Hosea 8
The Life Study Bible advises us to read this chapter with the understanding that we might often seek repentance only in order to dodge dealing with the negative results of our behaviour, rather than truly asking for God to change our inmost being to be less ‘me’ and more ‘Him’. In this chapter, God attacks the physical fortresses and defences of Israel (v.14). These physical barriers are symptomatic of Israel’s attempt to seek protection from their one-enemy Assyria, rather than turning to face God (v.9). God tells us in Zechariah 2:5 that ‘I myself will be a wall of fire around [Jerusalem]…and the glory within’. Israel has fooled itself into thinking that their barricade built through the support of an enemy is better. Israel doesn’t place its trust in God, breaking His heart again. In v.14 God actually feels forgotten.
Although imbued with anger, God is speaking of His raw emotion. Again remembering the first four chapters of Hosea, God loves His people passionately, alluring them in the desert (2:14), and betrothing them to Himself forever (2:19). Israel had no reason to distrust God, and yet they did. Why do we find it so easy to doubt Him even though He has never left us? Another thing that is easy for us to do is corrupt the good things God gave us, as v.11 shows. We need only think of sex, power, wisdom, food, prosperity, – even spiritual gifts – are all things that are corrupted and abused in our unfaithful hands. Moreover, in v.6, God cries out against the foolishness of false idolatry. These man-made metal idols cannot even compete against the true sovereignty of God Himself, and we are just as foolish when we elevate our ‘modern’ idols (sex, food etc.) above God. To God, idolatry isn’t a competition – it’s just stupidity, and we’re so senseless that at times we don’t even realise we’re doing it (v.4, 7, 13).
Is our repentance authentic, or are we only seeking to avoid answering for our misdeeds? Do we grasp just how foolish we are when we replace God with worldly things? Do we realise just how much we hurt God when we doubt Him? Do we really acknowledge who He is, and what He has done for us?
(member of the congregation)