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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson16,Chapter9
Soasnottogetlostintheforest,notseeingbecauseofthetrees,weneedto
gatherourselvesinthestudyofHoseaandremembersomethingfoundational.It
isthatwhatwearereadingaboutand(hopefully)learningfrom,isentirelyan
outcroppingofGod’simmutableprinciplessetinstonebeforethepillarsofthe
worldwereestablished.Certainly,whileHosea’sprophecyaddressesaspecific
condemnationoftheNorthernKingdomfortheiridolatrythatoccursinthe8
th
centuryB.C.,butwithahopeforafuturerestoration,itshowsuswhatidolatry
actuallyisonbothanearthly,fleshlylevel,andalsoonaspirituallevel.Itshows
usthatidolatrynotonlyexistsamongpagans,itcananddoesexistamongGod’s
setapartpeople(oftenwithoutanyactualawarenessofit).Weseethatidolatry,
firstandforemost,comesfromanunfaithfulnessofGod’speopleexpressedin
boththoughtsandactions,stemmingfromanignoranceof,ordisobedienceto,
Hiscommandsandlaws.Thus,carvinglittlewoodenimagesandsettingupcult
worshipsitesarebutexamplesofidolatry,notthefullscopeofitsdefinition.We
alsoseehowGod’slongsufferingpatiencewiththepeopleHelovesmosthasa
limit.Further,whathappenswhenthatlimitisexceeded.Perhapsevenmore
frighteningisthatacceptancebyGodofourrepentance,afteralongtimeof
sinning,mustneverbetakenasagiven.Infact,evenifinonesenseGoddoes
acceptit,thatinnowaymeansthatdireandtangibleconsequencesforour
crimesagainstHimwillbepardonedoraverted.
WhenwereadHosea,(whenproperlytranslatedandinterpretedinitshistorical
context),itisn’thardtoapplysomuchofthesadpicturethatisbeingpainted
aboutIsraeltoourmodern21
st
centuryworld(especiallythedevelopedWestern
world),andinsomecasestotheChurch.Evenso,thebiggerpicturethatismuch
morethansimilarityofcircumstanceisthatwearegettingamuch-needed
glimpseintothemindofTheFatherabouthowHeprocessesandreactstothe
badbehaviorofthosewhoinsisttheyareloyaltoHim.Hedoesn’twinkatsinone
time,andthenreactharshlythenext.Hisjusticeisfairandevenhanded.He
providesgenerousadvancednoticeandwarning.Neitherculturenortimein
historymattersbecauseYehovehneverchangesthroughtheages.Therefore,it
isimportantforustowatchandidentifytheGod-patternsastheyarerevealed
andplayedout;thesethingsdon’temergeonlyinspecificmomentsinhistory
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likemarkersplacedalongatimeline,onlytolaterretreatandsubsideor,as
somedoctrinalbeliefserroneouslyclaim,theydisappearaltogetherreplaced
withawholenewtypeofjusticeadministration.
OpenyourBiblestoHoseachapter9.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER9:7–end
Weconcludedlastweekwithverse6.Thefirstseveralversesofchapter9arethe
announcementthatfarfromdivinepunishmentbeingadistantfuturepossibility
forIsrael,thefirststagesofithavealreadybegun.Alreadycropfailuresare
appearing,andIsraelfeelsthepressureofenemiesbearingdownonthemfrom
boththenorthandsouth.Theirreactiontothesediscomfortsandinsecuritiesis
todouble-downontheirsacrificestotheBaalsinhopesofseeingreturned
prosperity.WereadofIsrael’sgovernmentrunningaroundtryingtoformunwise
allianceswithEgyptorAssyria…whicheverwillhavethem…fornational
self-protection.Yehovehmocksthesefeebleattemptsbecausenotonlyarethey
preciselythewrongthingstodo,onlyincreasingtheirsin,theyalsoareuseless
becausenothingcandeterwhatGodhasalreadydeterminedistohappen.
Therefore,verse7begins:
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Hosea9:7Thedaysofpunishmenthavecome,thedaysofretributionare
here,andIsra'elknowsit.
Inadditiontomakingitclearthatthepunishmentsarealreadyunderway,itis
alsostatedthatIsraelisawareofit.But,whatIsrael“knows”isnotwhatthey
actuallybelieve.Theyknow…theyhavebeentold…becauseHoseahastoldthem.
