Scripture: Hosea 8:1–14
Israel to Reap the Whirlwind
8 “Put the trumpet to your lips!
An eagle is over the house of the Lord
because the people have broken my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
2 Israel cries out to me,
‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3 But Israel has rejected what is good;
an enemy will pursue him.
4 They set up kings without my consent;
they choose princes without my approval.
With their silver and gold
they make idols for themselves
to their own destruction.
5 Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?
6 They are from Israel!
This calf—a metalworker has made it;
it is not God.
It will be broken in pieces,
that calf of Samaria.
7 “They sow the wind
and reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no head;
it will produce no flour.
Were it to yield grain,
foreigners would swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
now she is among the nations
like something no one wants.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria
like a wild donkey wandering alone.
Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.
10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,
I will now gather them together.
They will begin to waste away
under the oppression of the mighty king.
11 “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
these have become altars for sinning.
12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,
but they regarded them as something foreign.
13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,
and though they eat the meat,
the Lord is not pleased with them.
Now he will remember their wickedness
and punish their sins:
They will return to Egypt.
14 Israel has forgotten their Maker
and built palaces;
Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire on their cities
that will consume their fortresses.”
Observation:
“ I wrote for them the many things of my law,
but they regarded them as something foreign.” (Hosea 8:12)
Application:
Hosea warns the people of Israel and Judah that they need to repent and return to the teachings of God. We like Israel and Judah often ignore God’s word as though it were foreign and strange. We need to repent and return to our Lord’s teachings. We need to incorporate the Lord’s teachings into our hearts and lives. We need not to build altars to the gods we make for ourselves, for they are not gods and they can not help us. Repent and return to the Lord’s ways and ordinances for God alone is God and there is no other..
Prayer:
Lord God, forgive us of our waywardness. Help us to embrace your instructions for our lives. Help us to repent of any sin in our hearts and minds and help us to return to your ways, for you alone are God and ther is no other. Bless us to be your people who love you, listen to you, and bring you joy. Amen.