HOSEA CHAPTER EIGHT
This chapter begins with an image we’ve seen before, that of the shofar. (The word translated here as trumpet is “showphar”.) Refer back to Hosea 5:8 to refresh your memory about the shofar.
What does the remainder of the verse tell us about what the shofar’s alert indicates?
Follow this link to an article about the shofar (you saw this in Hosea 5:8) to see the reasons for which the shofar was blown and compare to the sounding of the horn in this verse.
The enemy comes against the house of the Lord “like an eagle” (NASB) or “like a vulture” (ESV).
Blue Letter Bible tells us something interesting about the word translated “eagle or vulture”.
2) What does the root word mean?
3) Follow this link for information on the vulture in Israel. It’s an excellent resource. You might be surprised by the information you find. Make a list of the facts you learn about Israel’s vulture. (Be sure to include the griffon vulture’s diet, size, and wing span.)
4) See Job 39:27-30 for more facts about the vulture and list them here.
Here’s a video of a Griffon Vulture in flight over the Golan Heights.
5) Let’s put this together. The Griffon Vulture eats only __________. If this vulture is coming against the house of the Lord, it is because there is something _______ there, and the stench has wafted to the skies.
It was the smell of death that drew the vulture. The people of God were dead spiritually, and they didn’t even know it.
6) Read 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. What kind of aroma should our lives emit? What kind of aroma do we emit?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Let’s stop now and consider the aroma of our lives. Do we emit the sweet fragrance of Christ? Is our life a pleasing incense to Him? Pray that the perfume of our relationship with Christ would sweeten the atmosphere wherever we are.
_______________
Imagine this image as Hosea described it. The bird we saw in the video, with an 8-foot wing span, was about to “swoop down” on the people of God. The root word for that translated as “eagle or vulture” means lacerate. When this bird ate its carrion, it lacerated it, or ripped it to shreds.
Clearly, the people did not believe Hosea, but, in 722 B.C., Assyria, the enemy to which they had turned for assistance rather than the Lord, came against them and took them into captivity. Assyria, in many ways, was the vulture that lacerated the nation.
Hosea 8:3 says the enemy will “pursue” them (radaph) because they have rejected their Lord. This word may be prophetic of more than the Assyrian captivity.
7) Look at the meaning in Blue Letter Bible and consider the ways this “pursuing” has occurred since Hosea’s time.
Hosea 8:8 says they are “swallowed up”. This word, bala`, can also be translated as “engulfed, destroyed, to be ended.”
8) How did the Assyrian captivity “swallow up” Israel?
A little extra before we leave Hosea 8:1:
An Israeli Griffon Vulture was detained in Lebanon in early 2016 on charges of spying. I found this story fascinating. I’m including it because it’s interesting, not because there’s a connection to Hosea. (The Vulture was eventually released.)
Hosea 8:2
This verse begins a section that is reminiscent of a court trial. God presents His judgment and the people dispute its justice.
The people cry out to God. The word translated as “My God” is `elohiym, The Most High God.
I found an interesting meaning for the word translated as “know”. Follow the link to BLB and scroll down to the Gesenius Lexicon. Look at definition 7b for how this word is used in Hosea 8:2.
9) What does “know” indicate here?
There is a vast difference between the intimacy of “knowing” experienced by a married couple and the regard or worship indicated here.
10) How did God’s people “know” Him in Hosea’s day?
11) How do we know Him? Is our knowing what it should be? What changes do we need to make?
Hosea 8:3
God presents His rebuttal to dispute their claim of “knowing” Him. They have rejected “the good”. This refers not only to good versus evil, but also to what is precious and of highest quality. They have rejected the very thing that should have been of greatest priority and most precious to them, their loving Heavenly Father.
Priority.
They didn’t remove God from their list of priorities completely, but He was far down their list. They still had a form of religion, but they had removed Him from first priority in their lives. That choice would ultimately lead to their destruction.
