Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson18,Chapter10Continued
AschallengingasistheBookofHoseatodecipher,forseveralreasonsI’ve
alreadyexplainedindepth,thereisanoverridingdecisionthatteacherand
studentmustmakewhenattemptingtoplumbitsdepths:isthistobetakenonly
asahistoricalmatterofinterest,concerninganancientpeople,thataddstoour
Bibleknowledge?Or,doesitspeaktoeverygenerationofthosewhoclaim
YehovehastheirGod,suchthatitcanandoughttobeappliedtoourcurrent,
modernlives?
Thereisbutashortdistancebetweenallegoryandapplicationwhenitcomesto
teaching;yet,thedistancebetweenthetwoisdistinctandimportant.Allegory
meanstotakeastory,orafable,oranevent,anduseittoextractameaningor
symbolthatisusefulincommunicatingarelatedideatoanotherperson.
Applicationmeanstotakewhatisinherentwithinthewrittenorspokenwordas
aninstructionconcerningourproperthoughtandbehavior;itissomethingthat
requiresobedienceandactionwhenasimilarcircumstanceoccurs.While
allegoryhasitsplaceinBiblestudyandBibleexegesis,thatplaceshouldbequite
limitedastheexceptionandnottherule(unfortunatelytheexceptionhas
becometheruleoverthelastfewcenturieswithinChristianity).Application,on
theotherhand,probablyoughttobetheexpectedgoalandoutcomeofBible
study,otherwisesuchstudyresultsmostlyinnewfoundheadknowledgethat
essentiallylaysdormant,usedonlyfortheologicaldiscussionanddebate.
Therefore,itismyestimationthatHosea’smostusefulpurposeforBelieversis
lessasahistoricalrecordandmoreasacautionarytalefullofdivineinstruction
andrevelationthatismeanttobelearned,takenseriously,andfollowedby
everygenerationofthosewhocalltheGodofIsraelourGod.So,today,Iintend
todrawapplicationintoourstudysothatindeedthemeaningoftheseScripture
passagescanbeassimilatedforouruse,andnotmerelytofillupourreservoirof
curiosityandknowledge.
Thefirst8versesofHoseachapter10gointosomedetailaboutGod’s
determinationtodestroyIsrael’sfraudulentreligioussystemandalongsideit,
theirgovernment,whichhasbeen,sincethetimeofSaul,amonarchy.Yehoveh,

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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throughthecontinuingagencyofTheWord,remindsIsraeloftheirhistory,of
whatthesekingshavedone,thatitwasneverGod’sideainthefirstplacefor
Israeltohaveanearthlyking,andrevealswhatisabouttohappentothemasa
nationasaresultoftheirdeterminedwickednessthattheyattemptedtoset
beforeYehovehasfaithfulness.Backinchapter8,Godtoldthemthattheyhad
givenuptrueworshipandunderstandingofHimasfoundinHiswrittenword(the
Torah),andinsteadhadadoptedpleasingmanmaderulesandmadetheminto
doctrines.Thepointbeingthatwhattheythoughtwassincereandproper
behavior,morality,andworshipwasinfactwrongandtheyweredeceived.Even
thoughIsraelhadnotovertlydecidedtodowhatwasevilinGod’seyes,by
ignoringHiscommandsandreplacingthemwiththeirownideasofjustice,mercy,
andobediencetheyindeedhaddoneevil…terribleevil…thatdemandedajust
responsefromHim.
