Friday, July 1, 2016

HOSEA CHAPTER TEN



Chapter Ten

In this chapter, Hosea uses two agrarian metaphors to describe Israel. The first is found in Hosea 10:1. Israel is a luxuriant vine. In Hosea 10:11, he describes Ephraim (the tribe remaining after the most of the ten tribes have gone into captivity) as a trained heifer.

Hosea 10:1 

When Hosea describes Israel as a “luxuriant vine”, it conjures images of a healthy, richly colored, fertile grapevine. The Hebrew word used here implies quite a different picture.

Check out Blue Letter Bible for further details. Here’s the link:

1) What does the word translated as “luxuriant” tell us about the vine?


2) What does the word translated as “vine” tell us about the kind of vine Hosea is describing?

The words translated as “luxuriant” and “vine” do not describe the picture I had imagined. They give us a much deeper, richer image of the nation of Israel. These two words highlight the reason it’s important to dig deep into God’s Word and to be certain we understand what God is saying.

In this instance, instead of describing Israel as a highly prized grapevine in the Lord’s vineyard, Hosea is describing them as a spreading wild vine that produces no useful fruit. When you read “luxuriant vine”, think of kudzu. It grows rapidly and drapes itself over surrounding vegetation. The heavy foliage produces excessive shade, blocking the sunlight, and eventually kills the tree or shrub on which it rests. 

The kudzu produces beautiful flowers with a sweet fragrance in the fall. Although it looks good and smells good, kudzu is deadly to those living plants it covers.

In that same way, the sin of Jeroboam and his priests has spread throughout the nation of Israel and blocked the light of God from the nation, destroying the spiritual welfare of the nation.

Verse 1 continues with a description of the sequence of events. Israel has become a wild and terrible kind of vine, rather than the beautiful vineyard God intended. It has produced fruit, but not the fruit intended. 

Read Isaiah 5:1-7 to learn about the vineyard God intended. (This is specifically written to Judah after the time of Hosea and the Northern Tribes’ captivity in Assyria, but the principle is the same.) 


3) What was Israel supposed to do with the first-fruits of their harvest? (Exodus 23:16)


4) What had they done with the first-fruits instead? (Hosea 10:1)


God doesn’t need our tithes or our offerings. He owns everything. Those things we consider “ours” are simply on loan to us from the One who owns it all. The discipline of tithing and giving is not done in order to supply God’s needs. It helps us to bring our priorities in line with His and to acknowledge that He is the provider of every good and perfect gift. 

In a very clear way, our faithfulness, or lack of faithfulness, in giving demonstrates the condition of our heart. 

5) What did Israel’s actions with the first-fruits (among many other actions) demonstrate about the condition of their hearts? (Hosea 10:2)

In our success-driven society, it’s hard to understand how 90% of our income can be more blessed than 100% of it, but it is. When we are faithful with the tithe, God honors our faithfulness, adjusts our priorities, and helps to meet our every need. 

6) Read Malachi 3:10 and write this verse out for yourself.



Hosea  10:2 tells us that the people are about to reap what they have sown. We’ve seen this before (Hosea 8:7), where they’ve sown to the wind and will reap a whirlwind.

7) What will God do to the sacred pillars they’ve enhanced with the blessings God has given?  (Hosea 10:2) Also see Micah 5:13 (Micah was a contemporary of Hosea and a prophet to both the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).




Before we leave Hosea 10:2, let’s look a little closer at the word translated as “faithless” or, in some translations, “smooth”, to describe their hearts. 

8) What is the predominant use of this word? 





9) How did Israel have a divided heart?



10) How was this same issue was addressed by Elijah with the prophets of Baal?  (See 1 Kings 18:21)




11) Read Isaiah 42:8 to see what God says about “sharing” our hearts (i.e. giving His glory to another). Write this verse here:




12) In what ways do we see evidence of “divided hearts” in our society? Our churches?



PRAYER PAUSE:
Let’s stop here for a moment and consider the ways we have allowed the things of this world and our own priorities to supplant God’s rightful first place in our lives. How have we had a divided heart?  Let’s repent of our wrong priorities and ask God to align our hearts with His, our minds with His mind, our ways with His ways.
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Hosea 10:3-4

The actions of Israel came as no surprise to God. He knew it would happen from the first. 

13) What did God tell Moses about the actions of Israel after Moses’ death? (See Deuteronomy 31:15-18)


14) Deuteronomy 31:17 suggests that the people blamed God for the trouble they encountered, rather than themselves. How is that same attitude expressed in Hosea 10:3?



We’ve looked at the passage in Deuteronomy 17 about the future kings of Israel, but it’s worth reviewing. See Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Israel was only to have kings selected by God. 

Instead, there was one assassination after another, with the murderer setting himself up as king. (See 2 Kings 5:8-14) In a way, the words of the people in Hosea 10:3 were completely true. They did not revere God, and their final kings were not men God had chosen. Indeed, what could they expect from a schemer and murderer?

As Hosea 10:4 says, the king's lies and worthless oaths made the judgment against Israel even worse. See 2 Kings 17:1-18. 