PRAYER PAUSE:
Let’s stop a moment and consider our own priorities. What are the top five priorities in your life? Spend a few minutes considering which of those occupies the greatest percentage of our time, thoughts, resources, energies. That is the number one priority in our life. Is it God? Family? Children? Work? Now is the time to make an adjustment in our priorities as needed.
___________
The people claimed to know God. They insisted they had not rejected Him, but God, like any good prosecuting attorney, presented the evidence against them.
12) See Titus 1:16. What does this verse say about the difference between the claim of knowing God and the evidence of our lives?
13) What evidence does God give of the people’s rejection of Him? See Hosea 8:4, 9,10, 11,14
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
14) What evidence do the people offer in their defense? (See Hosea 6:1-3, 7:14, 8:2)
PRAYER PAUSE:
If God were to examine your life for evidence of your relationship to Him, what would He find? How much evidence would there be for a deep and intimate relationship? How much evidence would there be of spiritual idolatry? Pause now to consider any changes you need to make so that the world can see Christ in you, clearly and without distortion. Pray for the willingness and the strength to make those changes.
____________
God’s prosecution continues against them. He uses the golden calf as His prime exhibit. One look at the golden calf, and the verdict is clear. Guilty as charged.
If I were there, I’d have argued. “No, God. You have it wrong. That’s Jeroboam’s calf. It’s the king's responsibility to get this mess straightened out. Not mine.”
God knew who worshipped the calf. He also knew who looked the other way. They were all guilty.
The word translated as “rejected” in verse 5 is zanach and it the same word used to describe Israel’s response to God in Hosea 8:3. There’s such a good truth in this verse that you’ll enjoy finding it for yourself, so head back to BLB.
Here’s the link:
15) Write what you learn about zanach here. How did God view the idol? (See Hosea
Just as the stench of their spiritual death rose skyward to draw the vultures, so the stench of their idols rose skyward to draw God’s judgment.
16) What will happen to the idol? (vs. 6)
17) The image of fire is used in verse 5 again. Contrast it with the fiery image from Hosea chapter 7.
The word translated as “incapable” verse 5) is lo’ yakol. The idea here is of a failure to prevail against the temptation. They are incapable of innocence because they refuse to say no to the temptation all around them.
PRAYER PAUSE:
How have you failed to prevail against the temptations presented to you each day? Pray now for the strength to resist and prevail.
_______
Hosea 8:6-7
For now, we’ll just look at the last portion of verse 6 and the first portion of verse 7. God says the calf will be broken into pieces, or splinters. This indicates that the calves were probably made of wood and overlaid with gold, not solid gold. This is one more indicator of the insubstantial nature of their idols. The Golden Calves weren’t really gold. They were “gold-plated”.
Hosea goes on to write that the people have sown the wind and will reap a whirlwind. The word translated as “wind” is often used in Scripture to indicate the Holy Spirit, but in this instance, it is used as in Isaiah 26:18 to indicate vanity or futility.
If you’ve ever planted seeds, this question should be easy for you.
18) How effective is the sowing when seeds are cast directly into the wind?
19) Just in case, here’s a link to the definition of futility:
The choices the people of God made on a daily basis were like seeds sown in the garden of life. They had the option, every day, to sow seeds of righteousness or seeds of idolatry and futility. The choices they made were not only wrong, they were futile. They had no point. No good outcome.
In fact, they reaped what they never expected. A whirlwind, or tornado.
20) Several verses speak of this whirlwind, so let’s see what God has to say and what we can learn.
Proverbs 22:8
Isaiah 66:15-16
Nahum 1:3
Not only does a whirlwind bring with it terror and destruction, it also brings loss and grief. Never does a tornado distribute joy, peace, or personal satisfaction to those in its path.
Added to the whirlwind is the problem of the grain that grew from the seeds.
21) What’s the problem with the grain?
