1-3 A Call to Repentance
- Let us return to the LORD; he has torn, and he will heal.
- "Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD." Hosea is including himself in this call to repentance. And isn't this a goal for us all -- to "press on to know the LORD."
- God to his nations: What shall I do with you?
- "Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early."
- I have punished my people, "for I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." A common statement, a common theme in the OT.
- Even the priests commit monstrous crimes.
- For you, Judah, a harvest is appointed.
- Amid all their wickedness, they forget that God sees everything.
- They are adulterous, drunkards, treacherous toward their rulers
- Ephraim (Israel?) is weakened by mixing with other people, ignorant, too proud to seek God
- Ephraim is like a dove - silly and without sense, and I will capture them like birds, discipline them, destroy them, for they speak lies against me.
- They use the strength I gave them to follow useless pursuits
1-14 Israel's Apostasy
- Israel cries - My God, we know you - but they spurn the good.
- They make unworthy kings and idols for their own destruction
- "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."
- They are swallowed up by foreign nations.
- In Ephraim, God's instructions are strange things; their sacrifices are not acceptable.
- Israel has forgotten his Maker
- Judah has multiplied fortified cities, and I will send a fire upon them
1-17 Punishment for Israel's Sin
- Do not rejoice, Israel, for you have played the harlot. Ephraim shall return to Egypt; in Assyria you shall eat unclean food.
- Sacrifices will defile, not please God. Bread will be for hunger only.
- The days of punishment have come.
- I found Israel like first fruits, but they consecrated themselves to a thing of shame.
- It would be better for Ephraim to be barren, for now he must lead out his children for slaughter.
- Their evil began at Gilgal; I will love them no more.
1-15 Israel's Sin and Captivity
- Once, Israel prospered, but no more.
- They disrespected the king; they did not fear the LORD; they made empty oaths
- They mourn over the loss of a golden calf
- They shall perish, "say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall on us."
- Once I spared the neck of Ephraim, a fair heifer, but no more.
- Judah must plow: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you."
- You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice.
1 - 12:1 God's Compassion Despite Israel's Ingratitude
- When Israel was a child, I loved him, but he left me.
- I raised Ephraim, taught him to walk, but they are determined to turn away from me.
- I don't want to hand over Israel, I will not destroy Ephraim
- They will return to me, and I will give them back their home.
- Yet - Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and Israel with deceit, but Judah is faithful to the Holy One.
- The LORD's indictment against Judah: In the womb he tried to supplant his brother; he strove with God; he met him at Bethel and spoke with him.
- "Return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God."
- Ephraim became arrogant in his wealth and would admit no sin.
- But God will make him live in tents again, will pay him back for his insults.
1-16 Relentless Judgment on Israel
- Ephraim was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died, but they still keep on sinning, bowing to the work of artisans
- They kiss calves! Therefore they will be like chaff.
- It was I, God, who fed you, yet you became satisfied and forgot me. Therefore, I will fall upon you like a bear robbed of her cubs.
- Where is the king that can save you from me?
- "O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction?"
- Samaria shall bear her guilt..."their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open." (This was done by one of their own - Menaham, in 2 Kings 15:16)
1-3 Plea for Repentance
- Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. This time Hosea does not say "Let us..."
- Ask God to take away your guilt.
- Tell him you know your salvation is not from Assyria.
- He will heal your disloyalty, love you freely.
- You shall live under his shadow, blossom like the vine.
- Conclusion: The ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
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