Historicallyspeaking,thiswaslikelywrittenduring,andreferringto,atimeof
respitefromtheirenemiesforIsraelthattookplacebetween748and733B.C.In
otherwords,attacksbyJudahonIsrael’sterritorytotheirsouth,andincursions
intotheirnorthernterritorybyAssyria,taperedoffduringperhapsa10yearor
soperiodoftimesuchthatEphraim/Israelthoughtthattheworstwasoverand
areturntonormalitywasunderway.Thislullinfightinggavethemafalsehope,
whichmadetheminclinedtodismissthedoomsdaymessagebroughttothemby
Hosea.Centuriesearlier,Moseshadspokenthefollowingpropheticwords:
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Deuteronomy31:28-29
28
Assembleformealltheleadersofyourtribesand
yourofficials,sothatIcansaythesethingsintheirhearing,callingheavenand
earthtowitnessagainstthem-
29
becauseIknowthataftermydeathyouwill
becomeverycorruptandturnasidefromthewaythatIhaveorderedyou,and
thatdisasterwillcomeuponyouintheacharit-hayamim,becauseyouwilldo
whatADONAIseesasevilandprovokehimbyyourdeeds."
Nodoubt,Israelhadeitherdismissedthesewordsashavingnoapplicationto
them,ortheyhadstrayedsofarfromtheirHebrewbiblicalfaithforsolongthat
theynolongerrememberedthem.Andsonow,aswasMoses’warningignored,
Hosea’sisthoughttobenothingbutfoolishness.Thelasthalfofverse7says:
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Hosea9:7…[yettheycry,]"Theprophetisafool,themanofthespirithas
gonecrazy!"Becauseyouriniquityissogreat,thehostility[againstyou]is
great.
TheprophetthisspeaksofisHosea.Whatwearereadingaboutisaveryrare
instanceinHoseaofexposingwhatthepeopleofIsraelareactuallysayingabout
whatitisthattheyhavebeentoldbyGod’sprophet.Becauseofanextended
periodofrelativepeace,thepeopleandleadersofIsraelsay“thisprophetisa
fool”.Theterm“manofthespirit”isactuallyaderogatoryepithetthatarose
whentheIsraeliteprophetcolonies(theNevi’im)wereestablished.These
Nevi’imwentintotrances,spokeecstatically,playedinstruments,andbehaved
inweirdwaysthatatfirstwerethoughttoidentifythemasespeciallychosenholy
menwhowereacting“inthespirit”,butlaterweremorethoughttobekooks.So,
Hoseawasmoreorlesslumpedinwiththatgroup.Bigmistake.Israel
determinedthatHosea’swordscouldn’tbetakenseriously,andthecurrent
improvementoftheireconomyandlackofwarconfirmeditforthem.
TheHebrewwordmeshugaisactuallyusedtodescribethepeoples’opinionof
Hosea;itmeanscrazy.Itreferstoapersonwhohaslostallgriponreality.Tosay
Israeldidn’tbelieveHoseaistoputitmildly.Godrespondstothisatrocityby
saying:Becauseyouriniquityissogreat,thehostility[againstyou]isgreat.That
is,becauseyou(Israel)aresuchgreatsinners,thenthehostilityagainstyou
(Hosea)bythemisallthegreater.ThemorehardenedtheirmindstoGod’struth
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theybecome,themoretheydemonizeandvilifythetruth-tellers.Theydon’t
wanttohearhim…theydon’ttohearwhattheydon’twanthear…sobecause
theydon’thaveacredibleresponsetoHoseathey“cancel”himbylabelinghim
anutjob.AndBelievers,IthinkIcanconfidentlypredictthatasthedaysgrow
darkerinwickednessinourera,andasGodisdrivenfromourinstitutionsand
societies,you,too,willbecanceledandlabeledwhenyoutrytotellothersthe
truth.Knowitandprepareforit,becauseitisinevitable.
