Hosea 7
LORD is omniscient regarding Israel’s sin verse 1- 2
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 comes in
and the troop of robbers spoils 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
People plot sin against each other and God verse 3- 7
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 ceases 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
WHILE they lie in wait
their baker sleeps all the night
in the morning it burns 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 calls o ME
Israel is full of false gods verse 8- 10
Ephraim – he has mixed himself among the people
Ephraim is a cake not turned
strangers have devoured his strength
and he knows it not
YEA – gray hairs are here and there upon him
YET he knows not
And the pride of Israel testifies to his face
and they do not return to the LORD their God
nor seek HIM for all this
Israel looks to other nations for help verse 11- 12
Ephraim 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 has heard
Total rebellion described verse 13- 16
WOE to 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 to ME
with their heart
WHEN they howled upon their beds
they assemble themselves for corn and wine
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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own doings have beset them; they are before My face. (4141 “beset” [muwcab] means encompassing, surrounding, to go in a circle, surround, or encircle.)
DEVOTION: I tell people I have a good memory it is just short. I try to remember some things and others I consider non-essential information. The problem is that as I get younger there are more things that I should remember but don’t. I put things down on paper but then I don’t look at the paper for a long time or I forget where I put the paper. I know that others don’t struggle with being overloaded at times but I seem to.
Now we come to other people and the memory of the LORD. The LORD has a good memory or in fact, a perfect memory. HE remembers everything. HE sometimes puts things aside like the sins of those who are genuine followers of HIS. HE buries them in the deepest sea. HE removes them as far as the east from the west.
However, those who are unrepentant fall into another category. HE sees all their sins and remembers them. They think HE will forget their sins but that only means that they don’t really know the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Our sins are either hidden behind the blood of Jesus Christ or they are before the eyes of the LORD. Which place do you think is better? Keep short accounts with the LORD!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. (6601 “silly” [pathah] means to be simple, be inexpert, be gullible, being naïve or lacking mental capacity and subtlety, or be inexperienced.)
DEVOTION: I have always liked to look at birds. I have visited many zoos and other places to see the animals but I am amazed at the variety of birds that we have in our world. I was in the airport in Baltimore and they have a board with birds from all over the world. Some I have never seen before. They have so much color and uniqueness.
Here we have a bird described as silly. For some reason these birds are also described as witless. I know that the dove returned to the ark because it had no place to land. So it has some smarts.
But God is describing those who claim to be HIS follower or at least relatives of those who had followed the LORD in the past. Now there was a generation that just couldn’t seem to get their act together to follow the LORD. They were going in all directions to get help but the LORD.
We are seeing a generation of children that seem to be going around in circles trying to make heads or tails about their world. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to where to look for help.
Parents are not teaching their children which direction to look for help. This causes children to be silly and witless. The LORD is the only real source of help to face everything children will face in life. Parents train your children right!
CHALLENGE: It is time to stop being naïve and look to the LORD for guidance.
We will not find it in human government or other nations.
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: 13 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. (3577 “lies” [kazab] means falsehood, deceitful, untruth, deceptive thing, or leasing.
DEVOTION: Have you ever run in the wrong direction? There are videos of individuals on sports teams that score point for the other team because they were headed in the wrong direction. They thought they were doing good but discovered that they had scored for the wrong team.
Here we have the children of Israel running away from the LORD instead of toward HIM. They thought they were getting away from God. They didn’t like HIS commandments. They thought that if they went the other way they were free of HIS rules. They were wrong.
They also thought that they could hide their sins from the LORD but again they were wrong. HE was the only one who could redeem them from their sin. HE was the only one who could bless them.
Not only were they going in the wrong direction but while on their trip they were telling deceptive things about the LORD. They were claiming falsehoods regarding HIM and HIS relationship with them.
God doesn’t like people to spread falsehoods against HIM. The Pharisees did it in the New Testament when they claimed that their rules were God’s rules and their lifestyle was what God expected of all followers of God. Christ said that they made their disciples twofold more the children of hell them themselves.
