God and Hosea have both, almost exhaustively, called Israel to repent. But Israel’s response has been only outward at best with still an unchanged heart. And so, both God and Hosea have more to say. We begin by hearing from Hosea.
Read Hosea 10:1-2
In these verses, the Hebrew is not clear whether Hosea is referring to the present or the past. During Jeroboam II’s reign, the Northern Kingdom did prosper and Hosea’s imagery of a luxuriant vine was accurate.
– During this time of material prosperity, what was built from this material prosperity?
– Yet what was the state of Israel’s heart?
Read Hosea 10:3-6
After Jeroboam II, his son, Zechariah, reigned as king for six months. After that, Shallum reigned only a month.
– Israel did have kings. So, how could they say, “We have no king”? How did this point to Israel’s current circumstances and their future?
– What will be carried to Assyria? (vs. 6)
Read Hosea 10:7-8
For these two verses, we need to remember Hosea’s earlier wordplay by referring to Beth-El (house of God) as Beth-Aven (house of evil). Bethel was a place of much false worship.
New Testament Tie-In
Read Luke 23:26-31
– What was Jesus saying when He said, “If they do these things when the wood is green, what will happened when it is dry?”
– To what future events was Jesus alluding when He referred to Israel (Judea) as being “dry”?
Read Hosea 10:9-10
– In verse 11, Hosea used farming imagery. Explore:
- Trained calf
- Loved to thresh
- Spared her fair neck
– Verse 12 is a call for what?
Read Hosea 10:13-15
– Ultimately, despite the outcome, idolatry is trusting in whose way over God’s way?
In verse 14, “Shalman” may refer to Shalmaneser V of Assyria. He captured Beth Arbel, a city in on the fringes of the Northern Kingdom. There, he let his soldiers massacre Israelite women and children.
– What does Hosea say will happen to Bethel?
Read Hosea 11:1
In our relation to God, it always starts with Him. Here, God mentions His starting-point with the Israelites. Chapter 11 is a beautiful chapter, which give us a look into the heart of God.
New Testament Tie-In
Read Matthew 2:13-15
Matthew not only saw what Hosea wrote as a “love letter” to His people back in the Old Covenant, but also a prophecy pointing forward to THE Son of God.
– With that imagery in mind, how was Jesus different than the earlier son?
– What then does Jesus become as “Israel”?
Read Hosea 11:2-4
– What image do we have for the Northern Kingdom?
– What image do we have for God?
Read Hosea 11:5-7
– In verse 5, we see the idea of returning being used in two ways. Because of Israel’s refusal to return to God (repent), what will happen?
– Why won’t God exalt them even if they call out to the Him? (This also ties into Hosea 10:13)
– What is the irony of what God says in Hosea 11:1 followed by what He says in 11:5?
Read Hosea 11:8-9
Here God agonizes about what to do with Ephraim/Israel.
– What does God want to do?
– What does this say about God and dealing with spiritual rebellion and eternal life as His child?
Read Hosea 11:10-11
In these verses, God’s tone changes. (It also refers to God, not as God referring to Himself (I), but in third-person address (He).) It’s as if God is seeing a time where everything will be different for His people.
– Egypt and Assyria are mentioned. Are they Jewish or Gentile locations?
– So although the Northern Kingdom will become assimilated into Gentile lands, who will return “them to their homes”?
– What does this mean in light of the New Covenant?
