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Bible Commentaries
Hosea 8

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-14

  1. Intro:
    1. Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, told a story about a goose who was wounded and who landed in a barnyard with some chickens. - He played with the chickens and ate with the chickens. After a while that goose thought he was a chicken. One day a flight of geese came over, migrating to their home. They gave a honk up there in the sky, and he heard it. - Kierkegaard said, "Something stirred within the breast of this goose. Something called him to the skies. He began to flap the wings he hadn't used, and he rose a few feet into the air. Then he stopped, and he settled back again into the mud of the barnyard. He heard the cry, but he settled for less."
  2. CHAPTER 8
    1. ​​​​​​​AN EXECUTING EAGLE! (1-6)
    2. (1) The trumpet was sounded to signify an impending battle.
      1. When God sounds the trumpet we better wake up & listen!
      2. Instead of God “bearing them on eagles' wings and bringing them to Himself.” (adapted from Ex.19:4) - The Assyrian Eagle was about to swoop down on them as his prey.
        1. See Deut. 28(esp.49) - Also
    3. A VALUELESS VESSEL! (7,8)
    4. (7) Sow wind, reap a Tornado!
      1. What seems to be a lovely wind today can become an ugly storm tomorrow!
      2. Acts 27:13,14 “When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.” (eeu rahk' lih dohn)
      3. Sowing & Reaping!
        1. Prov.22:8 “He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow.”
        2. Jer.12:13 “They have sown wheat but reaped thorns;”
        3. Gal.6:7,8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
      4. If you cheat in practice, you'll cheat in the game. If you cheat in your head, you'll cheat on the test. - You'll cheat on the girl. You'll cheat in business. You'll cheat on your mate. - Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.
      5. Q: Can you think of a time where you sowed wild oats, & reaped a tornado of our own?
    5. (8) Like a vessel in which is no pleasure(in which no one delights/NIV) –
      1. Israel became a piece of junk pottery on the trash heap.
      2. We all bring certain treasures into our marriages…I brought my coveted Plaster of Paris Seagulls from Mexico!
        1. They started on the fireplace. One day somehow moved to the side yard. Only one day to find them next to the trash can!
        2. I delighted in them…Kelly never did!
      3. So with Israel. They had become a worthless vessel.
    6. A DUMB DONKEY! (9a)
    7. She was like a dumb animal that had lost its way in the wilderness!
      1. Israel was forsaken by God & forsaken by her allies, & thus abandoned to a face a future alone!
    8. A POOR PROSTITUTE! (9b,10)
    9. In negotiating w/the Gentile nations for protection, Israel acted like a common prostitute selling herself for money(i.e. tribute to foreign kings).
      1. Instead of being faithful to Jehovah God, she prostituted herself to the Gentile nations…& lost everything!
      2. Prov.6:26 “For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread”.
    10. AN ANEMIC ALTAR! (11-14)
      1. (11)Israel(Ephraim)multiplied altars; Judah multiplied fortifications(14)
        1. Altars of sinning! - Q: What if God said(as Paul did at the Areopagus), “I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship,” …What altars would he find erected there?
    11. (13) Egypt – Hosea talks about 13 times.
      1. It speaks of Egypt Past(the Exodus); Present(Israel’s unholy alliance with); Future(as a symbol of their impending bondage to Assyria).
      2. They shall return to Egypt – 11:5 makes it clear this is figurative.
      3. Assyria becomes “The New Egypt” if you will!
Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Hosea 8". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/hosea-8.html. 2017.
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