Sohereistheapplication:BelieversinJesusastheSonofGod…ourLordand
Master…unlessyouknowtheTorahandobeyit(andyoucan’tobeysomething
youdon’tknow),youhaveplacedyourselvesintothesameuntenableposition
beforeGod,adoptingthesamedeceivedmindset,ashadEphraim/Israel.Our
sincerity,kindness,charity,justice,worship,andattemptstobeatpeacewith
everyonearenotonlyuselesstoGod,itisoffensivetoHim…ifourstandardfor
allthesevirtuesandactivitiesissomethingotherthanHisHolyScriptures,
beginningwiththeTorah.When,inthe4
th
century,theTorahwasofficially
removedfromtheChristianfaithasoursourceofmoralinstructionanddivine
direction,itwasasiftheneedlewereremovedfromourmoralcompasses.Now,
accordingtothedoctrinesoftheChurch,everyonehadtheirownindividual
“north”.Whathadbeenanobjectivesetofdivineordinancesandlawscomplete
withapplicationwaslegislatedintooblivionbyChurchleadershipandreplaced
withasubjectivesetofhumantraditions,establishedbycouncilsofmen,that
could(andwould)morphwithtimeandsufficientallegoricalteachingintoan
endlessarrayofpossibilitiesandbeliefs.
ItismyconvictionthatJohntheRevelatortookhiscuefordescribingthe
unfaithfuloftheEndTimesastheWhoreofBabylonfromthewritingsofHosea,
andprobablymostlyfromfaithfulHosea’srelationshipwithunfaithfulGomer
whohadturnedherself,byherownwill,intoanadulteratingwhore.Thisactual
historicalstoryofGomerwasthenusedtometaphoricallycharacterize

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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Ephraim/IsraelasanadulteratingwhoreinthesenseofunfaithfulnesstoGod,
whichHecallsidolatry.Sadly,muchofJudeo-Christianityhasfollowedsuitby
doingexactlythesamething:creatingahybridizedreligionthatmixesmanmade
traditionwithBibletruth,givingusanoxiousbrewofdeception,andyetwith
bothancientandmodernreligiousinstitutionsloudlyproclaimingourinnocence
andrighteousnessbasednotuponGod’stimelesswrittenstandards,butrather
uponourownnewlyfashioned(andever-evolving)standards.Thisdeceptionis
goingtoresultinthegravestofconsequencesforcountlessindividualswhoare
certaintheyarepleasingtheLord,butthiscertaintycomesmostlyfrom
belongingtoagroupthatagreeswiththem.HereiswhatGodsaystothoseofus
whofindourselvesinsuchapredicament:
CJB
Revelation18:1-4Afterthesethings,Isawanotherangelcomingdownfrom
heaven.Hehadgreatauthority,theearthwaslitupbyhissplendor.
2
Hecried
outinastrongvoice,"Shehasfallen!Shehasfallen!BaveltheGreat!Shehas
becomeahomefordemons,aprisonforeveryuncleanspirit,aprisonforevery
unclean,hatedbird.
3
"ForallthenationshavedrunkofthewineofGod'sfury
causedbyherwhoring-yes,thekingsoftheearthwentwhoringwithher,and
fromherunrestrainedloveofluxurytheworld'sbusinessmenhavegrownrich."
4
ThenIheardanothervoiceoutofheavensay:"Mypeople,comeoutofher!so
thatyouwillnotshareinhersins,sothatyouwillnotbeinfectedbyher
plagues…
Goddoesn’tsomuchseetheworld…pagans…non-Believers…as“whores”
becausethetermbiblicallyreferstosomeonewhoclaimsallegianceand
exclusivefaithfulnesstoapartnerortotheirsovereign,butinsteadbehaves
faithlesslyortreacherously.WhenGodpleadswithHispeopletocomeofher,He
ispleadingwiththosewhofollowHim,andareobedienttoHiminspiritandin
writtentruth,todetachfromandleavethosewhosincerelyclaimtofollowbut
clearlyarenotfaithfulexceptintheirowndeludedminds.
OpenyourBiblestoHoseachapter10.
