Israel's leaders rebuked
Hosea 5:1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.
The Priests and the political leadership had failed the people. They set up temples to worship false gods. A snare and a net were upon two places of false worship: Mitzpah and Tabor. When we get to seeking after what the world loves, then we get in trouble. Satan loves to entice us to do wrong.
Hosea 5:2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
The rebels are deeply involved in killings, either animal sacrifices or human killings. The LORD rebuked them and yet they continued. If we are found in sin and the LORD rebukes or convicts us, the only way to react is to repent, to change our ways in obedience to the LORD. These ignored the LORD's rebukes.
Hosea 5:3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
I know Ephraim and Israel; their ways are known by me, for they commit whoredoms with false gods and are defiled. They were spiritually defiled by worshipping false gods.
Hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
Hosea 5:5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
They were full of pride and arrogantly considered their own ways as better than the way of the LORD.
Hosea 5:6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
They bring their animals for sacrifice, but they cannot find God, because he has backed away from them. Their continuous rebellion caused God to withdraw from them. I see many like this, who make sport of religion and they themselves cannot find God. They often become bitter cynics or active enemies to God's work.
Hosea 5:7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
They served God in vain, hypocritically. They had secret sins and false ways and brought others into this. Their monthly sacrifices to the new moon meant nothing.
Hosea 5:8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.
Hosea 5:9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.
Wake up you people who sin, the trumpet sounds, be aware of the way your are going. The cornet was showphar, a ram's horn. The trumpet was chatsotserah, a trumpet or clarion. Modern day cornets are shorter than trumpets. They all make a shrill sound.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jer 6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
Jer 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Hosea 5:10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
The princes of Judah were as those who moved landmarks. There are spiritual landmarks too. We do not change God's word. They replaced God's truth with idolotry.They cheated and lied to achieve their own purposes. Do we want to do God's purpose for us? Then we have to do it his way. Because of their rebellion God was forced to pour out his wrath upon them like water.
2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Tim 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
You cannot please God if you are committing spiritual adultery.
Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.
The tribe of Ephraim followed the commandments of men and not God. They were oppressed, defrauded and deceived.
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Hosea 5:12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.
As a moth
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
As rottenness
Isa 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Isa 5:26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
Hosea 5:13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
King Jareb the Assrian; Jareb means quarrelsome and contention. He was not for them, but their enemy. They went to their enemy for help, instead of to their LORD.
Hosea 5:14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Assyria could not help them. Just as we cannot depend upon China to bail us out of our spending debt. The problem is that all have turned away from God and his commandments. He brings judgement as a lion; it was as if the devil was after them. What then? Do not wait, but seek him early; pray and turn from your sins. The LORD'S purpose then and now is restoration. His wrath is upon the disobedient so do not fight your salvation. He wants to bless and not to curse you. Our LORD knows what is best for us. Seek him early, glorify him and he will heal your land.
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