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8:1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
8:2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
8:3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
8:5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 8:6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
8:8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
8:9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
8:10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
8:11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
8:12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
8:13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
8:14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.


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Everything King James Bible:Hosea
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Hosea
Book: Hosea
Chapter: 8

Overview:
Destruction threatened for the impiety of Israel. (1-4) For
their Idolatry. (5-10) Further threatenings for the same sins.
(11-14)

1-4 When Israel was hard pressed, they would claim protection
from God, but this would be disregarded. What stead will it
stand in to say, My God, I know thee, if we cannot say, My God,
I Love thee, serve thee, and cleave to thee only?

5-10 They promised themselves plenty, peace, and victory, By
worshipping idols, but their expectations came to nothing. What
they sow has No stalk, No Blade, or, if it have, the bud shall
yield No Fruit, there was nothing in them. The Works of Darkness
are unfruitful; nay, the End of those things is Death. The hopes
of sinners will deceive them, and their gains will be snares. In
times of danger, especially in the Day of Judgment, all Carnal
devices will fail. They take a course By themselves, and like a
wild Ass By himself, they will be the easier and surer prey for
the lion. Man is in nothing more like the wild Ass's colt, than
in seeking for that succour and that satisfaction in the
Creature, which are to be had in God only. Though men may sorrow
a little, yet if it is not after a godly sort, they will be
brought to sorrow everlastingly.

11-14 It is a great Sin to corrupt the Worship of God, and will
be charged as Sin On all who do it, how plausible soever their
excuses may seem to be. The Lord had caused his Law to be
written for them, but they cared not to know, and would not obey
it. Man seems By the temples he builds to be mindful of his
Maker, yet really he has forgotten him, because he has cast off
all his fear; but none ever hardened his Heart against God and
prospered. So long as men despise the truths and precepts of
God's Word, and the ordinances of his Worship, all the
observances and offerings, however costly, of their own
devising, will be unto them for Sin; for those services only are
acceptable to God, which are done according to his Word, and
through Jesus Christ.

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