CHALLENGE: Evaluate what direction you are headed and what you are teaching about the LORD while on that course.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. (7451 “mischief” [ra’] means trouble, bad, no good, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, evil, displeasing, unkind, or wicked)
DEVOTION: Here we have the leaders of God’s people laughing at the fact that the people are breaking the laws of God. They are glad that God’s laws are being broken. God sees all that they are doing. They are right in HIS face. They are drinking themselves drunk. They are putting the LORD down. They are not praying. They don’t care to even return to the LORD. They look to other nations for help instead of the LORD.
What does the LORD promise? Chastening!! HE had redeemed them but they spoke lies about HIM. They are lying about the ONE who gives them everything.
The children of Israel had gotten to the point that they wanted to do something bad to God. They only had unpleasant thoughts regarding HIM. HE had strengthened them but they turned against HIM. HE had encouraged them but they didn’t care. HE had chastised them but they didn’t listen. HE had repaired them when they needed help. They only had evil things to say about HIM. Their every thought was to imagine unpleasant things about HIM.
When we are going through a rough time we want to blame someone. The person they blamed was God. When we go through rough times we can either get bitter or better. They got bitter toward the LORD. They wouldn’t even pray for help. How about us? Are we willing to follow their example or turn to the LORD for help during our rough times? Are we turning to the world for help like Israel turning to Egypt or Assyria? Israel was judged for their sin. Nine different sins are mentioned in this chapter. Are we willing to turn from our sin to the LORD? Are we thankful for the instruction and encouragement that the LORD gives us each day????
CHALLENGE: The LORD is the one who is training us and strengthening us for service to HIM. HE is doing this on a daily basis. Israel didn’t appreciate HIS training, do we?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Israel doesn’t pray to LORD verse 7, 14
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Omniscience – Remembers all verse 2
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 10
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 10
LORD their God verse 10
Most High verse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 10
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Strangers verse 9
Egypt verse 11, 16
Assyria verse 11
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Iniquity verse 1
Wickedness verse 1- 3
Falsehood verse 1
Robbers verse 1
Lies verse 3, 13
Adulterers verse 4
Wine verse 5
Scorners verse 5
Lie in wait verse 6
Devoured their judges verse 7
None that call on the LORD verse 7
Pride verse 10
Not return to the LORD verse 10
Not seek the LORD verse 10, 14
Transgressed verse 13
Rebel verse 14
Mischief verse 15
Deceitful verse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Healing verse 1
Call on the LORD verse 7
Return verse 10
Seek the LORD verse 10, 14
Chastened verse 12
Redeemed verse 13
Strength verse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israel verse 1, 10, 11
Ephraim verse 1, 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
7:11–12 Hosea abruptly changes the operative metaphor from a cake to a dove. Here, the point is not that the leaders neglect their duty, but that they are frantic to find help. Perhaps the one, a desperate search for aid, arises from the other, failure to do one’s duty in the first place. The dove here is probably a homing pigeon, but it is an especially stupid one, since it cannot find its way home. In the metaphor Yahweh is the home to which it should fly. It is probably unwise to try to isolate one specific historical incident as the occasion for this charge (e.g., 2 Kgs 17:4); Hosea here speaks of the habitual behavior of Israel’s leadership.215 When Yahweh declares that he will snare the bird, the point is that he will frustrate Israel’s attempts to find outside help (cf. 2:6–7) and put an end to their freedom by making them captives.
