Oseas 7

1 Israel ama la perversidad
»Yo quiero sanar a Israel,
pero sus pecados son demasiado grandes.
Samaria está llena de mentirosos.
¡Hay ladrones adentro
y bandidos afuera!

2 La gente no se da cuenta
de que los estoy mirando.
Están cercados por sus acciones pecaminosas
y yo las veo todas.

3 »El pueblo entretiene al rey con sus perversidades
y los príncipes se ríen de todas las mentiras del pueblo.

4 Son todos adúlteros,
siempre ardiendo con pasión.
Son como un horno que se mantiene caliente
mientras el panadero prepara la masa.

5 Durante una fiesta del rey, los príncipes se emborrachan con vino,
y se entregan a la juerga con los que se burlan de ellos.

6 Sus corazones son como un horno
recalentado con intriga.
Sus maquinaciones humean
durante la noche
y por la mañana estallan en un incendio violento.

7 Como un horno ardiente,
consumen a sus líderes.
Matan a sus reyes uno tras otro,
y nadie clama a mí en busca de ayuda.

8 »El pueblo de Israel se mezcla con paganos de otras naciones,
¡y se vuelven tan inútiles como un pastel a medio cocer!

9 El rendir culto a dioses ajenos consume sus fuerzas,
pero ellos ni cuenta se dan.
Su cabello se ha encanecido
pero no se dan cuenta de que están viejos y débiles.

10 Su arrogancia testifica en su contra,
sin embargo, no se vuelven al Señor
su Dios,
ni siquiera tratan de encontrarlo.

11 »El pueblo de Israel se ha vuelto como palomas, necias y tontas;
primero clama a Egipto en busca de ayuda y luego vuela a Asiria.

12 Pero mientras revolotean,
arrojaré mi red sobre ellos
y los derribaré como a un pájaro que cae del cielo.
Los castigaré por todo el mal que hacen.

13 »¡Qué aflicción les espera a los que me han abandonado!
Déjenlos morir porque se han rebelado contra mí.
Yo deseaba redimirlos
pero han dicho mentiras de mí.

14 En lugar de invocarme con corazón sincero
se quedan sentados en sus sillones y se lamentan.
Se hacen cortaduras en el cuerpo
y suplican grano y vino nuevo a dioses ajenos
y se alejan de mí.

15 Yo los entrené y los hice fuertes,
pero ahora, traman maldades en mi contra.

16 Miran en todas partes menos al Altísimo.
Son tan inútiles como un arco torcido.
Sus líderes morirán a manos de sus enemigos
a causa de su insolencia hacia mí.
Entonces el pueblo de Egipto
se reirá de ellos.

Oseas 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The manifold sins of Israel. (1-7) Their senselessness and hypocrisy. (8-16)

Verses 1-7 A practical disbelief of God's government was at the bottom of all israel's wickedness; as if God could not see it or did not heed it. Their sins appear on every side of them. Their hearts were inflamed by evil desires, like a heated oven. In the midst of their troubles as a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God. The actual wickedness of men's lives bears a very small proportion to what is in their hearts. But when lust is inwardly cherished, it will break forth into outward sin. Those who tempt others to drunkenness never can be their real friends, and often design their ruin. Thus men execute the Divine vengeance on each other. Those are not only heated with sin, but hardened in sin, who continue to live without prayer, even when in trouble and distress.

Verses 8-16 Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Though they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldom cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercies only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment, form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ and holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 7

This chapter either begins a new sermon, discourse, or prophecy, or it is a continuation of the former; at least it seems to be of the same argument with the latter part of it, only it is directed to Israel alone; and consists of complaints against them because of their manifold sins, and of denunciations of punishment for them. They are charged with ingratitude to God, sinning in a daring manner against mercy, and with falsehood, thefts, and robberies, Ho 7:1; with want of consideration of the omniscience of God, and his notice of their sins, which surrounded them, Ho 7:2; with flattery to their king and princes, Ho 7:3; with adultery, which lust raged in them like a heated oven, Ho 7:4; with drunkenness, aggravated by drawing their king into it, Ho 7:5; with raging lusts, which devoured their judges, made their kings to fall, and brought on such a general corruption, that there were none that called upon the Lord, Ho 7:6,7; with mixing themselves with the nations of the earth, and so learning their ways, and bringing their superstition and idolatry into the worship of God, so that they were nothing in religion, like a half baked cake, Ho 7:8; with stupidity and insensibility of their declining state, Ho 7:9; with pride, impenitence, and stubbornness, Ho 7:10; with folly, in seeking to Egypt and Assyria for help, and not to the Lord; for which they would be taken as birds in a net, and sorely chastised, Ho 7:11,12; with ingratitude, hypocrisy, and deceitfulness; for all which they are threatened with destruction, Ho 7:13-16.