When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Hosea 7 plunges us into the heart of Israel's spiritual and moral decay. It's a stark portrayal of a nation deeply entrenched in wickedness, oblivious to God's presence and deaf to His call. This chapter serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of unchecked sin and the consequences of turning away from the One who offers true life and security. The keywords Hosea 7 will guide you through this important passage.
Unveiled Wickedness (Hosea 7:1-2)
Hosea doesn't mince words. He reveals that Israel's problem wasn't mere childish misbehavior. It was deep-seated wickedness, a blatant violation of the gracious covenant God had established with them (Hosea 6:7). The rot extended even to the priests, who were implicated in acts of murder (Hosea 6:9). God, in His omniscience and omnipresence, saw it all: rampant promiscuity, deceitful fraud, brazen theft, and violent pillaging (Hosea 6:10; 7:1). Nothing is hidden from a God who sees and knows everything (Hosea 7:2). This should be a sobering reminder that our actions, even those done in secret, are always before His eyes.
Corruption from the Top Down (Hosea 7:3-7)
The disease of sin had infected the entire nation, reaching the highest levels of leadership. The king and princes were not only aware of the evil but actively took pleasure in it (Hosea 7:3). They indulged in adultery, drunkenness, and outbursts of anger (Hosea 7:4-6). This highlights a crucial principle: sin, especially among leaders, has devastating consequences. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us, "When the wicked rule, people groan." The actions of those in power have a ripple effect, influencing and distressing the entire nation. Despite the repeated failures and falls of their kings, none of them sought God's help or guidance (Hosea 7:7). Their pride and self-reliance blinded them to their true need.
A Half-Baked Nation (Hosea 7:8-12)
Hosea uses vivid imagery to illustrate Israel's condition. He compares Ephraim to "unturned bread baked on a griddle" (Hosea 7:8). This speaks of a nation that is only partially developed, burnt on one side but raw on the other. They had become entangled with foreign nations, failing to realize that they were being consumed and corrupted by these alliances (Hosea 7:8-9). Instead of turning to God, they sought security and solutions from foreign powers. Hosea further depicts Ephraim as a "silly, senseless dove" (Hosea 7:11), fluttering between Egypt and Assyria, desperately searching for a safe haven. However, God declares that He will bring them down (Hosea 7:12). True security and peace are not found in earthly alliances but in a relationship with the Lord.
God's Anguish and Israel's Rejection (Hosea 7:13-16)
The chapter concludes with a poignant glimpse into God's heart. We can feel His anguish over His people's rejection: "they fled from me . . . they rebelled against me . . . they do not cry to me from their hearts . . . they plot evil against me" (Hosea 7:13-15). Despite God's training and strengthening them, they turned to pagan rituals, even slashing themselves in desperate pleas for divine help (Hosea 7:14-15; see 1 Kings 18:27-29). While the people looked to idols and foreign nations, they failed to look "to what is above" (Hosea 7:16). This serves as a powerful reminder that seeking counsel and aid from anywhere other than God is ultimately futile. Turning away from the heavenly realm will only lead to downfall and ridicule (Hosea 7:16).
Hosea 7 is a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not following in Israel's footsteps, seeking worldly solutions instead of turning to the One who offers true and lasting security. Let us learn from their mistakes and diligently seek God's face in all aspects of our lives.
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Hosea 7 plunges us into the heart of Israel's spiritual and moral decay. It's a stark portrayal of a nation deeply entrenched in wickedness, oblivious to God's presence and deaf to His call. This chapter serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of unchecked sin and the consequences of turning away from the One who offers true life and security. The keywords Hosea 7 will guide you through this important passage.
Unveiled Wickedness (Hosea 7:1-2)
Hosea doesn't mince words. He reveals that Israel's problem wasn't mere childish misbehavior. It was deep-seated wickedness, a blatant violation of the gracious covenant God had established with them (Hosea 6:7). The rot extended even to the priests, who were implicated in acts of murder (Hosea 6:9). God, in His omniscience and omnipresence, saw it all: rampant promiscuity, deceitful fraud, brazen theft, and violent pillaging (Hosea 6:10; 7:1). Nothing is hidden from a God who sees and knows everything (Hosea 7:2). This should be a sobering reminder that our actions, even those done in secret, are always before His eyes.
Corruption from the Top Down (Hosea 7:3-7)
The disease of sin had infected the entire nation, reaching the highest levels of leadership. The king and princes were not only aware of the evil but actively took pleasure in it (Hosea 7:3). They indulged in adultery, drunkenness, and outbursts of anger (Hosea 7:4-6). This highlights a crucial principle: sin, especially among leaders, has devastating consequences. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us, "When the wicked rule, people groan." The actions of those in power have a ripple effect, influencing and distressing the entire nation. Despite the repeated failures and falls of their kings, none of them sought God's help or guidance (Hosea 7:7). Their pride and self-reliance blinded them to their true need.
A Half-Baked Nation (Hosea 7:8-12)
Hosea uses vivid imagery to illustrate Israel's condition. He compares Ephraim to "unturned bread baked on a griddle" (Hosea 7:8). This speaks of a nation that is only partially developed, burnt on one side but raw on the other. They had become entangled with foreign nations, failing to realize that they were being consumed and corrupted by these alliances (Hosea 7:8-9). Instead of turning to God, they sought security and solutions from foreign powers. Hosea further depicts Ephraim as a "silly, senseless dove" (Hosea 7:11), fluttering between Egypt and Assyria, desperately searching for a safe haven. However, God declares that He will bring them down (Hosea 7:12). True security and peace are not found in earthly alliances but in a relationship with the Lord.
God's Anguish and Israel's Rejection (Hosea 7:13-16)
The chapter concludes with a poignant glimpse into God's heart. We can feel His anguish over His people's rejection: "they fled from me . . . they rebelled against me . . . they do not cry to me from their hearts . . . they plot evil against me" (Hosea 7:13-15). Despite God's training and strengthening them, they turned to pagan rituals, even slashing themselves in desperate pleas for divine help (Hosea 7:14-15; see 1 Kings 18:27-29). While the people looked to idols and foreign nations, they failed to look "to what is above" (Hosea 7:16). This serves as a powerful reminder that seeking counsel and aid from anywhere other than God is ultimately futile. Turning away from the heavenly realm will only lead to downfall and ridicule (Hosea 7:16).
Hosea 7 is a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not following in Israel's footsteps, seeking worldly solutions instead of turning to the One who offers true and lasting security. Let us learn from their mistakes and diligently seek God's face in all aspects of our lives.