HOSEA 9
15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house.
I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth, I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them because they have not listened to him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations. – Hosea 9:15-17
HOSEA 9 WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE REJECT GOD
In Isaiah 1 the prophet saw a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Isaiah spoke as the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. The prophet is speaking about the abomination they committed in Gilgal. Because of their wickedness, they will be shunned out of the Lord’s house. Calvin comments “When God threatens to eject Israel from his house, it is the same as though he said, “I will wholly cast you away;” as when one cuts off a withered branch from a tree, or a diseased member from the body.”
In Deuteronomy 28, God gave them a blessing and a curse before they entered the land. The blessing was dependent on their obedience, and they would be cursed if they didn’t obey. One of these blessings for obedience would be a fruitful womb, and one of the curses for disobedience would be a barren womb. Hosea pronounces the consequence of their idolatry which reaps fruitlessness. Because they have rejected God, they shall be wanderers among the nations. Some commentaries say that since the exile of Israel and then later Judah, this is still the case almost three thousand years later.
No one who claims they are believers can run from a life of hypocrisy. It will be dealt with harshly by the Lord himself.
REFLECTION
- What leads a believer to live a life of hypocrisy?