RE-READHOSEA10:9–end

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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Wecaneasilybeconfoundedbysomeofthearcanewordsandexpressionsthat
areused,butintheend,themeaningisplainenough.Whenweriseupwardand
viewwhatisbeingsaidfromthe30,000ft.panorama,Godisdescribinga
historicalcyclethatwefindconstantlyrepeatedwithIsrael;butthissame
patterncanalsobeseenthroughoutallhumanity.Wefindtheexistenceofthis
patternbecausehumanbeingsinevitablymakethesamekindsofdecisions
throughouttheages,withtheresultsbeingthesame,becauseGodnever
changes,andthereforetheaxiomsuponwhichtheUniverseHecreatedoperates
neverchange.AsecularbookcalledTheFourthTurningexploresthis
phenomenonandinthisbook,theauthorsfashionameanstodescribethis
predictableandrepetitivepatternbydividingthesehistoricalcyclesinto4
quadrants.IwanttoemphasizethatthischaracterizationisnotGod-given,it
onlyestablishesagoodwaytovisualizethesehistoricalpatternsastheyemerge
andrevolve,andbynomeansisthisfictional.Historyhasprovedthismodelto
begenerallyaccurate,andtheBibleprovesitaswell.Therefore,thisisvaluable
foreveryBiblestudenttolearn.
Thisagelesshistoricalcyclegoessomethinglikethis:
TheFirstTurningisaHigh.Thisisanerawheninstitutionsofeverytypeare
strongandindividualismislessdesired.Societyisconfidentaboutitsdirection,
seeingitasgood,evenifthoseoutsidethemajoritydon’tlikethesenseof
requiredsocietalconformitythatthisdirectionmandates.America’smostrecent
FirstTurningbeganin1946followingWWIIandprobablyendedwiththe
assassinationofJohnKennedyin1963.Mostpeoplemarriedearly,soughtstable
corporatejobs,andslippedquietlyintothesuburbstopursuethenewlydefined
AmericanDream.Itisanerainwhichsocial,government,andreligious
institutionsareadmired,andtheappearanceofsocialorder,andthedemandfor
it,areattheirhighest.
TheSecondTurningisanAwakening.Thisisanerawhenourinstitutionscome
underattackinthenameofpersonalandspiritualfreedomandindividualism.
Thatis,adesireforaLibertine-basedsocietyemerges.Justwhensocietyis
reachingitshightideofpublicprogressandhappiness,peoplesuddenlytireof
theexpectedsocialandmoraldisciplineandwanttorecaptureasenseof
personalpowerandidentity.Youngersocialactivistsandpeopleoffaithlook

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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backatthepreviousHighasaneraofculturalpovertyandreligiousintolerance.
America’smostrecentAwakeninghappenedbeginningwiththecollegecampus
andinner-cityrevoltsofthemid-1960sandprobablyendedwiththetaxrevolts
oftheearly‘80s.Thisisthepartofthehistoricalcyclewhentheinstitutionsof
socialorderarestilloperating,butthedemandforconformitytothecurrent
socialorderhasgreatlydiminishedandinfact,manywantthisordertobe
overturned.
TheThirdTurningisanUnraveling.Themoodofthiseraisinmanywaysthe
oppositeoftheHighoftheFirstTurning.Thereisasenseofnationalmalaiseand
negativityandunhappiness.Social,government,andreligiousinstitutionsare
nowweakandnolongertrusted,whileindividualismandoutrightrebellion
againstourtraditionalmoralsandvaluesisstrongandflourishing.Unravelings
followAwakenings,andpersonalpleasure,freefromanysocialorreligious
fettersofthepast,istheruleoftheday.America’smostrecentUnraveling
beganintheearly1980sandweareprobablynow,in2022,intheveryadvanced
stagesofit,perhapsevenonthecuspfortheveryearlieststageofanimpending
FourthTurning.Thecurrenteraopenedwithtriumphant“MorninginAmerica”
individualismandhasdriftedtowardanearlyuniversaldistrustofinstitutions
andleaders,anedgyandradicalpopularculture,andacompetitionamongmany
groupstodefineanewsetofsocietalvalues.Faithinstitutionsarenotimmune
andhavethemselveshadtoreckonwiththisdemand,withtheresultthatsome
capitulateandcomply,whileothersdevelopafortressmentality,andstillothers
begintoseekanentirelynewidentitythatseekstosomehowbalancepopular
trendswithwhattheyseeasdivinetruth.Socialorderisalmostdissolved
becausethedemandforsocialorderislow.Otherthanforourcurrentera,a
goodexampleofanearlierUnravelingwasthe“roaring”1920s.
