Oseas 7

1 cuando sane yo a Israel,la perversidad de Efraín y la maldad de Samariaquedarán al descubierto.Porque ellos cometen fraudes;mientras el ladrón se mete en las casas,una banda de salteadores roba en las calles.

2 No se ponen a pensarque yo tomo en cuenta todas sus maldades.Sus malas acciones los tienen cercados,y las tengo muy presentes.

3 »Con su maldad deleitan al rey;con sus mentiras, a las autoridades.

4 Parecen un horno encendidocuyo fuego no hace falta atizardesde que el panadero prepara la harinahasta que la masa fermenta.¡Todos ellos son adúlteros!

5 En la fiesta del rey las autoridades se enciendenbajo los efectos del vino,y el rey pierde su dignidadcodeándose con la plebe.

6 Como el horno, se les prende el corazón,dispuesto para la intriga.Su ira se adormece por la noche,pero se reaviva por la mañana.

7 Todos ellos arden como un horno;devoran a sus gobernantes.Caen todos sus reyes,pero ninguno de ellos me invoca.

8 »Efraín se mezcla con las naciones;parece una torta cocida de un solo lado.

9 Los extranjeros le minan las fuerzas,pero él ni cuenta se da.Su pelo se ha encanecido,pero él ni cuenta se da.

10 La arrogancia de Israel testifica en su contra,pero él no se vuelve al SEÑOR su Dios;a pesar de todo esto, no lo busca.

11 »Efraín es como una palomatorpe y sin entendimiento,que unas veces pide ayuda a Egiptoy otras, recurre a Asiria.

12 Pero tan pronto como lo hagan,lanzaré mi red sobre ellos;los derribaré como a las aves del cielo,¡siete veces los castigaré por sus pecados!^[a]

13 ¡Ay de ellos, que de mí se alejaron!¡Que sean destruidos por rebelarse contra mí!Yo bien podría redimirlos,pero ellos no me hablan con la verdad.

14 No me invocan de corazón,sino que se lamentan echados en sus camas.Para obtener grano y vino nuevo se laceran^[b]y se ponen en mi contra.

15 Yo adiestré y fortalecí sus brazos,pero ellos maquinan maldades contra mí.

16 No se vuelven al Altísimo;son como un arco engañoso.Sus autoridades caerán a filo de espadapor sus palabras insolentes,y en la tierra de Egiptose burlarán 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "siete veces " "… " "por sus pecados " (lectura probable); "según la noticia a su asamblea " (TM).
• [b]. "se laceran " (mss. hebreos y LXX); "residen como extranjeros " (TM).

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.