OUCH!

Growing up there was a phase we would all say from time to time, "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Sadly we know that that saying is far from the truth. Many times we still hurt because of those words which were spoken, mostly because they were spoken in a mean and nasty spirit meant to bring harm not help.

God, through Hosea is speaking some pretty "harsh" words to Israel. Words that are meant to get their attention to their own behavior. He tells them they are playing the Harlot. The result of these actions can be devastating. They will not remain in the land God has promised. The acts of worship will mean nothing to God because they are not obedient but simply going through the motions.

Without change punishment lies ahead. Even those who were to warn Israel have become useless allowing for their capture rather than escape.

Hosea 9:1-9 1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved harlots' earnings on every threshing floor. 2 Threshing floor and wine press will not feed them, And the new wine will fail them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, And in Assyria they will eat unclean food. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord, Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their bread will be like mourners' bread; All who eat of it will be defiled, For their bread will be for themselves alone; It will not enter the house of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival And on the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For behold, they will go because of destruction; Egypt will gather them up, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their treasures of silver; Thorns will be in their tents.
7 The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great. 8 Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God. 9 They have gone deep in depravity As in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins. NASU

Why would God speak these words?

Because He is seeking to get Israel to repent and turn from their evil ways.
God has told us all that we are sinners; not because He means us evil or hurt but cause He want to understand that we can find hope in Him and we believe the truth He proclaims and accept the forgiveness He offers.

Romans Road: 3:23, 6:23 5:8 10:9-10

Explore for yourself!

1. Why weren’t they to rejoice?
2. What did they "love"? What wouldn’t that do?
3. What will be the problem with the threshing floor and wine press?
4. How will the new wine fail them?
5. Will they go? What will they eat?
6. What two things won’t they do? What will their bread be like?
7. What will happen to those who eat of it?
8. What will they be missing?
9. How is God’s sovereignty shown?
10. What has come to Israel? Why does he say "let Israel know this?"
11. Why is the prophet a fool? And demented?
12. What was Ephraim? What has changed? What are they now?