Hosea 11

Order a Free Bible Here from - Bibles4Free.com - a - USBibleSociety.com - Ministry

Dave Burnette's Commentary

Hosea Chapter 11

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Hosea

Date Penned: BC 715 (Covering Events BC 753-715)

Overview: God's Wayward People (c 4-14)

Theme: God's Love for Israel (c 11-14)

Message: God's Fatherly Love (v 1-12)

Hosea: Chapter 11 Commentary

(11:1) In the final four chapters the Lord has Hosea shift to the theme of God's intense love for Israel. God had always loved Israel as a parent loves a stubborn child, and that is why he would not release them from the consequences of their behavior. The Israelites were sinful, and they would be punished like a wayward son brought by his parents before the elders (Deuteronomy chapter 21) God repeatedly offered to restore the nation if it would only turn to him. By stubbornly refusing his invitation the Northern Kingdom sealed its doom and they would be destroyed. Israel as a nation was not finished though as a remnant of faithful Israelites would return to Jerusalem where one day the Messiah would come, offering pardon, and reconciliation to all who would faithfully follow him.

(11:3) The Lord had consistently provided for his people but they refused to see what he had done, and they showed no interest in thanking him. They were ungrateful.

(11:4) God's discipline requires times of leading and times of feeding. Sometimes the rope is tight and sometimes it is slack. God's discipline is always loving. When you are called to discipline others (children, students, employees, etc) do not be rigid. Your goal should be one of correction with the goal of making a disciple and not punishment for a failure.

(11:5) The Northern Kingdom survived for only two centuries after its break with Jerusalem. Its spiritual and political leaders did not help the people learn the way to God, so as a nation they would never repent. Hosea prophesied its downfall, which happened when Salmaneser of Assyria conquered Israel in 722 BC. Judah also would go into captivity, but a remnant would return to their homeland.

(11:8) Admah and Aeboim were cities of the plain that perished with Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 14, Deuteronomy 29)

(11:9) "I am God, and not man" it is easy for us to define God in terms of our own expectations and behavior. In doing so, we make him just slightly larger than ourselves. When in reality, he is infinitely greater than we are. We should seek to become like him rather than attempting to remake him in our image

(11:12) Unlike Israel, Judah had some fairly good kings. Asa, Jehosaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzzi, Jotham, and especially Hezekiah and Josiah. Under some of these Kings God's Law was dusted off and taught to the people. The Priests continued to serve in God's appointed Temple in Jerusalem and the feasts were celebrated at least some of the time. Unfortunately, the political or religious leaders were unable to completely wipe out idol worship and pagan rites which continued to fester until they eventually ruptured and infected the whole country. Still, the influence of the good kings enabled Judah to survive more than 150 years longer than Israel and within the kingdom a small group of faithful people would one day return and restore their land and Temple.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

A Greatful Heart

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Hosea with Chapter 11 In our text today we see God's love for Israel with a Fatherly love for a wayward child yet Israel was ungrateful and unthankful. In making application we see a common fault with sinful mankind, being unthankful. A simple disregard for those who show us favor or blessings. When we are ungrateful to the Lord we miss God's best for our lives. Like a spoiled child's parent our Lord would not give us blessings that we cannot manage. How about you? Are you missing God's best for your life from being ungrateful? Let us learn from our text today to see how God loves us and is willing to shower us with His Favor if we simply show the Lord that we acknowledge the gift and giver with a grateful heart.

Hosea 11

Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter

Hosea 11

¹When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

²As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

³I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

⁴I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

⁵He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

⁶And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

⁷And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

⁸How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

⁹I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

¹⁰They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

¹¹They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.

¹²Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

Language Translator (Click on Tab to Translate Page)

Scripture Application (Click on Box to View Application)

Bible Search (Search Bible By Word or Verse)

Take Notes on Your Bible Studies (Using our Padlet)

Listen to the Bible (By Talking Bibles)

Try Our Free Daily Devotion Email

For Email Newsletters you can trust