Hosea 7

1 When I would heal Israel, the evil acts of Ephraim are exposed, and the wicked deeds of Samaria; for they deceive and steal, a thief breaks in; a group of bandits raid outside.

2 But they don't consider within their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds show who they are, right in front of my face.

3 By their wickedness they make the king glad, and give joy to the officials with their lies.

4 They all act like adulterers; they are like a heated oven, whose baker doesn't need to stoke the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

5 On the day of our king, the officials became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand to those who mocked him.

6 They approach like a hot oven, their hearts burning. Throughout the night, their anger smolders; in the morning, it continues to burn like a flaming fire.

7 All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen; none of them call upon me.

8 Ephraim mixes himself among the people; Ephraim is like flatbread that is cooked on only one side.

9 Strangers have eaten up his strength, yet he doesn't know it; gray hairs are sprinkled here and there upon him, yet he doesn't know it.

10 Israel's pride is a witness against him; yet they don't return to the LORD their God, or seek him because of all this.

Foolishness and God’s wrath

11 Ephraim has become like a dove, silly and without common sense; they call upon Egypt; they go to Assyria.

12 As they go, I will spread my net over them; like birds in the sky, I will bring them down; I will judge them according to the report made to their assembly.

13 Doom to them, for they have strayed from me; destruction will be their lot because they have rebelled against me. I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.

14 They don't cry to me from the heart, but they sob upon their beds; they fight over grain and wine; they resist me.

15 It was I who gave them their strength, yet they plot evil against me.

16 They return, but not to the Most High; they have become like a worthless bow; their officials will fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongues; in Egypt they will make fun of them.

Hosea 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]. Or cut themselves
• [b]. Heb uncertain
• [c]. Or they will be scorned in the land of Egypt.

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.