September 4 A READ HOSEA 9–11
Promise of Israel’s Ruin
OVERVIEW
Like the pounding of a hammer, Hosea’s indictment of Israel continues. Worship means nothing to God when it is offered by people with idolatrous hearts. The nation has been wasted by unchecked sin. Once a fruitful vine, Israel now lies spiritually barren and fruitless. Yet God remains loyal to his people. His love will not permit him to leave sin unpunished—just as a loving father must discipline his erring children. But in the midst of that painful process, God’s promise shines brightly. Restoration and blessing await his people when the painful punishment is over.
MY DAILY WALK
Contrast these two statements from today’s reading: “There I began to hate [Israel]” (9:15); and “My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows [for Israel]” (11:8). How do you reconcile these verses?
The answer can be found in the ageless maxim “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” A holy God can never excuse or condone sin. Yet God never blurs the distinction between the sinner and his or her sin. His love for the sinner never ends, nor does his hatred for the sin.
How do you view those around you who have fallen into sin? Have you been so offended by their actions that you shun them? Remember, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). Think of someone whose lifestyle would normally cause you to avoid him or her, and plan an action to demonstrate God’s love. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal through your love the extended hand of a compassionate God.
A PROPHET DESERVES HONOR, NOT BECAUSE HE FORESEES THE COMING EVENT, BUT BECAUSE HE SEES THE MEANING WITHIN THE CURRENT EVENT.
INSIGHT
Double Disaster for Doubly Fruitful | Hos. 9:12
“Ephraim” literally means “doubly fruitful.” But because the nation had followed the pagan practices of Baal worship—characterized by fertility rites and temple prostitution—God said he would remove from his people any hope of posterity (9:12). Double fruitfulness would turn to complete barrenness.
INSIGHT
Determined Declaration of Love | Hos. 11:8-11
The concluding verses of chapter 11 have been called “the finest presentation in the Old Testament of the tension between the love and justice of God.” The final resolution of this tension is seen at the cross, for it is there that God becomes both “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26, NKJV).
Hosea Announces Israel’s Punishment
1O people of Israel,
do not rejoice as other nations do.
For you have been unfaithful to your God,
hiring yourselves out like prostitutes,
worshiping other gods on every threshing floor.
2So now your harvests will be too small to feed you.
There will be no grapes for making new wine.
3You may no longer stay here in the LORD’s land.
Instead, you will return to Egypt,
and in Assyria you will eat food
that is ceremonially unclean.
4There you will make no offerings of wine to the LORD.
None of your sacrifices there will please him.
They will be unclean, like food touched by a person in mourning.
All who present such sacrifices will be defiled.
They may eat this food themselves,
but they may not offer it to the LORD.
5What then will you do on festival days?
How will you observe the LORD’s festivals?
6Even if you escape destruction from Assyria,
Egypt will conquer you, and Memphis* will bury you.
Nettles will take over your treasures of silver;
thistles will invade your ruined homes.
7The time of Israel’s punishment has come;
the day of payment is here.
Soon Israel will know this all too well.
Because of your great sin and hostility,
you say, “The prophets are crazy
and the inspired men are fools!”
8The prophet is a watchman over Israel* for my God,
yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes.
He faces hostility even in the house of God.
9The things my people do are as depraved
as what they did in Gibeah long ago.
God will not forget.
He will surely punish them for their sins.
10The LORD says, “O Israel, when I first found you,
it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.
When I saw your ancestors,
it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.
But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,
giving themselves to that shameful idol.
Soon they became vile,
as vile as the god they worshiped.
11The glory of Israel will fly away like a bird,
for your children will not be born
or grow in the womb
or even be conceived.
12Even if you do have children who grow up,
I will take them from you.
It will be a terrible day when I turn away
and leave you alone.
13I have watched Israel become as beautiful as Tyre.
But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter.”
14O LORD, what should I request for your people?
I will ask for wombs that don’t give birth
and breasts that give no milk.
15The LORD says, “All their wickedness began at Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
I will drive them from my land
because of their evil actions.
I will love them no more
because all their leaders are rebels.
16The people of Israel are struck down.
Their roots are dried up,
and they will bear no more fruit.
And if they give birth,
I will slaughter their beloved children.”
17My God will reject the people of Israel
because they will not listen or obey.
They will be wanderers,
homeless among the nations.