Verse8isquitedifficulttodecipherbecausetherearecertainnuancestothe
wordingthatarestrange.Wecouldspendmuchtimeherewithmeexplainingthe
technicalissues,butIthinkI’drathersimplytellyouwhatIbnEzra,an11
th
centuryJewishBiblescholar,saidisthewaythisverseoughttobetaken,andI
aminagreementwithhimbecauseitbestfitstheongoingcontext.Hereishow
hesaysweshouldtakethis:
“TheseerofEphraimiswithhisGod.Theprophetisafowler’straponallofhis
paths,anembodimentofhatredinthetempleofhisGod.”WhatHoseais
referringtoisIsrael’sfalseprophetsastheyoperatewithinthecultofthereligion
oftheNorthernKingdom.So,HoseawaspresentedinthepriorverseasGod’s
legitimateprophet(whoisbeingshunnedandmockedbyIsraelandcalled
“crazy”),buttheprophetsthepeoplearelisteningtoandthoughttobewiseare
falseandtheythemselvesaredeceived.Thus,whatthepeoplebelieveiswhat
thesefalseprophetsaretellingthembecausetheyprefertobelieveit;itwasno
doubtamuchhappiermessagethanwhattheyarehearingfromHosea.Wow;
thereisanentiresermonwithinthisthoughtalone.I’llbebrief.
Thetruthisthatsecularorreligious,peopleprefertobelievewhateveritisthey
wanttohear.Thepopularteachersandreligiousleadersallthroughouthistory,
asinthepresent,aren’tnecessarilythetruthtellers;rathertheyarethebest
marketers.Findoutwhatthepeoplewant,andgiveittothem.Thepeoplewill
comeindrovestohavethevalidityoftheirwantsanddreamsrepeatedweek
afterweek.Oneofthesegreatmarketingliesthatisusedbysomeofthemost
knownChristianevangelistsofourtimeistheso-calledProsperityDoctrine.That
is,ifyoubelieveinChrist,thenGod’sjobisreducedtofulfillingallyourmaterial
desires.Anotherdeceptionisthatthemoreyougivetothatevangelist,Godwill
multiplyyourfinancesinlikefashion,soyoucomeoutaheadofthegame.You
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giveinordertoget.AnotheristhefalsebeliefthattrustinYeshuagivesus
boundlessliberty,whichisdefinedgenerallyasdoinganythingwewanttodo.
Withinthatcredo,siniseithererasedfromourrealityandthusnotevena
possibility,orwecanignoresinbecauseJesus’scapacitytoforgiveandpayforit
hasnolimit.
Peopledon’twanttobelievetheworstabouttheirfuture.Thisiswhyobvious
dangersignscanbehangingfromtheraftersinthemostvibrantcolors,butthey
gounseenandunheeded.Reasonablepreparationcangowantingbecauseitis
easiertothinkthatdisasterwon’tactuallyaffectus.Peopledon’twanttohearof
God’sdispleasureorofthepossibilityofHiswrath;theyonlywanttoknowabout
anall-mercifulGodthatisakindlygrandfatherwholovesandprovides.Butthe
truthis,bothoftheseattributesofGodaretrueatthesametimeandwhenever
weoveremphasize(orevendismiss)oneovertheother,wearecommitting
idolatry.WeareattemptingtoconformGodtoourimage,ratherthanadapting
ourselvestotheGodwhois.ThisiswhatIsraelhadbeendoingforaverylong
time,andsuchbehaviorbecometheacceptednorm.Thus,anyonewhocalledit
intoquestion(asHoseawasdoing)facedangerandisolationfrompeoplewho
likedthingsastheywere.Butthosewhowentwiththeflow(thefalseprophets)
andgavethepeoplewhattheywantedtohear,wereapplaudedandadmired.
Inverse9,GodiscomparingthecurrentIsraelwithaterribleandinfamous
eventfromthepast.Whilewecan’tbe100%certainthattheterribleincidentat
GibeahasrecordedinJudges19istheonebeingreferredto,andthatperhaps
therewassomethingmorerecenttoHoseathathadhappenedinGibeah,the
gang-rapethatledtothedeathofaconcubine,andthenhermastercuttingher
deadbodyintopieces,isthemostlikelyscenario.SoevenifIsraelhasbutfaint
memoryofthispasthorror,Godhasnotforgottenit.JustasHeremembersthis
atrocityfromcenturiesearlier,HeisalsonotforgettingIsrael’srecent
unfaithfulnesstowardsHim.AsaresultofGodnotforgettingIsrael’ssins,so
theirsinsareinthefirststagesofbeingpunished.Thereisalsoamorepractical
reasonthatIsrael’ssinsare,andmustbe,punished.Sinsforthem…justasthey
areforustoday…arebuttheviolationsofGod’scovenantwiththem.That
definitionofsindidnotchangewiththeadventofChrist.TheviolationsofGod’s
covenant(thesins)hadalreadyoccurred;theywereanythingbuthypothetical.