TheFourthTurningisaCrisis.Thisisanerainwhichanation’sinstitutionallife
isactuallytorndownandrebuiltfromthegroundup—alwaysinresponsetoa
perceivedthreattothenation’sverysurvival.Itisatimeofvolatilityandchange.
Civicauthorityrevivesinanewform,culturalexpressionfindsmoreofa
communitypurpose,andpeoplebegintoidentifythemselvesasmembersofa
largergroupthathasembracedacommonpurposethattheyshare.Inevery
instance,FourthTurningshaveredefinedournationalidentity.Agoodexample
ofabegunandcompletedFourthTurningstartedwiththestockmarketcrashof

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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1929andclimaxedwithAmerica’sentryintoWorldWarII.Thisisanerainwhich
theavailabilityofsocialorderislow,becauseoursocialinstitutionsaresoweak,
eventhoughthecryanddemandforsocialorderisrapidlyrising,butthesocial
andcivicinstitutionsareplayingcatch-up.HighsalwaysfollowCrises…realor
contrivedcrises…andfromthiscomesthenewmindsetamongmanythat
societyandmoralityaswehaveknownitmustdieandbereplacedwith
somethingelsemoreappropriateforthisneworder.
So,therewehaveit.AndwhileIhaverelatedthistoyouinseculartermsandas
itespeciallyconcernstheUSA,thesecycleswithbutlittlemodificationcanbe
appliednearlyglobally,andtoalmostanypointinhumanhistory.Withthatin
mind,thenHosea10verse9isGodexplainingtoIsraelaboutanearlier
“Turning”ofaHighintheirhistorythatfirstmorphedintoaTurningofAwakening,
buthasnowmorphedintoanother“Turning”ofanUnraveling.Anotherlessonwe
canlearnisthatsometimestheUnravelingissocompleteanddestructivethatno
FourthTurningcanfollow.Nations,evenEmpires,candisappearduringan
Unraveling.SuchwassoontohappentoEphraim/Israel.Therewouldbeno
returntoademandforsocialorder,norwouldtheirsocialandreligious
institutionsberebuiltandreplaced.Instead,theirexilewouldindeeddissolve
Israelasasocietyandanationandtheywilldisappearfromtheworldstagefor
nearly26centuries.Thisisawarningforus:thingscan,anddo,happenin
historyinwhichtherecanbenorecoveryfromanUnraveling.Ithinkitisquite
righttomentallypicturetheEndTimesapocalypseasjustsuchatimewhenthe
historicalcycleaswehaveknownitthroughouttheagescomestoaconclusion.
Instead,anentirenewdivinesocialordercalledtheKingdomofHeavenis
established,governedbyaperfectking.Yet,aswealsosadlylearnintheBible,
becausehumansoccupyit,andbecausetheEvilOnestilllives,intheendthere
willstillbearebelliontothisdivineorderofa1000-yearHigh,afterwhichGod
willannihilatetheexistingearthandheavens,recreateit,andestablishan
eternalorderthatwillhavenocyclesatall.
Verse9says:
CJB
Hosea10:9
9
"SincethedaysofGiv'ahyouhavesinned,Isra'el.Therethey
tooktheirstand.ForthesearrogantpeopleatGiv'ah,warwasinsufficient
punishment.

