Oséias 7

1 Quando eu tento curar Israel,o mal de Efraim fica expostoe os crimes de Samaria são revelados.Pois praticam o engano,ladrões entram nas casas,bandidos roubam nas ruas;

2 mas eles não percebem queeu me lembro de todas as suas más obras.Seus pecados os envolvem;eu os vejo constantemente.

3 “Eles alegram o rei com as suas impiedades,os líderes, com as suas mentiras.

4 São todos adúlteros,queimando como um fornocujo fogo o padeiro não precisa atiçar,desde quando sova a massa até quando a faz crescer.

5 No dia da festa de nosso reios líderes são inflamados pelo vinho,e o rei dá as mãos aos zombadores.

6 Quando se aproximam com suas intrigas,seus corações ardem como um forno.A fúria deles arde lentamente a noite toda;pela manhã queima como chama abrasadora.

7 Todos eles se esquentam como um fornoe devoram os seus governantes.Todos os seus reis caem,e ninguém clama a mim.

8 “Efraim mistura-se com as nações;Efraim é um bolo que não foi virado.

9 Estrangeiros sugam sua força,mas ele não o percebe.Seu cabelo vai ficando grisalho,^[a]mas ele nem repara nisso.

10 A arrogância de Israel testifica contra ele,mas, apesar de tudo isso,ele não se volta para o SENHOR, para o seu Deus,e não o busca.

11 “Efraim é como uma pombafacilmente enganada e sem entendimento;ora apela para o Egito,ora volta-se para a Assíria.

12 Quando se forem, atirarei sobre eles a minha rede;eu os farei descer como as aves dos céus.Quando os ouvir em sua reunião,eu os apanharei.

13 Ai deles,porque se afastaram de mim!Destruição venha sobre eles,porque se rebelaram contra mim!Eu desejo redimi-los, mas elesfalam mentiras a meu respeito.

14 Eles não clamam a mim do fundo do coraçãoquando gemem orando em suas camas.Ajuntam-se^[b] por causa do trigoe do vinho,mas se afastam de mim.

15 Eu os ensinei e os fortaleci,mas eles tramam o mal contra mim.

16 Eles não se voltam para o Altíssimo;são como um arco defeituoso.Seus líderes serão mortos à espadapor causa de suas palavras insolentes.E por isso serão ridicularizadosno Egito.

Oséias 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]. Hebraico: "A cinza espalha-se pelo seu cabelo."
• [b]. Conforme a maioria dos manuscritos do Texto Massorético. Alguns manuscritos do Texto Massorético e a Septuaginta dizem "Eles se cortam."

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.