Itcanbeseeninasimilarwaytosayingthatitisagainstthelawtorobabank.
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Onceyouhaverobbedabank,there’snogoingbackonit.Youcan’tgobackin
timeandreversehistory.What’sdoneisdone,whetheryouregretitornot.The
penaltyyou’llpayforbankrobberycannot,then,bemerelyoverlookedor
forgotten.Allsins,justlikeallcrimes,arebydefinition“inthepast”.Theyhave
tohavealreadyoccurredbeforethereisanactualviolation.Sojustasthe
violationitselfbecomesetchedinstone,somustGodreacttothecovenant
violationwiththeassociatedandwritten-downcovenantpenalty,regardlessof
whenithappened,andthatispreciselywhathasbeengoingonfromthefirst
wordsofHosea’sbook.
Verse10shiftsgearsalittle,movingwellintoIsrael’spast.Andinthiscase,itis
allofIsraelthatisbeingreferredtoasopposedtotheprimarysubjectofHosea’s
book,Ephraim/Israel.AsGrubernotes,onemightbeabletocharacterizeIsrael’s
timeinthewildernessontheirexodusjourneyasahoneymoon.Theproblemis,
duringthathoneymoonacrisiserupteduponIsrael’sarrivalataplacecalled
Baal-Peor.Thefirstthingwemustnoticeisthatthemetaphoricaldescriptionof
Israelatthattime(grapesinthewilderness,andthefirstbearingoffigsonatree)
isthattheirveryadoptionbyYehovehasHisset-apartpeopleisoftherarest
occurrenceinthehistoryoftheworld.Hehaschosenonlyonepeople,andstill
haschosenonlyonepeopleasHisown.So,theeventoftheexodusissortof
depicted(almostromantically)asamanonajourneythroughabarrendesert
whosuddenlycomesuponabeautifulgrapevine;welcomebutnothingonecould
haveexpected.Thesecondmetaphorisofhimspottingtheveryfirstripefigon
afigtree;asignalthatfinallytheseasonforfruit-bearinghasarrived.This,to
MiddleEasterners,wasalwaysamostjoyfulandwelcomedevelopment;
somethingtheyhadbeenwaitingforwithmuchanticipation.Whatisbeing
describedisofthehappiestandmostpositivenature…aoneofoneevent…and
itislikenedtotheattractivenessofIsraeltoGod.Andyet,thatattractiveness
lastsonlysolongasarelationshipofrespect,loveandfaithfulnesslasts.The
questionthenbecomes:bywhatstandard…bywhatmeasure…isthatrespect,
love,andfaithfulnessdetermined?Theansweris:obediencetotheLawofMoses.
TheCovenant.
PriortotheincidentatBaal-Peor,IsraelwassoveryspecialforGod.Theappleof
Hiseye.Themostuniquepeopleevertoinhabitplanetearth.Unfortunately,at
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Baal-PeorthepeopleofIsraelcommittedapostasybydedicatingthemselvesto
whattheBiblecalledbosheth.
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Numbers25:1-5Isra'elstayedatSheetim,andtherethepeoplebegan
whoringwiththewomenofMo'av.
2
Thesewomeninvitedthepeopletothe
sacrificesoftheirgods,wherethepeopleateandboweddowntotheirgods.
3
WithIsra'elthusjoinedtoBa'al-P'or,theangerofADONAIblazedupagainst
Isra'el.
4
ADONAIsaidtoMoshe,"Takeallthechiefsofthepeople,andhang
themfacingthesunbeforeADONAI,sothattheragingfuryofADONAIwillturn
awayfromIsra'el."
5
MoshesaidtothejudgesofIsra'el,"Eachofyouistoputto
deaththoseinhistribewhohavejoinedthemselvestoBa'al-P'or."
Boshethmeansshamefulorshamelessness.However,asisbeingsuspectedby
moreandmoreexpertsontheancientSemiticlanguages,itmaybethatthe
nameforthegodthatIsraeldevotedthemselvestoatthatplacewasbosheth,
andfromthememoryofthatincidentthenameboshetheventuallybecamea
colloquialtermmeaningshameful.