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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Therearevariousnuancedwaystoapproachamorepreciseinterpretationofthis
passage,whichmostlyrevolvearoundthequestionofwhatevent,exactly,does
GibeahrepresenttoHosea?Rashiisinsistentthatthisisreferringtotheatrocity
thattookplaceinGibeahwhenaconcubinewasliterallysexuallyassaultedto
death.AtthistimeGibeahwasintheterritoryofBenjamin,andsoitwasa
numberofmenofBenjaminwhocommittedthisterriblecrime,yettheywent
unpunished.TheothertribesofIsraelweresoincensedatthisactthatthey
bannedtogetherandattackedBenjamin,nearlywipingthemoutasatribe.I
thinkRashiiscorrectinhisassessment.Themoreimportantpoint,however,is
thatthiseventwasseenbyYehovehasamomentinhistorythatredefinedIsrael.
Itwasapointofdeparturefromwhattheyhadoncebeen.Thus,becauseofwhat
theyhadbecome,Godispronouncingajudgmentofwrathuponthem.Inverse
9theyareindicted,andinverse10theverdictisgiven.
Verse9saysthatIsraelshouldhavelearnedfromwhathappened,butinsteadit
merelysetthemonanewcourseofwickedness.Thewarthatnearlymade
BenjaminextinctshouldhavecausedallofIsraeltoexaminethemselves,repent,
andmakesubstantivechanges.But,apparently,noteventhathorriblewarwas
enoughtogettheirattention.So,thereferencetoGibeahcreatedaparadigm…
adefiningpattern…astothedepthofdepravitytowhichGod’speoplehadsunk.
Therefore,verse10says:
CJB
Hosea10:10WhenIwishto,Iwilldisciplinethem;andthepeopleswillbe
gatheredagainstthemtodisciplinethemfortheirtwocrimes."
Inanutshell,GodsaysthatbecauseofwhatHejustsaidaboutthem…whoIsrael
hadbecome…Heisgoingtopunishthembyusingpagannationstoadminister
Hisjudgment.Asareminder:theuseofthetermpeoplesornationsintheBible
always(unlessthecontextmakesitotherwise)isreferringtogentiles.Sincethe
timeofAbrahamenteringintocovenantwithGod,nationsbydefinitionmean
“gentilenations”.Theterm“gentile”doesnotneedtobeaddedbecauseforGod,
atthemomentoftheestablishmentoftheAbrahamicCovenant,thereisthe
nationofIsrael,andthenthereiseveryoneelse.Forme,thisisfurtherproofthat
RashiiscorrectinthinkingthatthecrimethathappenedinGibeahwasthegang
rapeandmurderoftheconcubine,likelycombinedwiththeothertribes’

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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far-overreachingandunjustdeterminationtowipeoutallofBenjaminforthe
crimeofafew.Butwhatisthesecondofthetwocrimesthatthispassagespeaks
of?Tothis,thereislittleconsensusamongBiblescholars.However,sincethe
monarchyofIsraelhasbeenfrontandcenterforseveralversesnow,thesecond
“crime”mightwellbetheinaugurationofKingSaulandhischoiceforatimeof
Gibeahashiscapital.ThesecondsinbeingthatitwasatGibeahwhereGodwas
rejectedasIsrael’sking,withSaulmeanttoreplaceHim.I’llsaythisanother
way:untilGibeah,YehovehsawIsrael’scharacterasdefinedbytheexodusand
theirwildernessjourney.Thatcharacterhasbeenreplacedwithaspiritof
wickedness,andGibeahrepresentsanentirenewwayoflifethathasbegun….a
historicalcyclicalTurningfromtheirinitialHightoaneraofAwakening.Bythe
timeHosearecordedthismessage,thehistoricalcyclehadturnedyetagaintoan
Unravelingandthepunishmenthadalreadybegun.
Verse11beginswithaveryintriguing,picturesqueuseofanagricultural
metaphortomakeapoint.ThepointisGod’simmensedisappointmentwith
Israel,whomHehadsocarefullyandlovinglynurtured.