Standing grain is grain that’s matured and is ready for harvest. The problem with this grain is that it’s nothing more than spindly grass. There's no “head” and no nutritional value. This shows us that the seeds of idolatry yield nothing of value. It’s a futile effort that is destined to fail.
PRAYER PAUSE:
When our choices are ungodly, we, too, sow to the wind. We, too, can expect to reap a whirlwind and harvest grain without heads. Pray now for godly choices for yourself and for those you love. Pray that the destruction of ungodly choices might reap just enough consequences to bring repentance.
____________
This passage continues with Hosea’s theme of threes. This time, he writes of three images used to describe God’s people.
22) Let’s identify those images, then we’ll consider them one at a time.
(See verse 8)
(See verse 9)
(See verse 13. This one is a little subtle.)
The vessel in which no one delights:
Verse 8 begins with these chilling words. “Israel is swallowed up.” See 2 Kings 17:6.
23) How were they “swallowed” and by whom?
The people were scattered like “a vessel in which no one delights”.
24) What kind of vessel might this be? (See Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-6)
A potter I know says one of the most important tools in the pottery studio is his hammer. When a piece fails to meet his standards, he shatters it into shards. He wants the pottery that leaves his studio to bring honor to his skill and his business. If that vessel fails to measure up, no one will want it, least of all the potter. The pottery that is not “delightful” is destroyed.
The word translated as “vessel” can mean more than just a bowl or cup.
25) What other kind of vessel could this mean and how could it relate to Israel? Here’s your link to BLB:
26) How was Israel a vessel in which no one delights?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Isaiah 64:8 describes us as the clay with which our Heavenly Father, the Divine Potter, works. When He looks at our lives, does He see the kind of vessels in which He delights, or have we allowed sin to mar our vessel?
Pray now that He would remove anything that limits our usefulness in His Hands.
_______________
The wild donkey:
Ishmael was the first one described as a “wild donkey of a man.”
27) What characteristics in Ishmael led to this description? (Read Genesis 16:12)
28) Read Jeremiah 2:23-24 to find another description of God’s people as a “wild donkey”. What behavior is described?
I found a fascinating article on the “wild asses of the Negev” which is worth reading. Here’s the link:
29) Now, put all you’ve learned about the wild donkey together. How was Israel like a wild donkey?
The willing captive:
30) When Ephraim had trouble, to whom did they go for help (instead of to the Lord)? (See Hosea 7:11)
In Scripture, sometimes “Egypt” indicates the nation located to the southwest of Israel. Sometimes, “Egypt” is symbolic of slavery. In this instance, both are indicated.
31) How could the two meanings of “Egypt” in Hosea 8:13 apply to Ephraim?
Mankind was created to have communion with the Triune God. He desires a no-holds-barred, all-in dedication. Paul described this relationship as being a bondservant, a willing servant who has relinquished all opportunity for freedom to serve his master for the rest of his live. It is an irrevocable commitment. (See Acts 16:17 and Romans 1:1)
Paul understood an important truth. Mankind will subjugate ourselves to something. Either the world and sin will have dominion over us or we will relinquish control of our lives to Almighty God.
Israel chose a kind of freedom that served self and pleasure, but it resulted in a kind of bondage from which they never escaped. It was in stark contrast to the freedom of Christ
32) What did Jesus say would set us free? John 8:32
33) Instead of serving ourselves, what should our relationship with Christ free us to do? Galatians 5:13,14
The chapter concludes with three “I wills” from God. When something is repeated in Scripture, it’s done so to indicate a kind of confirmation. God is saying, “I’ve told you this already, and I’m repeating it because I mean it, so listen up.” (Leanna Paraphrase)
“I will gather them up” (v. 10) See Ezekiel 16:35-43 for a graphic description of God’s charges against His people and the penalty they will pay.
34) What does God say He will do to Israel?