ThesadfactforIsraelisthattheirhistoryisoneof(atbest)equalpartsproper
devotiontoYehovehandrebellionagainstHim.Somehow,likethefaithfulHosea,
thefaithfulhusband(Yehoveh)continuedtoloveandcarefortheunfaithful
Gomer(unfaithfulIsrael).But,eventuallyenoughwasenough.Whatwasthe
resultofIsrael’sapostacyatBaal-Peor?Theybecameasloathsomeasthe
thingtheyloved.Thehoneymoonwasruined,andfromthatmomentforward
IsraelwasnotthesameinGod’seyes.ItwasneverthatHedemandedor
expectedaperfectIsrael.ButHedidexpectloyaltyfortheunparalleledposition
HehadplacedtheminasHisoneandonlyset-apartpeople;theycouldn’teven
dothatformorethanshortburstsoftime.
Verse11bringsuptheunhappyreminderthatGodcanreverseRedemption
History.SometimesChristianslookupontheirmomentofsalvationasthattime
thattheyaregivenafireinsurancepolicythatcanneitherbemodifiednor
revokedforanyreason.TheBible,OldandNewTestaments,tellusadifferent
story.SincerityofcommitmenttoGodistheprerequisite,andtheongoing
requisite,foraredemptiverelationshipwithHim.SomuchofHoseaisaboutGod
refutingIsrael’sclaimofcommitmenttoHim.Theybelievethatcommitmentis
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allwrappedupintheirritualsandtheouterdisplaysoftheirfaith.Godsaysnot
sofast.Helookstotheheart,andifHeseessomethingthereotherthanwhatis
claimed,thentheclaimfallstofloor…asauselessvessel…shatteredandnow
worthless.Yes,fellowBelievers,RedemptionHistory(asunsavoryasitmight
seem,andasmuchasitisusuallydeniedfromthepulpit)canbereversedifthe
so-calledtrustturnsouttobenoactualtrustatall.Neverfallfortheconceptof
“pretenders”;peoplewhohadpretendedtobelieve,butdidn’t.Israelwasnot
pretenders;buttheyweredeceivedandfaithless.Apersoncansincerelycommit
toChrist,timepasses,andthentheyadoptofawayoflifeandbeliefthatreflects
anythingbutapropercommitmentorunderstandingofwhoGodis.Thatperson
wasneverapretender;theysimplybecamefaithlessandfellaway.Atonetime
theybelieved,butlaterontheydidn’t.Atonetimetheywerefaithful,atanother
theyceasedtobe.ThatwasIsrael.Therefore,inwhatcanonlybeareversalof
situation,verse11likensEphraim’sglorytoabirdwhofliesaway.RecallwhatI
explainedafewlessonsago.IntheancientHebrewwayofthinking,“TheGlory”
wassimplyanothername…evenanothermanifestation…ofGodinthesameway
theythoughtthatWisdomwas.So,it’snotIsrael’sglory(inthesenseofsome
kindofglorificationthatcharacterizedIsrael)thatflewaway.Ratheritwas
Israel’sGod,Yehoveh…TheGlory…thatflewawaylikeabird.Hedepartedand
separatedHimselffromIsrael(asHehasbeenthreateningtodo).Theresultisa
reversalofRedemptionHistory,andspecificallyitissaidthatwithinIsraelthat
willbenobirth,nowomb,nopregnancy.TheRashbam(wholivedfromthelate
11
th
tothelate12
th
century)saidthatthisreferstowhatisspokenofinExodus
1.
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Exodus1:7-19
7
ThedescendantsofIsra'elwerefruitful,increased
abundantly,multipliedandgrewverypowerful;thelandbecamefilledwiththem.
8
NowtherearoseanewkingoverEgypt.HeknewnothingaboutYosef
9
butsaid
tohispeople,"Look,thedescendantsofIsra'elhavebecomeapeopletoo
numerousandpowerfulforus.
10
Come,let'susewisdomindealingwiththem.
Otherwise,they'llcontinuetomultiply;andintheeventofwartheymightally
themselveswithourenemies,fightagainstusandleavethelandaltogether."
11
Sotheyputslavemastersoverthemtooppressthemwithforcedlabor,andthey
builtforPharaohthestoragecitiesofPitomandRa'amses.
