Study Desk

My people are asking pieces of wood for advice. They think those sticks will answer them! They have chased after those false gods like prostitutes and have left their own God.

The people of Israel have done many evil things, and these evil things keep them from coming back to their God. They are always thinking of ways to chase after other gods. They don't know the Lord .

Ephraim will become empty at the time of punishment. I, God, warn the families of Israel that this really will happen.

This is because I want faithful love, not sacrifice. I want people to know God, not to bring burnt offerings.

I have seen a terrible thing in the nation of Israel. Ephraim was unfaithful to God. Israel is dirty with sin.

On Our King's Day, the leaders get so drunk that they get sick. They become crazy with wine and make agreements with people who laugh at God.

Ephraim's pride speaks against him. The people had many troubles, but they still didn't go back to the Lord their God. They didn't look to him for help.

They yell out at me, ‘My God, we in Israel know you!'

He has refused your calf, Samaria. God says, ‘I am very angry with the Israelites.' The people of Israel will be punished for their sin. Some worker made those statues. They are not God. Samaria's calf will be broken into pieces.

Israel, don't celebrate like the nations do. Don't be happy. You acted like a prostitute and left your God. You committed your sexual sin on every threshing floor.

God and the prophet are like guards watching over Ephraim, but there are many traps along his way. And people hate the prophet, even in the house of his God.

The Israelites have gone deep into ruin as in the time of Gibeah. God will remember the Israelites' sins, and he will punish them.

Those people will not listen to my God, so he will refuse to listen to them. And they will wander among the nations without a home.

The people of Israel tried to trick God, but now they must accept their guilt. He will break down their altars and destroy their memorial stones.

They make promises, but they are only telling lies. They don't keep their promises. They make agreements with other countries. God does not like those agreements . The judges are like poisonous weeds growing in a plowed field.

Samaria's false god will be destroyed. It will be like a piece of wood floating away on the water's surface.

"The Israelites will not go back to Egypt. The king of Assyria will become their king, because they refused to turn back to God.

"My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above, but he will not help them."

I will not let my terrible anger win. I will not destroy Ephraim again. I am God and not a human. I am the Holy One. I am with you. I will not show my anger.

"Ephraim surrounded me with false gods. The people of Israel turned against me. But Judah still walks with God and is true to the Holy One."