Introduction
The book of Hosea contains prophecies and messages from God that Hosea delivered to the northern kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. Hosea ministered during the tragic final days of Israel before the Assyrian captivity. His primary message was one of God’s love for His unfaithful people and a call for them to repent and return to Him.
Chapter 8 continues this theme of judgment for Israel’s unrepentant sins and unfaithfulness to God. Key takeaways from this chapter include:
- God commands Hosea to sound the alarm and warn the people of coming judgment
- Israel has broken covenant with God and rebelled against His law
- Israel’s false worship and idolatry has led them astray
- God’s coming judgment is justified because of Israel’s sins
- Israel sowed the wind and will reap the whirlwind of God’s wrath
- Israel turned to foreign alliances and idols rather than trusting God
- The calf-idol of Samaria will be destroyed and Israel will reap captivity
- Israel forgot their Maker and built palaces while God’s law was ignored
- Judah is also unfaithful and has multiplied idolatrous altars
Viral Believer is reader-supported. We may earn a small fee from products we recommend at no charge to you. Read Our Affiliate Disclosuree
In this commentary, we will explore this prophetic message and what it teaches us about God, Israel, and ourselves today. While judgment is promised for unrepentant sin, God’s love and mercy is always available to those who turn back to Him.
Commentary on Hosea Chapter 8
Hosea’s Alarm of Coming Judgment (v. 1-3)
“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 will cry to Me, ‘My God, we know You!’ Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. (Hos 8:1–3 NKJV)
The prophecy starts with God commanding Hosea to give a clear warning to Israel of coming judgment using the metaphor of a trumpet blast. Though they continue to offer empty religious rituals to God, He will come in judgment swiftly like an eagle swoops down on its prey.
The cause of this judgment is their violating God’s covenant and rebelling against His law. Though they profess to know God, their actions show they have rejected what is good in God’s eyes. As a result, the enemy (Assyria) will be allowed to pursue and conquer them.
This shows God’s righteousness in punishing sin and rebellion. Though He is patient and merciful, He will not tolerate covenant unfaithfulness and pretend worship forever. There are consequences for persistently rejecting God’s ways.
Israel’s False Worship and Adultery (v. 4-7)
“They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves— That they might be cut off. Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them— How long until they attain to innocence? For from Israel is even this: A workman made it, and it is not God; But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. (Hos 8:4–7 NKJV)
God indicts Israel for establishing kings and leaders without consulting Him. This shows their rebellious spirit against God’s rightful leadership over them. The silver and gold God blessed them with is wrongly used to construct idols instead of honoring Him. Because of this God will allow their idols and themselves to be cut off and destroyed.
The calf idol worshipped in Samaria represented their spiritual adultery with other gods. God’s anger burns against this betrayal of relationship with Him. Their idol worship can never lead to innocence but only more guilt before God. The man-made calf figurine is powerless compared to the true and living God. Just as the idol will be smashed, so God will break and judge the nation that trusted in it rather than in Him.
This reveals the foolishness and spiritual danger of idolatry. Turning from God to false gods provokes His rightful anger and leads only to more sin and destruction.
Israel’s Foreign Alliances Rather than Trust in God (v. 8-10)
“Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles Like a vessel in which is no pleasure. For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers. Yes, though they have hired among the nations, Now I will gather them; And they shall sorrow a little, Because of the burden of the king of princes. (Hos 8:8–10 NKJV)
God declares Israel is soon to be swallowed up by foreign powers and taken captive. They will become like a worthless, despised vessel. This is because rather than trusting in God’s provision and protection, they made unholy alliances with pagan nations like Assyria.
Israel is compared to a stubborn, solitary wild donkey, stubbornly going its own way. By seeking military aid from Assyria, Israel has been unfaithful to God by hiring forbidden lovers. So God will allow Assyria to gather Israel like one gathers animals. They will sorrow over the burden of paying tribute to the Assyrian king.
This shows the folly of trusting in human help rather than God’s power. Forbidden foreign alliances always fail and lead to bondage rather than freedom. God is our only faithful provider and protector.
Israel’s Altars for Sin Rather than Obedience to God’s Law (v. 11-14)
“Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, They have become for him altars for sinning. I have written for him the great things of My law, But they were considered a strange thing. For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, But the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt. “For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.” (Hos 8:11–14 NKJV)
In another act of unfaithfulness, Israel had constructed many pagan altars used to worship idols and false gods. What was meant for worshipping Yahweh became polluted by idolatry. God had clearly written in His law that these other gods must not be followed, yet Israel considered God’s law strange and obsolete.
Though they continued going through the motions of offering sacrifices to God, He rejected them because of their sinful motivations and practices. So now God will remember every sin and rebellion and punish them accordingly. Ultimately, they will return to captivity like Israel experienced in Egypt long ago.
Tragically, Israel had forgotten the God who formed, established, and blessed them. They were more focused on building impressive temples and palaces than on knowing God and obeying His laws. Judah likewise trusted more in its fortified cities and military might than in God. Therefore, God will send fire to devour these idols they trusted in.
This shows the danger of forgetting God, forsaking His word, and trusting in human works and achievements. When God’s people pursue idols rather than intimacy with Him, judgment follows. We must guard our hearts against valuing anything over a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Applications for Today
Hosea Chapter 8 contains sobering warnings and lessons that remain relevant today:
- God hates idolatry and spiritual adultery. When we trust in anything other than Christ for ultimate meaning and salvation, it is idolatry. We must examine our hearts and repent of whatever has become an idol that has replaced loyalty to Jesus.
- Judgment comes when God’s patience runs out. God is incredibly patient and merciful, but His justice demands that unrepentant sin be punished. We should not presume upon God’s grace and ignore His warnings.
- Obedience to God’s Word protects us. Compromising on biblical obedience leads down a dangerous path. The best guard against drifting from God is submitting fully to the authority of Scripture.
- Intimacy with God must be a priority. It is easy to crowed God out while pursuing success in ministry, work, or family. Setting aside daily time to cultivate knowing God is essential for remaining spiritually healthy.
- Alliances with unbelievers are forbidden. Though politically expedient, partnerships with godless governments, institutions, or movements will corrupt our witness. We cannot sever true godly unity for the sake of compromised worldly unity.
As we read Hosea Chapter 8, may our hearts be tuned to hear God’s voice. And may we as the church choose faithfulness to Jesus over the idolatry and distractions of this present world.