12
Butthemorethe
Egyptiansoppressedthem,themoretheymultipliedandexpanded,untilthe
EgyptianscametodreadthepeopleofIsra'el
13
andworkedthemrelentlessly,
14
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makingtheirlivesbitterwithhardlabor-diggingclay,makingbricks,allkindsof
fieldwork;andinallthistoiltheywereshownnomercy.
15
Moreover,thekingof
EgyptspoketotheHebrewmidwives,oneofwhomwascalledShifrahandthe
otherPu'ah.
16
"WhenyouattendtheHebrewwomenandseethemgivingbirth,"
hesaid,"ifit'saboy,killhim;butifit'sagirl,letherlive."
17
However,the
midwiveswereGod-fearingwomen,sotheydidn'tdoasthekingofEgypt
orderedbutlettheboyslive.
18
ThekingofEgyptsummonedthemidwivesand
demandedofthem,"Whyhaveyoudonethisandlettheboyslive?"
19
The
midwivesansweredPharaoh,"It'sbecausetheHebrewwomenaren'tlikethe
Egyptianwomen-theygointolaborandgivebirthbeforethemidwifearrives."
Becausea“returntoEgypt”motifissoapparentinHosea’swritings,the
Rashbamhascometoaverycleverconclusionthatnow,sinceYehovehhaslike
abirdflownawayfromIsrael,theblessingsoffertilitythattheHebrews
experiencedeveninEgyptonaccountofHim,arereversed.NowIsraelhas
neitherbirth,norwomb,norpregnancy.Childrenarestillborn,womendon’t
becomepregnant,theyexperiencemiscarriagesthatuntilthenweresomewhat
rareforIsraelitesascomparedtootherpeople.Fertilityhadbeguntogreatly
decreaseallbecauseYehovehhaddistancedHimselffromIsraelduetotheir
apostacy.
Thisthemeextendstoverse12.Thereisahintofathreatthatbecauseof
Ephraim’sinabilitytohavechildrentoreplacetheagedanddying,theymay
becomeextinctasapeople.So,anadditionalinfertilitycurseisthatevenifthe
womenshouldbirthchildren,manywilldiebeforetheyeverreachadulthood
(heremeantasbeforetheageofchild-bearingcapability).TheideaofGod
abandoningIsraelforsomeunspecifiedamountoftimeisreinforcedattheendof
thisverseasGodsayshowfullofwoeIsraelwillbewhenHeturnsawayfrom
them.
Movingontoverse13,wefindthatsomethingmusthaveoccurredinits
transmissionbecauseitdoesn’tmakealotofsensethewayithascomedownto
us.Thus,thereareseveraldifferentattemptsindifferentBibleversionsto
interprettheverse.Iwon’tgothroughtheseveralpossiblewaysthatcertain
Hebrewletterswerecopieddownwrong,thatcouldchangeacoupleofwords
thatmightmakeitmoreunderstandable.IbnEzratooktheviewthatweneedto
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takeverses11through14asakindofaunit,andthereforetounderstandthem
allinthesamecontext.Ifheiscorrect(andIdothinkitisagoodsolution),then
thebestwaytotranslateverse13issomethinglikethis:
“AsforEphraim,asIsawwithrespecttoTyre,whichwasplantedinameadow,
alsoEphraimmustbringouthischildrenforslaying”.Eventhisisawkward,but
itcanbedecipheredalittlebetter.TheideaistheEphraim/Israelisleadingits
children(theiroffspring)intoapostacyandthereforeintocalamityand
destructionbycommittingessentiallythesamekindsofsinsthattheir
forefatherscommittedatBaal-Peor.ThishighlightssomethingIsaidtobegin
today’slesson,aboutlookingfortheGod-patternsinHosea.Generallyspeaking,
whensomeonewhovowstobepartofGod’scovenantbreaksthetermsofthat
covenant,itcanproducetrulyawfulresultsinone’shome,andamongone’s
family.Theparticularsofthisareunimportant,becausethevarietyofwaysthese
sinscanoccur,andthevarietyofcircumstancestheycanoccurin,andtheway
itplaysitselfoutarenearlyinfinite.But…thepatternandprinciplerevealthat
theconsequencesforbreakingGod’scovenantforsomeonewhohasjoinedhim
orherselftoitwillultimatelyaffectmorethanonlyyourself.We,indeed,are
eachresponsiblebeforeGodonlyforourownsinsandnotthoseofothers
(whetherourparents,siblings,oranyotherrelative).But…thatdoesn’tmean
thatthesinsofothers…especiallywithinafamily…won’thaveaterribleeffecton
thoseinthatfamilywhoareotherwiseinnocentofthem.ThoseIsraeliteswho
livedduringandbeforetheAssyrianexilewerewhowerebeingdirectlypunished
fortheirsinsagainstYehoveh.Yet,thehundredsofgenerationsthathavecome
fromthemintheensuing2700yearshavealsobeenadverselyaffected.
