Hosea 8:14

[from the SSB men’s study on Thursday mornings]

God is troubled!  Disobedience and rebellion matter!  God sees, cares, and responds:  (8:1) Set the trumpet to your mouth!  He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.  Israel had decided to do things their way – govern their way – set in their own leaders (8:4).  They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.  (A warning to us about the 2020 election.)

So God called for the rod of discipline, an enemy, who, when approaching, caused the people to plead their relationship with God: (8:2) Israel will cry to Me, “My God, we know You!”  Yet God will punish because (8:3) Israel has rejected the good so the enemy will pursue him.

Then Hosea 8:14, For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and has built temples (palaces); Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his palaces.

What is being said here:

1. “Israel has forgotten”  

Ever happen to us?  What is 11 x 11?  What year was the Constitution signed?  Who was the fifth US President?  Why do we forget?  What must we do so to not forget?

Is it a problem if I forget to send in my taxes?  Is it a problem if I don’t get my car licensed?

Can I simply say, “I forgot”?  Is forgetting an acceptable excuse?

2. “his Maker” – not her Maker (NIV says “their”)

The use of the male pronoun points to government – to authority structures (it’s why God is referred to as male – it is not gender but a headship notation).  If it said “she”, the focus would be on the people.  While the people are not innocent, the focus is on the government.  USA?

3. “built temples”  

Or stadiums or arenas… Hmm?  Any warning here for the USA?

4. “multiplied fortified cities”  

Thoughts go to the emphasis and hope we have in our military.  We have a huge military/industrial complex.  Surely we are safe!  We have multiple layers of defense.  But from God?

5. “fire upon his cities”  

Cities are collection places.  Why are Omaha and Lincoln growing while Kimble and Alma are not?  Follow the money.  What marks lower Manhattan?  Broad and Wall –money, and there people cluster.  Cities may offer hope and success, but they can also be places of violence – guns and attacks.

6. “devour his palaces”

Then there are those among us who live in splendor behind walls with gated entrances.  They pull the levers of power that affect the populace yet live protected lives.  Their “palaces” are not off God’s radar.

What is God going to do with His rebellious children?  God is going to send them to their rooms named Egypt and Assyria. (9:3-4) They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria.  And they will plead and say, “I’m sorry!”
Yet: (9:4) They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lord, nor shall their sacrifices be pleasing to Him.  Their attempts to please God with offerings will not be accepted.

And, their “time out” will be for a long time causing them to miss some very important days (9:5-6), And in the day of the feast of the Lord?  For indeed they are gone because of destruction.

God put this story in the pages of Scripture for our edification – for our learning – may we learn!