The last line, “When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them,” is more literally translated, “I will discipline them when a report (comes) to their assembly.” The NIV rendering is an imaginative attempt to tie this line to the fowler imagery, but it is difficult to justify. A number of scholars emend the text.217 As McComiskey has demonstrated, however, the text is best left as is. The “report” that is to come to the assembly is probably a report of a diplomatic failure in negotiations with a foreign power. (Garrett, D. A. (1997). Hosea, Joel (Vol. 19A, p. 171). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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11 Hosea compared the people to “doves,” which are proverbial for their naivete (cf. Matt 10:16). As doves, “easily deceived and senseless,” may be lured by food into snares, so Israel was lured by both Egypt and Assyria as sources of assistance, only to be entrapped by them—especially by Assyria, which ultimately brought her down. (Wood, L. J. (1986). Hosea. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 198–199). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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viii. Judgment simile of the senseless dove (7:11–12). Though the figure changes, from culinary language to that of ornithology and hunting, the message remains the same: Ephraim’s stupidity in banking on foreign relations for security and stability. The ambivalence that sent them flitting from Mesopotamia to the Nile in search of an ally could only be called ‘scatter-brained’, whether from fear, gullibility (the Heb. pth, translated silly, means readily seduced; cf. on 2:14) or both (for foolish of heart, see Deut. 11:16). Without sense is literally ‘without heart’, i.e. without power and judgment to make sound choices, readily influenced by irrational factors (cf. on heart at 4:11). Their calling to Egypt stands in contrast to their failure to call on God (v. 7), while their journeying (going) to Assyria has prevented them from returning to him (v. 10). Wolff (p. 127) argues for the Syro-Ephraimite setting for these verses and dates their message at 733 bc (see Additional note on ‘Possible historical backgrounds’, p. 127).
The picture of inedible food (vv. 8–9), suggested a judgment that was a matter of cause and effect: stupid conduct brought dire results (cf. Gal. 6:7). In verse 12, however, Yahweh, speaking personally as in verse 7, threatens his direct intervention. If Ephraim will be the dove, Yahweh will be the crafty hunter. If Ephraim will make treaty with the nations, so declares the Lord, ‘I will chastise them according to the report of their treaties’ (see Andersen’s translations, p. 461).
The last line of verse 12 probably gives the literal explanation of the hunting metaphor, though its precise meaning is puzzling. Many commentators (with Wolff, p. 107) emend the last word to ‘their evils’ (Heb. rā‘ātām for mt ‘adātām) and read the verb as chastise or ‘discipline’ (Heb. ysr; cf. 5:2). This understanding makes the line convey a general threat, picks up the word evils that was predominant earlier (vv. 1, 2, 3), and repeats the emphasis on judgment as discipline from 5:2. Andersen’s interpretation (p. 471) features the treaty-making context suggested by 5:13 and 7:11. Reading ‘their covenant’ for mt’s ‘their congregation’ (Heb. ‘ēdûtām from ‘wd for ‘adātām from y‘d), he stresses that Ephraim’s rebellion against God took the specific form of treaty-making with the nations, a crime directly condemned in 12:1, where Hosea returned to the theme that dominates 7:8–16. (Hubbard, D. A. (1989). Hosea: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 24, pp. 149–150). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)
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7:11. In her efforts to arrange foreign alliances, Israel could be compared to a dove, which exhibits little sense (cf. comments on 11:11). Under Menahem (ca. 743 or 738 b.c.) Israel submitted to Assyrian suzerainty (2 Kings 15:19–20). Pekah (ca. 734 b.c.) joined a coalition against Assyria, which Tiglath-Pileser III violently crushed (2 Kings 15:29). Hoshea (ca. 732-722 b.c.), after acknowledging Assyrian rulership for a time, stopped tribute payments and sought an alliance with Egypt (2 Kings 17:3–4a). This act of rebellion led to the destruction of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 17:4b–6), the inevitable result of a foreign policy which for 20 years had been characterized by vacillating and expedient measures. (Chisholm, R. B., Jr. (1985). Hosea. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1395). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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7:11, 12 Like a dove, reputed to lack good sense (cf. Mt 10:16), so Israel had sought assistance from Egypt and Assyria, rather than from the Lord, who would ultimately trap her (cf. 8:9, 10). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ho 7:11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ephraim, like a silly dove, without affection for Him that had carried them in His bosom, had turned to Egypt, then to Assyria, for help when the hour of trial came. But the Lord loved them too much to permit them to find anything stable in what spoke of the world and its vain pomp and show. So He would spread His net upon them, like one taking a bird in a snare. He cannot allow those who are in covenant-relationship with Him to go on in their own way for long (vers. 11, 12). (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (p. 58). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 11. Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart, &c.] Or understanding; which comes and picks up the corns of grain, which lie scattered about, and does not know that the net is spread for it; and when its young are taken away, it is unconcerned, and continues its nest in the same place still; and, when frightened, repairs not to its dove house, where it would be safe, but flies about here and there, and so becomes a prey to others. Thus Ephraim, going to Egypt and Assyria for help, were ensnared by them, not having sense enough to perceive that this would be their ruin; and though they had heretofore suffered by them, yet still they continued to make their addresses to them; and instead of keeping close to the Lord, and to his worship and the place of it, and asking counsel and help of him they ran about and sought for it here and there: they call to Egypt; that is, for help; as Hoshea king of Israel, when he sent messengers to So or Sabaton king of Egypt, for protection and assistance, 2 Kings 17:4. Such a foolish part, like the silly doves, did they act; since the Egyptians had been their implacable enemies, and their fathers had been in cruel bondage under them: they go to Assyria; send gifts and presents, and pay tribute to the kings thereof, to make them easy; as Menahem did to Pul, and Hoshea to Salmaneser, 2 Kings 15:19 and 17:3. Some understand this last clause, not of their sin in going to the Assyrian for help; but of their punishment in going or being carried captive thither; and so the Targum seems to interpret it, “they go captive, or are carried captive, into Assyria.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 413). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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In verse four, a most significant picture is presented for our contemplation. “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.” The leaven of unrighteousness had long since been secretly working in the nation, but now was energetically and openly corrupting the whole. Satan’s effort had been only too successful. Idolatry having been early introduced, and never thoroughly judged, had permeated the entire nation. To this passage the apostle Paul doubtless would have directed the minds of the Corinthian saints when he wrote, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” Upon the Galatians he also pressed the same serious principle (1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9). (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 51–52). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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In Christendom we see the same thing. The Lord Jesus told of a woman who hid leaven in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. Be it noted: there is no such thing as the “leaven of the gospel.” Of the leaven of the Pharisees, of the Sadducees and of the Herodians we are warned. They seem to speak of hypocrisy, false teaching and worldliness. The leaven of malice and wickedness we are told of in 1 Cor. 5; but of the leaven of grace there is not a hint in the sacred writings. Consequently we infer that just as, in Israel, the leaven of idolatry was introduced when they made the calf in the wilderness, and, being never fully judged, worked on till it had permeated the whole nation; so, early in the Church’s history, did a woman, the false church, insert the leaven of error into the food of the people of God, which has never since been put away, but is rapidly leavening the whole lump: it is identical with the mystery of iniquity of which the Holy Ghost warns us in the second chapter of the second epistle to the Thessalonians, which will soon be headed up in Babylon the Great and the Antichrist*. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 52–53). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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In fact, doctrine is the root of all practice; and our experience will prove a very faulty one if it be not the result of a knowledge of the mind of God as revealed in His Word. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (p. 55). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ephraim, like a silly dove, without affection for Him that had carried them in His bosom, had turned to Egypt, then to Assyria, for help when the hour of trial came. But the Lord loved them too much to permit them to find anything stable in what spoke of the world and its vain pomp and show. So He would spread His net upon them, like one taking a bird in a snare. He cannot allow those who are in covenant-relationship with Him to go on in their own way for long (vers. 11, 12). (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (p. 58). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
Although Paul suffered imprisonment because of the gospel, he reminded the Philippians that this had resulted in the greater spread of the gospel. Paul is picturesque: “Progress: views an army of woodcutters cutting a road through an impenetrable forest (Kenneth Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament). Paul had blazed a trail for the gospel in the royal courts of Rome! The praetorian guard, special Roman soldiers, now heard the gospel. Since Paul was chained to a guard twenty-four hours a day, they heard his prayers, conversations with other Christians, letters dictated …. God used these events to spread the good news! Perhaps we ought to consider our unusual paths as being God-ordained for the spread of the gospel. (September 27, Living The New Testament by Paul Enns)
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The original decree is found, and permission is given to complete the temple restoration.