Verse14againshiftsgearsandnowwehavetheProphet,himself,speaking.And
likeverse13,thisonecanalsobealittledifficulttodecipher.However,S.Yona
(abiblicalHebrewscholar)saysthatclearlythereisarecognizedliterary
structuretothisversecalledstaircaseparallelismthathelpsustogetthe
meaning.However,whathappenshereisthatthisparticularparallelismis
uniqueinthatthereaninterveningquestionthatisinserted.Withoutgettinginto
thiscomplexancientHebrewliterarystructure,here’showwecanunderstand
thisverse.
First,wegetanincompleterequestfromHosea:itis“givetothem”.
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Second,thereisapausewherearhetoricalquestionisinserted:itis“whatshall
yougivetothem?”
Andthird,theincompleterequestthatopenedtheverseiscompletedwhenwe
read“givethemwombthatmiscarriesandbreaststhataredriedup”.
So,tomakebettersensetoourears,wecouldrewordthistosay:“You(God)
shallgivetothem(Israel)wombsthatmiscarryandbreaststhatwon’tproduce
milktofeedthebabies”.Thus,aswepullthisverseandsomepreviousones
together,thenwegetthepropheticdeclarationthatthepopulationof
Ephraim/Israelcanexpecttobedecimatedby3factors:1)thefailureofbabies
tosurvivechildbirth,2)miscarriages,and3)womenbeingunabletobecome
pregnantwhetherthatistheirsortheirhusband’sfault.
Withverse15,Godonceagainspeaks.Wenowmovefromthepast(thepast
fromHosea’sperspective)tohispresent.Itisbecauseofthekindsofthingsthat
goon,andhavegoneon,atGilgal(acultsitewhereillicitworshiptakesplace),
thatprovesthatIsraelhasdoneanythingbutimprovefromthemoreancient
times.Asareminder,whereisGilgal?ItisdirectlyacrosstheJordanRiverfrom
Baal-Peor.Gilgalatfirst(whenJoshualedIsraelacrosstheriverintothe
PromisedLand)wasagoodandproperreligioussiteforworshippingYehoveh.
However,overtime,itdeteriorated.Itremainedoneofthemostprominentof
themanyworshipcentersfortheNorthernKingdomrightupuntilIsrael’sexile.
ButbyHosea’sday,itwasseenaspureevilbyGodbecauseithadcometo
symbolizeallthatwaswrongaboutthismanmade,hybridizedreligionthathad
beencreated.ItwaseverythingthatGodhated.
TherewasalsosomethingelsethathappenedatGilgalthatwemustnotoverlook
and,Ithink,playsastrongroleinHosea’spronouncement.
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1Samuel11:14-15
14
ThenSh'mu'elsaidtothepeople,"Come,let'sgoto
Gilgalandinauguratethekingshipthere.
15
SoallthepeoplewenttoGilgal;and
thereinGilgal,beforeADONAI,theymadeSha'ulking.Theypresentedsacrifices
aspeaceofferingsbeforeADONAIthere,andthereSha'ulandallthepeopleof
Isra'elcelebratedwithgreatjoy.
Lesson16-HoseaChapter9
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HereiswhereIsrael’sfirstking,Saul,wasinstalled.Itwouldbefairtosaythat
God’sattitudetowardsthiswas“thiswholekingthingwasnevermyidea,
anyway”.So,whileIsraelwasecstatictofinallyjoinwiththegentileworldbyalso
havingtheirownking,Israel’sGodwasnotparticularlyforthisbecauseHeknew
whereitwouldlead.TheideabeingexpressedhereisthatthemonarchyofIsrael
wasalwaysdoomedtofailure.Ithadbeensosincetheirveryfirstking(Saulwas
adisasteralmostimmediately).AndnowtheterribleMenahemsonofGadiwas
inpower,andhewasperhapsevenworsethanKingSaul.So,fromGod’s
perspective,GilgalwasthesourceofallofIsrael’sevilbecauseitwastherethat
themonarchywasfirstformed.