15) How did lies and deceit worsen the judgment? What worthless oath did King Hoshea give to King Shalmanezer of Assyria? What happened as a result? 




Hosea 10:5 - 6 

King Josiah (640-609 BC) reigned in Judah after the inhabitants of Israel had been taken captive by Assyria (722 BC). He had quite a shock when he heard the words of the law for the first time. (Read 2 Kings 22 to find out more.) 

When he understood the word of God and the will of God, Josiah took immediate action. 

15) What did Josiah do? (2 Kings 23:12-20)

16) How does this fulfill Hosea’s prophecy concerning the golden calf in Hosea 10:5?



When King Jeroboam I instituted his blended religion, he placed two golden calves. One was in Bethel (later referred to as Bethaven) and one was in Dan. King Josiah destroyed the calf at Bethel. (2 Kings 23) Hosea 10:6 suggests that the other calf (at Dan) was taken to Assyria as payment of tribute to King Jareb.

PRAYER PAUSE:

The people of Samaria feared losing the false god they worshipped. They grieved over its loss. What they should have feared, instead, was losing the protection of Jehovah. They should have grieved over their broken relationship with Him. 

It’s easy to become so attached to the things of this world that we fear losing them, grieve over losing them. They become a kind of false god to us. These false gods are not always an object, but can also be an activity, a habit, or even a person.

Is there anything to which you have become so attached that it has become a false god? Now is the time to recognize it, repent of it, and return to following the Lord with your whole heart. Pray Psalm 51:10,12.
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“…Ephraim will be seized with shame, and Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel.” Hosea 10:6 nabs

The last part of Hosea 10:6 sounds (in my translation) as if Israel is suddenly seized with regret and shame. Unfortunately, that’s not what the Hebrew suggests. 

The word translated as “seized” is laqach and indicates that Ephraim is taken, captured, or carried away in shame. In fact, that’s exactly what happened when both Samaria (the capital of Israel) and Israel (the ten Northern Tribes) were “seized” and carried away by Assyria in 722 BC. (2 Kings 17:6) 

The word translated as “will be ashamed” is buwsh and is most often used to indicate “put to shame” or “confounded”. Israel, then, will be put to shame because of their own foolish decisions and the evil counsel of ungodly leaders. (2 Kings 7:23)

Hosea 10:7-8

Hosea prophesies the destruction of Samaria, as well as the high places of Aven (Beth-aven). Samaria and her king will be “like a stick on the surface of the water”. 

17) What happens to a twig when it falls into moving water? How much control does it have over the direction it will go? Over it’s outcome?


In that same way, Samaria is about to experience judgment that decends like a twig in a rushing stream. Unavoidable. No way to alter it or divert it.

18) What does Hosea say will happen to the high places of Aven? (see verse 8)

Jeroboam instituted the high places and the golden calves around 931 BC. After the altar was placed, a man of God prophesied against the altar.

19) What did he say would happen to the altar? (See 1 Kings 13:1-5)


20) How was that prophecy, and the prophecy of Hosea 10:8 fulfilled? (See 2 Chronicles 34:1-7)

Isaiah tells us that there will be a Day of Reckoning, when all our idols will completely vanish. God's splendor and majesty will be so great that the earth will tremble. 

21) How will men respond to this Day? (See Isaiah 2:1-21, Hosea 10:8) 


22) As Jesus walked toward the cross, He spoke of this coming day. See Luke 23:28-30 for His words.




23) Revelation 6:12-17 also describes the Day of Reckoning. Read this passage and make notes about that day. 




Revelation 6 tells us men will ask, “Who is able to stand?” Jesus addressed this question in Luke 21:7-36 (especially vs 34-36) 

24) How did Jesus say we are to prepare for the Day of Reckoning? 



Although what He described was terrifying and dangerous, Jesus spoke words of comfort and encouragement for His disciples. 

25) Read Luke 21:28 to see how to respond to the coming events. Write this verse below.




His followers are sealed with the blood of Jesus and there is no need to fear. No matter what comes, His Spirit will carry us through.

Revelation 6 spoke of standing before the majesty and power of God on the day of reckoning. The only ones standing on that day will be those who are in Christ. Hosea 10:9 offers an interesting use of the word translated as “stand”. 

Here’s the link to BLB:

God’s people had taken their stand at Gibeah and clearly demonstrated the sin in their hearts. When the day of reckoning arrives, they will no longer be able to “take a stand”, because that for which they stood will be long gone.

PRAYER PAUSE:

We live in a culture of “stand-taking”. We are a people easily outraged, and social media makes it easy to “take a stand” for (or against) the politically correct issue of the day. It is vitally important that the stands we take be rooted and grounded in the whole counsel of Scripture.

In a very real sense, our lifestyle demonstrates the stand we have taken about Christ, our faith, and the importance of His Word in our lives. Let’s take a moment to look at our “stand”. Are we anchoring our lives on the solid rock of Jesus or on the shifting sands of our culture? 

When the Day of Reckoning arrives, will we stand secure or search for a cave in which to hide?

