Read Hosea 10.
Background: Having thoroughly spelled out Israel's sin and spiritual harlotry, God now gives a more complete description of her judgment; she must "bear her guilt." It will begin by the tearing down of the golden calf they had erected for their "fake" worship of God; the gold would be taken by the Assyrians. Their kings would "be no more," having been taken captive as well. Thorns and thistles would grow on their place of worship and the people would become totally despondent, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.”
Key Verses: 11 Ephraim was a trained calf
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself.
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself.
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Thoughts: in the core of this chapter, God compares Israel and Judah to a pair of oxen pulling the plow. Now there would only be one. Judah would have to carry the "burden" herself and was called to do a much better job of pursuing righteousness and living and God's people before the world.
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