(The previous post covered God's explanation for the coming judgment on Israel.)
Hosea 11
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
(God's love towards Israel got them out of Egypt: the Exodus. This verse was also a Messianic prophecy and would be referenced in Matthew 2:15 as being fulfilled when Joseph took Mary and Jesus into Egypt.)
2 The more the prophets called them, the more they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
(The more the prophets would proclaim God's Word to the people, the more the people went away from the prophets and worshipped idols. God helping His people actually led to them rejecting God.)
3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
(God taught His people to walk: to make progress. In the Book of Judges, God's people would only turn to God once they were put in bondage, only to reject God once they had freedom. God had healed/repaired Israel many times but they were not aware of the healing.)
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.
5 They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me.
(The Assyrians did defeat Ephraim (Israel) and took them into captivity: 2 Kings 17.)
6 And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
(The sword (judgment) came upon them because of their own counsels. God's judgment was an effect of their actions.)
7 And my people are bent on backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at all will exalt him.
(The people were bent (indulging) on backsliding from God.)
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together.
(Admah and Zeboiim were cities that were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah.)
9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath.
10 They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west.
11 They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One.
(At the time of this prophecy, Judah had yet to backslide.)
Hosea 12
1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
(Ephraim was continually multiplying in lies and desolation.)
2 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
(God used Jacob as an example of God giving mercy to the repentant.)
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:
(Jacob had power with God.)
4 yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,
(Here it said that Jacob had power over the angel. Jacob made supplication: "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." - Genesis 32:26)
5 even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.
(After the example of Jacob, God gave a call to repentance.)
7 He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.
(Ephraim was deceitful and focused on short term riches. Ephraim was using its physical riches as their measure for not sinning.)
9 But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.
(God spoke to the people through the prophets, with multiple visions, and with similitudes/parables.)
11 Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
(The prophet mentioned here was Moses.)
14 Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
(God was Just.)
Hosea 13
1 When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
(At one time, Ephraim was feared and respected. After he exalted himself, he was dead. Dead in this verse referred to Ephraim having been cut off.)
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
(The idols were made by their own (man's) understanding. When they worshipped the idols they made, they were actually worshipping themselves.)
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.
(Regardless of the sin the Israelites fell in, Jehovah was their God and their Savior.)
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.
(When the Israelites felt that the times were good ("they were filled"), they exalted their hearts (pride) and forgot God.)
7 Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.
9 It is thy destruction, O Israel, that thou art against me, against thy help.
(Israel's sins were the cause of her destruction. God was her only help.)
10 Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11 I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
(The "king" here referred to Saul: 1 Samuel 8.)
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
(Paul referenced this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:55.)
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Jehovah coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.
(Before God redeemed Israel, there would first be judgment.)
16 Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Hosea 14
1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
(Another call to repentance.)
2 Take with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods; for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
(God gave Israel the words she needed to say to God. God was facilitating Israel's confession and repentance.)
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
(When Israel becomes repentant, God will repair them and make them profitable.)
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found.
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.
(The ways of God were Right, and the Just would walk (make progress) in them.)
(The Book of Hosea was the first of the twelve books that made up the minor prophet section of the Old Testament. The prophesies in the Book of Hosea concerned the Jews before the captivity around the same time as the first book of the major prophets section: the Book of Isaiah. The purpose of this book was to illustrate to Israel through the Doctrine of Marriage how Israel needed to choose to repent from their backsliding or suffer the consequences. During the time of this book, Israel was taken into captivity, while Judah was still sovereign.)
Day 265
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