CJB
Hosea10:11Efrayimisawell-taughtcow-itlovestotreadthegrain,andI
havesparedherfairneck.ButIwillputEfrayiminharness,Y'hudahwillhaveto
plow,Ya'akovwillharrowhisownland.
Hereistheessenceofit:initsearlydaysasaset-apartpeoplegroup,Israelis
likenedtoayoungcow.Israelwaswell-trainedviatheirtimeinEgypt,their
rescuefromEgypt,theTorahgiventothembyGodthroughMoses,bythe
wildernessjourney,andthenYehovehgivingIsraeltheLandofCanaanfortheir
home.Israel(likethetrainedcow)atfirstlovedtobeobedienttotheirMaster,
God…totreadthegrain.Thisissomethingthecow(theIsraelitepeople)do
willingly.GodsaysthatbecauseIsraelwassoyoung,andbecausesheworkedat
doingwhatshewastraineduptodo,Hesparedthemtheyoke.Togetabetter
understandingofwhatthisisgettingatweneedtounderstandthatatfirstyoung
cowstypicallywerenotputtotheyoke,becauseayokewasneededtodoharder,
heavierwork.Itwascommonthatyoungcowsmightbeusedtosimplywalkover
thestalksofgrainspreadoutonthethreshingfloorinordertoseparatethe
headsfromthestalks.Infact,thesecowswereevenallowedtheluxuryofeating

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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astheyworked…arathercushyjob.Later,thiswouldchange,butnotbecause
thecow(Israel)haddoneanythingwrong.
Thesecondstageofuseonthethreshingfloorforacowcamelaterinthetraining
process,andonlyaftertheyhadphysicallymatured.Atthatpoint,ayokewas
putontoitsneck,andthenaheavythreshingsledwasattachedtotheyoke.The
cowwouldpullthesled,backandforth,overthestalksofgrain,doingafarmore
thoroughjobofseparatingtheheadsfromthestalksandatamuchfasterpace
thanonlytheirhoovesmightaccomplishit.Thementionoftheyoungcow’s
lovelyneckmeansthatshedidn’tyetbearthescarsandcallousesofcarrying
thatheavyanduncomfortablewoodenyokeuponit.Theeasierworkforthe
youngerIsraelisametaphorforthewildernessexperience,butoncematured
theharderwork(symbolizedbytheadditionoftheyoke)wouldoccurforIsrael
insidethePromisedLand.ThereIsraelwouldbeexpectedtobecomea
well-rootedandset-apartnationforGod,withalltheresponsibilitiesofbeinga
lighttotheworld.ThemorematureIsrael,havingundergoneyearsoftraining,
wouldbeexpectedtobemuchmorereadytocarryoutallthetermsofthe
covenantthathadbeengiventothematMt.Sinai.So,hereGodhassetoutHis
planforthem,remindstheminabeautifulmetaphorwhatHedidforthem,and
howHepreparedthemforthetask.
Thismetaphorcontinuesinthesecondpartofverse11.Noticewegeta
sequenceofmentionofEphraim,thenJudah,thenJacob.Ephraimisharnessed;
Judahshallplough;Jacobshallharrow.ThequestionamongBibleacademicsisif
thewordJudahbelongsinthissequence.TheusualcoupletthatwefindinHosea
isEphraimwithIsrael;notEphraimwithJudah.So,someBiblescholarsthink
thisoughttoreadsomethinglike:“IwillharnessEphraim;Israelshallplough;
Jacobshallharrowforhimself.”OtherscholarsmakethecasethatJudahdoes
belongtherebecausethenyoucompletetheideaofEphraim(theNorthern
Kingdom)andJudah(theSouthernKingdom)togetherformingJacob(allof
Israel…bothkingdoms).Idon’tknowifthereisawaytoproveeithercase,but
myvotegoestowardsthewordJudahbelongingtherebecauseitbetterfitswith
theinclusionofthewordJacob,whichisnotquestionable.Backinthedaysofthe
wildernessjourney(whichiswhattheyoungtrainedcowrepresents),itincluded
allthetribesofIsrael.ItwasalsoallthetribesofIsraelthatweregivenland.So,
itfeelslikeGodissortofreminiscing…recallingthebettertimes…whenIsrael

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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wasacceptingHistrainingandoperatingasitshould.SayingthatJacobwould
harrowforhimselfistosaythatwhenIsraelenteredthePromisedLand,the
Canaaniteshadalreadyplantedorchardsandvineyards,andestablishedfields,
whichIsraelsimplytookfromthem.Butnowintheland,Israel(Jacob)would
begintodothesetasksforthemselves.