INSIGHT
It is often darkest before the dawn. Just as it looks as if the work on the temple is going to be stopped, the Lord turns the situation around. Not only is permission given to complete the temple, but those who had tried to stop the work are required to finance the remainder of the restoration! Worrying does little to further the work of God; He is quite capable of accomplishing His work. Our work is trust, obedience, and faithfulness to our responsibilities. (Quiet Walk)
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AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT TEACHING
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Matthew 6:31
The gospel seems to come as a challenge to us and as a condemnation of what we have habitually believed. Our Lord puts it like this. He says in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” And then in verse 32, “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.” Now we must remember that He was preaching to Jews, to people who had received their Old Testament Scriptures, who regarded themselves as the people of God, and who were concerned about God and about righteousness. And the division of the ancient world to them, was, of course, Jews and Gentiles–those who had received this religion and those who had not.
And that is an equally appropriate classification in our day and age and generation. “The Gentiles” are those who do not know the revelation; they are people who trust to their own thoughts and their own ideas, who live as if God has never been pleased to reveal anything at all concerning Himself. So the division is as appropriate now as it ever has been; and the point I am making is that our Lord emphasizes the great fact that what He teaches is altogether different from everything that has ever been thought by man or conjured up in man’s mind or imagination.
This, again, is a very important preliminary point that we must never lose sight of. The Christian position, the Christian way of life, is not only slightly different from every other…it is essentially different; it is something that stands out alone and unique and apart.
A Thought to Ponder: The Christian position stands out alone and unique and apart.
(From The Kingdom of God, pp. 28-29, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Nature of Our Calling
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
Our “calling” (Greek klesis) to follow Christ was not a matter of human decision, and certainly not one based on human works, for it was issued in Christ before He had even created us. In some inscrutable way, we were a part of His eternal purpose, and it was altogether by His grace. We were “chosen . . . before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).
Our calling is therefore a most “holy calling,” that is, a sacred calling to be consecrated and separated unto God.
It is, moreover, a “heavenly calling,” one originated in heaven, by our heavenly Father, centered in His divine will and purpose. In the Father’s sight, in Christ Jesus, we are nothing less than “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1).
We should therefore be able to say with Paul: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The high calling is not quite the same as the holy calling or the heavenlycalling, though all are components of one great whole.
The word translated “high” is only so translated this one time. It is the usual word for “up” or “above.” Thus, the prize toward which we press is the “up calling.” It is the same word as in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where we are promised that one day all who are in Christ Jesus, dead or living, will be “caught up together,” thereafter to “ever be with the Lord.”
He has called us before the world began, He is calling us daily to a heavenly walk with the Lord, and He will call us up to His eternal presence someday soon.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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THE RIGHT ATTITUDES
Gentleness, like one who is tenderly seeking to heal a broken bone.
Humility; aware that we are capable of doing exactly what the offender has done and that we may have even contributed to the offense.
Introspection, searching our own heart for self-serving motives and recognizing that the human heart is impulsive and deceitful. (Remember that the process of reconciliation is a profoundly spiritual exercise, requiring prayer.)
Love, seeking the best for the relationship and avoiding gossip that would damage the other person (even if the potentially damaging statements are true). (p. 142,WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WRONGED – Moving From Bitterness to FORGIVENESS by Erwin W. Lutzer)
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