ISRAEL WORSHIPED IN VAIN

Passage: Hosea 8:1-14

Key verse: 1

NIV

Israel to Reap the Whirlwind

8 “Put the trumpet(A) to your lips!
    An eagle(B) is over the house of the Lord
because the people have broken my covenant(C)
    and rebelled against my law.(D)
2 Israel cries out to me,
    ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3 But Israel has rejected what is good;
    an enemy will pursue him.(E)
4 They set up kings without my consent;
    they choose princes without my approval.(F)
With their silver and gold
    they make idols(G) for themselves
    to their own destruction.
5 Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!(H)
    My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?(I)
6     They are from Israel!
This calf—a metalworker has made it;
    it is not God.(J)
It will be broken in pieces,
    that calf(K) of Samaria.(L)

7 “They sow the wind
    and reap the whirlwind.(M)
The stalk has no head;
    it will produce no flour.(N)
Were it to yield grain,
    foreigners would swallow it up.(O)
8 Israel is swallowed up;(P)
    now she is among the nations
    like something no one wants.(Q)
9 For they have gone up to Assyria(R)
    like a wild donkey(S) wandering alone.
    Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.(T)
10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,
    I will now gather them together.(U)
They will begin to waste away(V)
    under the oppression of the mighty king.

11 “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
    these have become altars for sinning.(W)
12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,
    but they regarded them as something foreign.(X)
13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,
    and though they eat(Y) the meat,
    the Lord is not pleased with them.(Z)
Now he will remember(AA) their wickedness
    and punish their sins:(AB)
    They will return to Egypt.(AC)
14 Israel has forgotten(AD) their Maker(AE)
    and built palaces;
    Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire on their cities
    that will consume their fortresses.”(AF)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

8 Set (A)the trumpet to your lips!
    One (B)like a vulture is over the house of the Lord,
because (C)they have transgressed my covenant
    and rebelled against my law.
2 To me they cry,
    (D)“My God, we—Israel—know you.”
3 Israel has spurned the good;
    the enemy shall pursue him.

4 (E)They made kings, (F)but not through me.
    They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
    for their own destruction.
5 (G)I have[a] spurned your calf, O Samaria.
    My anger burns against them.
(H)How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6 For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
    it is not God.
(I)The calf of Samaria
    (J)shall be broken to pieces.[b]

7 For (K)they sow the wind,
    and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
    it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
    (L)strangers would devour it.
8 (M)Israel is swallowed up;
    already they are among the nations
    as (N)a useless vessel.
9 For (O)they have gone up to Assyria,
    (P)a wild donkey wandering alone;
    Ephraim has hired lovers.
10 Though they hire allies among the nations,
    I will soon gather them up.
And (Q)the king and princes (R)shall soon writhe
    because of the tribute.

11 Because Ephraim (S)has multiplied altars for sinning,
    they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 (T)Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
    they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
    (U)they sacrifice meat and eat it,
    but the Lord does not accept them.
(V)Now he will remember their iniquity
    and punish their sins;
    (W)they shall return to Egypt.
14 For (X)Israel has forgotten (Y)his Maker
    and (Z)built palaces,
and (AA)Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
    so (AB)I will send a fire upon his cities,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.

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Footnotes
  1. Hosea 8:5 Hebrew He has
  2. Hosea 8:6 Or shall go up in flames
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Hosea was called to announce God's judgment, which came like a hovering eagle over Israel (1). God expressed his anger as they cried out to him, saying they acknowledged him (2). In reality, they did not know God nor live according to his law (4:6).

Their worship was as meaningless as sowing wind and reaping the whirlwind which produce nothing (7). God was not pleased with their empty worship and many gifts on many altars. He knew the wickedness of their hearts (13). He knew that their hearts were after gold and silver, as they made their idols with such things (4) instead of worshipping Him as the creator God (14). They brought sacrifices to God, asking for prosperity in the world, but they did not care to come to know God’s will for their lives and what wonderful relationship God desired to share with them. Without knowing God, they could not bear God’s blessing, which is God himself (Genesis 15:1)

Do you come to God today with a list of things you need and want? Are you willing to spend time with him first, listen to His Words, and get to know him better? Are you ready to hear what he wants to tell you first today?

Prayer: Father, you are the greatest reward I have. Guide me today to live in your presence and according to your will. Please use me for your glory.

One Word: Come to know God.