Thissameagriculturalmetaphorcontinuesinverse12.
CJB
Hosea10:12Ifyousowrighteousnessforyourselves,youwillreap
accordingtograce.Breakupunusedgroundforyourselves,becauseitistimeto
seekADONAI,tillhecomesandrainsdownrighteousnessuponyou.
Nowtheagriculturalmetaphoranditsactualmeaningarecombined.Justaswith
sowingseedforfood,Israelisalsoto“sow”righteousnessforthemselves,and
whenthishappensatharvesttimewhatcomesupwillbeGod’sgrace.Thatis,
IsraelischallengedbytheLordtonotjustknowbutalsotoliveaccordingtothe
termsoftheCovenantofMoses.Bydoingthis,theywillfindthatjustasby
properlypreparingthegroundandusinggoodseedwillproduceabountiful
harvest,sobyobeyingGod(righteousness)theneverymannerofgoodnesswill
cometothembymeansofGod’sgracetowardstheminreturnfortheir
faithfulness.Let’snuancethisabitfurther.
TwodistinctHebrewwordsareusedhereasthequalitiesneededforGodtorain
downrighteousnessuponallIsrael.Theyare:tzedakahandchesed.Tzedakahis
bestinterpretedasrighteousnessinthesenseofrighteousjustice.So,in
modernEnglish,thebetterchoicewouldsimplybejustice.Chesedisaconcept
thatincludeskindness,grace,andmercy.Tzedek(whatGodwillraindown)also
meansrighteousnessbutmoreinthesenseofaspiritualcondition,astatus
beforeGod,ofrighteousness.Consideringthecontext,Ithinkagoodreadingis:
“Ifyousowjusticeforyourselves,youwillreapaccordingtomercy.Then
skippingtotheendoftheverse,“TillHecomesandrainsdownHisrighteousness
uponyou”.
Verse13explainsthatinsteadofIsraelsowingjusticeandthereforereaping
mercy,theyactedwickedly.

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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CJB
Hosea10:13Youhaveplowedwickedness,reapediniquityandeatenthe
fruitoflies.Becauseyoutrustedinyourownway,inyourlargenumbersof
warriors…
FromtheHebrewstandpoint,insteadofsowingandthenreapingtzedakahand
chesed,Israelsowedandreapedreshah(wickedness)andevel(injustice).This
resultedinthemeatingthebadfruitsoftheirimpropersowingandreaping,
kachash(deception).Thatis,obediencehasoneresult,disobediencethe
oppositeresult.Theformerresultsindivineblessing,thelatterresultsinthe
divinecurse…justastheCovenantofMosesoutlines.Probablythisisreferringto
thetimeofKingMenahemsonofGadiwholedthepeopletoignoreGod’sTorah
andtoinsteadfollowtheirownways.ThisreflectsarealitysetdowninProverb
acoupleofhundredyearsearlier.
CJB
Proverbs11:18Theprofitsofthewickedareillusory;butthosewhosow
righteousnessgainatruereward.