If you need to confirm your commitment to Christ, now is the time to do that.
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Hosea 10:10

Hosea continues to confront God’s people with their sin. Both the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom are included in the judgment. 
God has a choice. He can utterly annihilate His people, with no hope of redemption or He can chastise them with the goal of restoration. 

26) How has God chosen to deal with His people? (vs 10, the “I WILL”)



The reference to “double guilt” does not mean the people have only committed two sins. Instead, it is a reference to both physical and spiritual harlotry. The theme of "two" continued with the high places at Bethaven and Dan, the two golden calves, and the two kingdoms. In a very real way, God’s people have compounded sin upon sin, drastically increasing their guilt and worsening their judgment.

Hosea 10:13-15
In these verses, Hosea again addresses the sins of the people and speaks of the harvest those sins have reaped.

27) In what have they placed their trust?


28) What will happen to the objects in which they have trusted?




Verse 15 makes reference to the king being cut off “at dawn”. BLB suggests this can be a literal, figurative, or metaphorical dawning. Consider for a moment how dawn appears. At first, there’s a glow in the eastern sky. Gradually, the glow increases until, in a sunrise that seems sudden but is not, the sun is completely visible and light fills the sky.

In that same way, judgment would come to God's people. As we’ve already seen, that’s exactly what happened. 

29) Review 2 Kings 17:1-6 again and outline how the multi-step “cutting off” of the king occurred. 





I’ve saved Hosea 10:11-12 for last because there is such hope in these verses. 
Hosea described Ephraim as a trained heifer that “loves to thresh”. 

30) How were oxen treated when they threshed? (See Deuteronomy 25:4)



31) If the admonition of Deuteronomy 25:4 was obeyed, what access would the oxen have to the grain being threshed?

In essence, the job of threshing was a good one. The ox was free to enjoy that which it threshed. It wasn’t bound by a muzzle. It had superior feed (because the grain it threshed was destined for human consumption). It was a relatively easy job. 

Look here for more information about the threshing floor and the conditions under which threshing occurred.



32) In what ways had Ephraim enjoyed the benefits of being God’s people?

Because of her sin, the chastisement mentioned in verse 10 will be a metaphorical yoking and harnessing. A threshing oxen works alone, at its own pace. A yoked heifer works in tandem, in cooperation, with another animal. A harnessed animal, as well as one pulling a plow, works at the direction of the one behind the harness and the plow. The work is done in the blazing sun under less than ideal circumstances. It’s hard, uncomfortable work.

This harnessing speaks of confinement and subjugation. 


33) In what ways have Ephraim/Israel/Judah already experienced the confinement, subjugation, and discomfort of verse 11?



At last, we’ve come to one of my favorite verses. Hosea 10:12. 

34) This is such a profound verse that we should take the time to write it out by hand so that it will be doubly imprinted on our minds and hearts.




This verse, following verse 11, continues the metaphor of the coming yoke. God’s people will be hemmed in by yoke and plow because of His chastisement. In the midst of the plowing and harrowing of judgment, there is something critical they can do to change their situation.

35) What four actions does Hosea instruct them to take?





Their sowing, reaping, breaking, and seeking are not to be done just once. They are to be an ongoing effort. If they seek the Lord in this way, with a sincere and broken heart, something wonderful will happen.

God will “rain righteousness” on them. The use of the term “rain” implies refreshment and restoration. The word used here does not necessarily mean God will pour out righteousness. 

36) See BLB to find how the word translated as “rain” is used in this verse. (You’ll need to scroll to the end of the Gesenius’ Lexicon)




37) Hosea 12 echoes the truth that David experienced. Read Psalm 51:16-17 and write those verses here:




Hosea 10:12 offers the unmistakable promise that, no matter how much of a mess we’ve made of our lives, mercy and forgiveness are still available. When we come to the end of ourselves and are willing to do things God’s way, to seek Him alone, He will come to us where we are, even in our bondage and yokes, and lovingly teach us how to live as He desires.

No matter how far we go, no matter how much we sin, no matter the losses we have sustained, God knows us, loves us, and will not reject our broken and contrite heart.

PRAYER PAUSE:

How have you seen this truth in your own life? Pause now and thank God for His unfailing love, His overwhelming mercy and grace. Pray for those loved ones who are far from God to come to the end of themselves and cry out for the mercy and grace of God to rain righteousness down on them.
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Closing Thoughts:

We’re now 74% of the way through Hosea. Only four chapters remain, so let’s press on together to gain all God has for us. You’ve done a wonderful job of studying and allowing God to work in your life, and I’m so grateful for your effort. Keep up the good work!

A little extra:

The photo above is of cows on an Israeli hillside. Note the conditions of the pasture, the limited grazing, the lack of shelter and shade. This is a wonderful picture of the trade Israel made. Because of their sin, they had traded a metaphorical indoor threshing floor with the best grain for the rough life of a farm cow, giving up abundant provision, protection, and ease for the confinement and forced labor of captivity.



Razor wire in a field in Israel

God's people were meant to be free. Instead, they rejected their Lord and chose the bondage of sin and the ongoing turmoil of a land divided. 

Here's the link to Chapter Eleven.

#Hosea #Biblestudy #indepthBiblestudy

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