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Week 32, Day 1 — Hosea 7-8

Jeremy Paschall
08/04/24 - Podcast

And now, a minute with the Word…

Throughout Israel’s decline, they repeated sought alliances with other nations for defense against invading and marauding enemies, never considering the Lord for the refuge they so desperately needed. Hosea repeatedly noted their folly — “They are all adulterers” (7.4); “Strangers devour his strength” (verse 9); “Ephraim is…silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria” (verse 11); “I would redeem them,” the Lord said, “but they speak lies against me” (verse 13); “They return, but not upward” (verse 16); “Israel is swallowed up . . . For they have gone up to Assyria . . . Ephraim has hired lovers. Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. . . ” (8.8-10). Now consider: to whom do we turn for refuge, the world or the Lord? David wrote, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18.2).