HOSEA 9:10

The Bible says in Hosea 9:10-12, “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.[11] As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.[12] Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!” These verses are an introduction to two things: 1. How sinful and corrupt the nation of Israel had become! 2. How much God had to bring judgment on them because of their sins and because they did not repent of their sins! Why did the Israelites sin so much and turn so completely away from the Lord? The answer is this: because they wanted to. It says in verse 10 that they “separated themselves unto that shame,” and “their abominations were according as they loved.”

Every good thing that we have comes from God. Woe to man when God decides to take away that which He has given. Even the Great Giver to all mankind can become angry and take away that which He hath given. Why? Because of the sinfulness of people. We need to repent of our sins and turn to Jesus not only because of our eternal destiny, but also because of consequences in this life. The Israelites had “glory” until God took it away. This refers to their victory and success in the land of Canaan. It refers to their existence as a nation. The foundation of every nation is the family, and family is all about having children and raising them to be the next generation. God said about their children in Hosea 9:12, “Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them.”

The Bible says in Hosea 9:13-17, “Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.[14] Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.[15] All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.[16] Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.[17] My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.” We are in a long passage now of describing what happens to a people and a nation when God takes His blessings away from them. Something similar may be what happened to France after what they did to the Huguenots. It may be what happened to Germany after what they did to the Jews. And it may be what is happening to America as America turns from its Christian heritage and turns to a godless secularism. As it says in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Before the judgment of God came against Israel, it says in Hosea 9:13 that they were “planted in a pleasant place.” But just look at the words and phrases that are used to describe the future this nation faced: verse 13, “his children to the murderer.” Verse 14, “a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.” Verse 15, “I hated them,” “I will drive them out,” and “I will love them no more.” Verse 16: “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit” and “I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.” Verse 17: “My God will cast them away” and “they shall be wanderers.” It is terrible what happened to the nation of Israel. One question to ask is: how can we avoid the same fate? We can do so if more people will turn from their sins and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Two of the statements in Hosea 9:15 we must comment on. God said, “I hated them,” and God said, “I will love them no more.” What are we talking about from a practical standpoint? Divorce. God divorced His wife (Israel), and replaced her with another (the believers in Christ, i.e.: the Church). God is love, but that does not mean that He is not capable of hatred. In a way hatred is a form of love. This kind of hatred is love spurned. God loved Israel so much, but they went away from Him; and they left Him no choice. Of course, we must also look at this from a historical perspective. We are talking about people who lived under the old covenant of the law: the Old Testament. You will never find language like this in the New Testament for those who live under the new covenant. In the New Testament we find statements like the one in John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” And it says in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Thank God that Jesus brought us the New Testament by giving His blood. Now we have eternal assurance that He will never stop loving us and will never reject us. That is why Jesus said in John 10:28-29, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.[29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

The Bible says in Hosea 10:1-3, “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.[2] Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.[3] For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?” These verses show that one of the spiritual failures of the Israelites was that they had fallen into self-sufficiency. This is a sin because we are supposed to be relying upon God. Notice the phrase in Hosea 10:1, “he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.” This means that the Israelites were living for themselves instead of living for God. Everything that we do should be for God’s glory and for the glory of the name of Christ, and not for ourselves. Our prayer should always be about everything that we are involved with: “O Lord may your name be glorified by this activity or this endeavor.” Notice also Hosea 10:3, “For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?” That statement is an expression of arrogance and self-sufficiency that is just not right. They rejected a king being over them because they had already rejected God being over them. Actually, there is a relationship between being properly submissive to God and also being properly submissive to the human authorities that God has put in place. Total independence from all authority is anarchy. God has put human authority in place in the family and in the nation so that human beings will be organized and rightly related to one another. If you can learn to be surrendered to God and His will, then you will have the ability to be surrendered to the human authorities around you. That is why it says in Romans 13:1-7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.[2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.[3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:[4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.[5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.[6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.[7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” Concerning the parent-child relationship, it says in Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.[2] Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)[3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.[4] And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Concerning the workplace, it says in Romans 6:5-9, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;[6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;[7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:[8] Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.[9] And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.” Many people have pierced themselves through with many sorrows just because they have not understood God’s will for submission to those in the hierarchy where they have been placed.

The Bible says in Hosea 10:4-13, “They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.[5] The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.[6] It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.[7] As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.[8] The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.[9] O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.[10] It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.[11] And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.[12] Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.[13] Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” The theme of this passage of scripture is: reaping what you sow. This is an important principle of life on this earth, and we had better not forget it. What happens to each of us and why does it happen? One of the main explanations of what happens to you and why it happens is: you are experiencing the consequences of your own actions and words. If you want to change what happens to you, then change your actions and words.

There is something taking place in the natural world around us that demonstrates this truth every day. That which is planted in the ground is that which grows up. You do not plan an apple tree, and then go pick strawberries from it. It says in Hosea 10:3, “thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.” It says in Hosea 10:8, “the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars.” It says in Hosea 10:11, “Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.” And then this passage concludes with two great verses on this subject in Hosea 10:12-13, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.[13] Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” The same spiritual and practical truth is stated very clearly in the New Testament also in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

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