Hosea 5
Priests, people, and rulers were alike in sin against God. Instead of “being witnesses for Him in a world given up to the worship of idols, they were a snare on Mizpah (“watch tower”) and a net spread upon Tabor (“mountain height”).
Verse 2 should be read, “And they have plunged themselves in the corruption of apostasy” (or, “with sacrifices do they go deeply in revolt”), “but I will be a chastiser of them all.”
It was vain to suppose that God did not see and hear all that was going on in the kingdom: “I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me.’’ The use here and later of both names for the ten tribes is significant of the height from which they had fallen, Ephraim meaning “doubly fruitful,” and Israel “prince of God.”
Their doings did not allow them to return to their God; they were devoted to sinful practices, “and they have not known”, or rather they know not the Lord (verse 4). They had known Him in earlier days of their history, but the service of Satan attracted them and God was given up.
Pride (verse 5) is one of the three things that give the world its character before God (1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)). It is again spoken of in connection with Ephraim in Hosea 7:1010And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this. (Hosea 7:10). One of the earth’s greatest monarchs has testified to what he had proved in his own experience, that “those that walk in pride God is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:3737Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)). Israel and Ephraim were shortly to fall by their iniquity, but Judah was to fall also, having profited not at all by the punishment of the ten tribes.
The time was at hand when they would go to seek Jehovah (verse 6), but it would be too late to find Him. There comes a time when a long-suffering God will shut the door of mercy.
In Noah’s day there were few that gave heed to the preaching, but when the door of the ark was shut by God, and the flood came, few indeed of the despisers of divine mercy that did not wish they were safe inside.
There would be alarm in Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth-aven, but Ephraim was ordained to desolation. Judah too would be punished (verse 10), but at this time Ephraim led in sin, and in self-will he walked after the commandment of man (or, the king) (verse 11).
When the two nations saw that their power to resist an enemy was gone, Ephraim sent to the king of Assyria for help; but their case was of God, and no human arm could deliver them. Had they humbly sought the God of their fathers, deliverance would have been theirs, but now there was to come to pass that word of Proverbs 29:11He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1):
“He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Yet in the coming day for Israel’s recovery, the last verse of our chapter will be fulfilled.
ML 10/18/1936