Hosea 7

Ver. 1, 2. Notwithstanding the reformation which was begun under Jehu, and the restoration of their glory under Jehoah and Jeroboam, and notwithstanding all the pains which I have taken with them by my prophets, the wickedness of the ten tribes, in hypocrisy, perjury, dishonesty, and violence, and other forms unnumbered, is so increased before me, and is so notorious and daring, that I must punish them with unavoidable calamities

Hosea 7:3

By ready compliance with their wicked laws, by acting wickedly, by uttering flattery, or by slander of the gooly, they please their kings

Hosea 7:4

They are all adulterers and idolaters: their bodies and minds being inflamed, and their hearts entertaining corrupt desires, they contrive how to gratify them

Hosea 7:5

In their royal feasts, they and their king besot themselves with drunkenness, and deride the gracles, ordinances, or judgments, of God

Hosea 7:6

Heated by wine, inflamed by lust, eagerly attached to idolatry, and infuriated with hatred of one another, they greedily wait for, and seize on, the first opportunity to execute their sinful purposes

Hosea 7:7

Thus inflamed, they murder their magistrates one after another. But in all their calamities they never request my pity or help

Hosea 7:8

The marriages and alliances with Heathens they have learned their manners. They are zealous for their idols, but indifferent about the true worship of God, and at best halt between him and their idols

Hosea 7:9

Therefore Heathen enemies are wasted their country, and every where symptoms of their approaching destruction appear, but they never regard it, nor take any proper means to prevent it

Hosea 7:10

So notorious is the pride and obstinacy of their hearts, that, notwithstanding all the calamities which they have felt, or may see impending, they do not at the least repent or reform, or even request my assistance

Hosea 7:11

Nay, without any attention to the true method of relief, they, by turns, apply for help to their implacable enemies of Egypt and Assyria

Hosea 7:12

But I will antagonize and disappoint them in all their designs; and will, as I have publicly warned them by my prophets, debase and distress them

Hosea 7:13

Their apostasy from me, and rebellion against my laws, shall issue in their fearful and lasting ruin. For, though I have often delivered them in straits, they have set up idols in my room, contradicted my oracles, or entertained me with hypocritical pretences and promises of reformation

Hosea 7:14

Yea, even when, in their beds or idol-temples, they pitifully mourned under their calamities, they never heartily supplicated me: and, while they eagerly desired corn and wine to satisfy their lust, they continued in their rebellion against me

Hosea 7:15

Whether I weakened them by adversity, or strengthened them by prosperity, they contrived how to displease me more and more by their idolatrous and wicked courses

Hosea 7:16

And, even when they pretend to repent and turn to me, all is mere dissimulation;—therefore shall their princes, who have blasphemed me and reviled my prophets, be miserably destroyed by the Assyrians or conspirators; and all their applications to the Egyptians for help shall but issue in a derision of their calamities

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VII.—Alas, how men oppose JEHOVAH’s kindness to themselves, and obstinately dare to discredit the threatenings of God! but his ruinous judgments will at last convince them that he remembers their works. Palaces and courts are in general nests of abominations. And infernal influence and lustful fire furiously hurry sinners into whoredom and wickedness, while with surprising care and contrivance they wait for opportunities of gratifying their desires. And awful is their case who in trouble restrain prayer before God. Unnecessary connection with the wicked is very ensnaring and ruinous to religion and liberty; and God often makes such companions the instruments of punishing us. While stupidity under lesser judgments presages greater ones, application to heathens for help hastens them forward. Either pride, or they who indulge it, must be infallibly ruined. And nothing can be more provoking to God than to see those, whom he has kindly warned, returning him hatred for his love. No wonder he detests the prayers of such as seek nothing but carnal enjoyments to gratify their lusts. And, if even the greatest deal deceitfully with God, or outrageously with men, they themselves shall be rendered miserable and contemptible