This passage in Ezekiel is a powerful judgment against God’s people. Ultimately, Israel’s enemies will take all the things their idolatry seemed to give. It will result in total destruction. The severity of God’s response may seem harsh, but it will a tremendous impact on their sin. Judgment will bring their idolatry to an end.
“I will remember and punish” (v.13)
We looked at the issue of God “remembering” sin when we studied Hosea 7:2. When we sin, our desire is to conceal rather than reveal our actions.
35) Read Luke 12:2 to find out what Jesus has to say about concealing and revealing and record it here.
PRAYER PAUSE:
Now is the time for us to recognize our “hidden sins”, repent, and ask God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Pray for the strength to live as those who have been redeemed by the cleansing blood of the Lamb.
____________
“I will send fire” (v. 14) See Ezekiel 22:20, Jeremiah 17:27
The word translated as “palatial dwellings” (in my NASB) implies more than a fancy house. See BLB for more on this word. Here’s the link:
36) What does `armown indicate? (See Outline of Biblical Usage)
When God moves in judgment against His people, there is no citadel or fortress strong enough to provide protection from the fire of His wrath.
37) See 2 Kings 25:9 to learn how Hosea’s prophecy was fulfilled.
Chapter 8 has a sobering lesson for us all. We may sin for a season, but there will be a price. God will allow His people to drift only so long. There will be judgment and, if our sin is unabated, He will allow the destruction that results from our sin to overtake us.
When God says, “I will”, He means it.
PRAYER PAUSE:
Consider for a moment how the body of Christ in this country compares to the people of God in Hosea’s time. We are called to be salt and light to a dark and perishing world. Is the light of Christ emanating from your life sufficient to draw people to Christ? Does your “saltiness” leave people thirsty for living water?
How can you fulfill the challenge of 2 Chronicles 7:14?
_____________________
Before we leave Hosea 8, it’s important to remember that God brought judgment on His people for a reason. He allowed them to go into captivity with a specific end in mind. God is not spiteful or overly harsh. Instead, He loves His own, and His desire is for a restored relationship.
During Rheoboam’s reign, Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Judah. The king and the people humbled themselves and cried out to God. He helped them, but not the way they expected.
38) What did God allow and why? Read 2 Chronicles 12:7-8.
Closing thoughts:
My pastor taught a compelling series on Hosea recently. (The sermons are available online. Here’s the link to the sermon archive.
If you scroll down, you can find all five Hosea sermons. The Speaker column will list “Scooter Noland" and the Series (far right) will list “Hosea_ A Love Story” and the number of the lesson.)
His lesson on Hosea 8 (taught on a Weds. night and, thus, not in the video series) included some profound lessons:
If we are God’s people, we must surrender to His Lordship.
2) When we reject His Lordship, we may get what we want, but lose what we have. There’s always a price. (Samson and Delilah is one example.)
3) Israel worshipped the golden calves because they represented power and fertility. They were so focused on receiving the blessings of God that they missed having a relationship with God. They sought His hand and not His heart.
4) Jesus plus anything is a trap to be avoided at all costs. Our Triune God will not share His Lordship with our idols.
5) God cares enough to warn us about the consequences of our sin.
6) A lost and dying world knows a vulture circling its carrion when they see it, even if God’s people do not.
_____________
Good news! We are now 57% of the way through Hosea. Don’t give up. There’s more to learn and a blessing to receive, so persevere to the end. Thank you for your endurance and your desire to learn more about our sweet Lord.
A little extra:
The photo above is of Jericho, thought to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. This was the home of Zacchaeus. It was also the site of Israel's first battle upon entering the promised land.
Here's the link to Chapter Nine.
#Hosea #Biblestudy #ndepthBiblestudy
A little extra:
The photo above is of Jericho, thought to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. This was the home of Zacchaeus. It was also the site of Israel's first battle upon entering the promised land.
Here's the link to Chapter Nine.
#Hosea #Biblestudy #ndepthBiblestudy
