Read Hosea 7
Background: This chapter actually begins in the closing words of chapter 6 - one of those poor chapter divisions. God is talking about the "harvest" that is to come. Israel and Judah had been depending on God's "bad memory" - that He would not remember all the evil they had done in forsaking Him, turning to idols, and trusting in pagan nations instead. He refers to them as an overheated oven ready to explode in total destruction, burning them as unturned bread inside. As they run further and further from Him, He promises that He will cast his net to catch them and discipline them.
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry to me from the heart,
but they wail upon their beds;
for grain and wine they gash themselves;
they rebel against me.
15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms,
yet they devise evil against me.
16 They return, but not upward;
they are like a treacherous bow;
their princes shall fall by the sword
because of the insolence of their tongue.
This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Thoughts: As we saw yesterday, any seeming repentance was not real; they had cried out for help, but were not willing to admit they had been unfaithful and not willing to receive the help God offered. Eventually they all would go back into captivity - some in exile to Babylon, others returning to Egypt, one of their many places of false hope.
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