Wesee,then,whenGodsaysinverse15thatitwasthewickednessoftheir
deeds(atGilgal)itmeansthewickednessofIsrael’skings.So,YehovehsaysHe
isgoingtoexpelthemfromHishouse.“Hishouse”or“Yehoveh’shouse”is
referringtothelandwhereIsraellives;thelandGodgavetothemtooccupy.The
landhadneverceasedtobeHis;Israelwasonlygiventhegiftofinhabitingthe
land,inmuchthesamewaythatAdamandEveweregiventhegiftoflivinginthe
GardenofEden;butitcertainlydidn’tbelongtothem.Andsinceanation’s
leadersessentiallyrepresentthepeopleasawhole,thentheblanketstatement
ofevilappliedtotheleadersextendstothewholepopulation.
GodsaysthatHewillnolonger“love”them.Wehavetonottakethisinmodern
theWesternconceptoftheterm“love”.Forus,“love”isawarmfeeling,usually
romanticorevenerotic.Inbiblicaltimes,lovefirstandforemostconveyeda
senseofbondedloyalty.Thus,itwascommontorefertopeople“loving”their
king.Theydidn’toftenevenliketheirkings.Rather,itmeantthattheywereloyal
totheking.So,now,inthereverse,God’sloyaltytoIsraelthathadbeenformed
bythecovenantagreementatMt.Sinai,hasbeensetaside…forthetimebeing.
TheLordwillnolongershowIsraelthatsameloyalty(thatsamelove)because
Israelhasbeenterriblyrebelliousandunfaithful.
Verse16says:
16
Efrayimhasbeenstruckdown,theirroothasbeendriedup,
theywillbearnofruit.Eveniftheydogivebirth,Iwillkilltheircherished
offspring."
Lesson16-HoseaChapter9
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Perhapsthemostimportantthingtonoticehereistheverbtense.NotthatIsrael
WILLbestruckdown(byGod)butthatitalreadyhasbeen.Theirrootbeingdried
upisindeedametaphorbutalsoanexpression.Theirrootgoesallthewayback
toAbraham,thefirstHebrew.However,inlikeningIsraeltoaplant,their
conditionisasadyingnation.Branchesofaplantcanbeprunedofftosaveit;
butwhentherootisdriedup,thedeathoftheplantisassured.Thus,theplant
(Israel)haslostallmeansofbearingfruit(goodfruit).Thefruitbeingspokenof
isdescendants;acontinuationoftheirfamilies.Godsaysthisfruitoffamily,so
cherished,willalsobekilledoff.Thisisathreatthathasalreadybeenmadein
earlierverses;however,whensomethingisrepeated,itisbecauseitisbeing
emphasized.
Verse17revertstoHoseaspeaking.SometimesHoseaquotesGod,sometimes
Hoseaspeaksforhimself.ThefinalverseofthischaptersaysbluntlythatGodis
castingIsraelasideforthereasonthattheydidnotlistentoHim.HowdidGod
speaktoIsrael?HediditthroughHiscovenantwiththem.God’swrittenTorahis
howGodspoketoIsrael,andhowHespeakstoallwhowanttoworshipHim.So,
Israel’spunishmentsarewell-earnedandjustbecausetheywouldn’tlistento
GodinhowtowalkinHisways.Honestly,totranslatetheHebrewwordused
hereto“listen”completelymissesthepoint.FormodernWesterners,listen
mostlymeanspassivehearing.TheHebrewisshema,anditmeanstohearand
obey.Takethe“obey”partoutandshemalosesitsmeaning.
IwillclosetodaywithsomethingDouglasStewartwroteinhiscommentaryon
Hoseabecauseitwellsumsupwhathashappened.
“Their(Israel’s)comingcalamitiesaretheirownfault.Iftheyhadnotbeen
blatantlyunfaithful,evenintheirworship,iftheirdeedshadnotbeenevil,or
theirofficialsnotrebellious,iftheyhadnotrefusedtolistentoYehovehwhenhe
calledthemtorepentance,thesituationcouldhavebeendifferent.”
ThisisalifelessonthatIpraywealllearnwellandheed.We’llopenupHosea
chapter10nexttime.