We have learned that Israel half-heartedly repented. The repentance was not real repentance but only of outward show—and even the outward show of repentance was not convincing. And so the harsh words for Israel continue.
Read Hosea 8:1-3
Hosea used a word to describe a bird overhead, ready to eat Israel. The word can either mean “eagle” or “vulture”. Based on the context, vulture seems to be the best understanding.
– What does a vulture eat?
– What does that imagery say about whom the vulture is about to consume?
– What does this say about Israel’s standing with God, despite their protestations that they know Him?
Read Hosea 8:4-6
– Contrary to the kingly line of David, which was to endure forever, what did the Northern Kingdom have as their kingly line(s)?
– How does this shatter the King of Israel being a shadow pointing forward to the reality of the promised Messiah?
– What does Israel saying that they know God and yet they make worship idols of silver and gold show?
Read Hosea 8:7-10
– Does sowing the wind produce any crop? How does this describe Israel’s actions?
– Instead of reaping grain, what does Israel reap? Discuss.
– What is the Northern Kingdom’s status as a special people whom God had originally set apart for a holy purpose? (vs. 8-10)
Read Hosea 8:11-16
– What does verse 11 imply about how the institutionalized religion of mixing idolatry and the worship of Yahweh in the Northern Kingdom is prospering?
– Does this help explain the repetitive content of Hosea’s call to repentance?
– What does God remembering their iniquity and punishing their sins show about their spirituality and faith?
– Thus, because Israel was still under the Old Covenant, what was their outward punishment meant to reveal?
Read Hosea 9:1-6
These verses continue the harsh words from the prophet.
– Why should Israel not be rejoicing?
– Ephraim returning to Egypt shows what?
– Ephraim eating unclean food in Assyria shows what?
In the Old Covenant, wine and bread were used in religious eating (both in the proper worship of Yahweh and in the syncretistic religion of the Northern Kingdom).
– Instead of the wine and bread being for the Israel’s benefit, what is happening instead?
– Extrapolate a New-Covenant tie in for receiving the Lord’s Supper apart from faith.
Read Hosea 9:7-9
We now hear the people’s reaction to what Hosea has said. We first hear the people repeating what Hosea said, mocking him. Yet, amid their mockery, we hear their real opinion of Hosea.
– How do the people view Hosea?
Read Hosea 9:10-13
We now hear Hosea speak for God from a first-person point of view.
– God starts out speaking wistfully about Israel. Contrast the differences about how God feels for Israel between the first part of verse 10 and the second part.
– What will happen to the Northern Kingdom as a national and/or political entity?
– Will they still be God’s holy people?
Read Hosea 9:14
Here, Hosea repeats what the Lord has said in a prayer format.
Read Hosea 9:15-16
Again, the narrative switches to God’s first-person voice. Israel had become devoted to their mixture of idol worship and Yahweh at such shrines as Bethel, Beersheba, and Gilgal (Hosea 4:15 and Amos 5:5). Here, we see God basically repeat what He had said in verses 10-13 using slightly different imagery.
Read Hosea 9:17
– How does Hosea wrap up what God had been saying in this chapter?
– What does this say about how one can fall from the faith?
