invasion of the Assyrians, Hosea 8:14b.

Lesson: In rebellion against the Lord and His Word, Israel chose leaders without consulting God, she made idols, she relied on foreign nations instead of God for security, she was hypocritically ritualistic in worship and she became self-sufficient instead of relying on the Lord. God would punish Israel by way of the Assyrian invasion.

Application: May we not rebel against God by choosing a leader without His guidance, by making idols, by relying on people and not God, by turning hypocritically ritualistic or by relying on ourselves instead of God.