HereistheapplicationthatasBelieverswemustunderstand,expect,and
activateinourlives.Personalprosperityisthelogicalresultofgoodbehavioras
definedbyGod’sTorah.Equally,nationalprosperityisthelogicalconsequenceof
hardworkandvirtuousbehaviorasasocialorder…butitmusthappenwithin
virtuousbehaviorasdefinedbyGod’sTorah.Thus,bothindividualandnational
disaster(theopposite)istheconsequenceoflazinessandbadbehavior…this,too,
isunderthedefinitionforwickedbehaviorintheTorah.
Iusetheterm“logical”insteadofspiritualbecauseasIexplainedinanearlier
lesson,humanlogic(nomatterhowmuchwemight,attimes,wanttoshoveit
down)tellsusthatifthereisaLaw,theremustbeaLawgiver.And,ifthereisa
LawandaLawgiver,thenitmustbeobjective.WeknowthereisaLawbecause
allhumanshaveaninnatesenseoftheexistenceofsomethingcalledmoraland
immoral…oftherealityofsomethingcalledrightandwrong...goodandevil.
Logicfurthertellsusthatsince,foundationally,weagreethisdichotomyexists,
thenwemustaskwherethisinnatesensecamefrom,andfurther,whodecided
theboundariesforrightandwrong,moralandimmoral?Iamsodisheartenedto
haverecognizedafewdecadesagothatinstitutionalChristianity,asithas
developedoverthecenturies,hasdiscardedthislineoflogical,innatereasonand

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
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optedfornoLaw,noLawgiver,andmadethedefinitionsofmoral,ethical,and
rightcompletelysubjectiveandmalleabledependinguponhowonefeelsinour
heart.ThisispreciselywhatwearewitnessingintheBookofHoseaasit
concernsEphraim/Israel.Whyarewesoblindedtoit?Orworse,honestly,think
weareimmunefromit?
IntheBookofJeremiahissomethingthatwehaveallheardatonetimeor
anotherinourwalkwithChrist,butIthinkismouthedandquicklyforgotten.It
isattheendofafew-versepassagethatIwanttoreaditalltoyousothecontext
isclear.ThismessagewasaimedatJudahatthetimeitwasspoken,with
Ephraim/Israelalreadyscatteredinexile.
CJB
Jeremiah17:1-9"Y'hudah'ssiniswrittenwithanironpen;withadiamond
pointitisengravedonthetabletoftheirheartsandonthehornsofyouraltars.
2
Astheyremembertheirchildren,sotheyremembertheiraltarsandtheir
sacredpolesbythegreentreesonthehighhills.
3
Mymountaininthefield,your
wealthandallyourtreasureswillbeplundered;becauseofthesinofyourhigh
placesthroughoutyourterritory.
4
Youwillrelinquishyourholdonyourheritage
whichIgaveyou.Iwillmakeyouserveyourenemiesinalandyoudonotknow.
Foryouhavekindledmyfieryanger,anditwillburnforever."
5
Hereiswhat
ADONAIsays:"Acurseonthepersonwhotrustsinhumans,whorelieson
merelyhumanstrength,whoseheartturnsawayfromADONAI.
6
Hewillbelike
atamariskinthe'Aravah-whenreliefcomes,itisunaffected;foritlivesinthe
sun-bakeddesert,insalty,uninhabitedland.
7
Blessedisthemanwhotrustsin
ADONAI;ADONAIwillbehissecurity.
8
Hewillbelikeatreeplantednearwater;
itspreadsoutitsrootsbytheriver;itdoesnotnoticewhenheatcomes;andits
foliageisluxuriant;itisnotanxiousinayearofdroughtbutkeepsonyielding
fruit.
9
"Theheartismoredeceitfulthananythingelseandmortallysick.Whocan
fathomit?
Thewordsandbeliefthat“myhearttellsme”todothusandso,andthatthis
essentiallyreflectstheproperlifeofaBeliever,needstobediscardedandnever
againconsideredaslegitimateinourlivesasBelievers.Wearewarned,
unequivocally,thatourhearts(meaningourminds)aredeceitfulandfatallysick.
Andyes,asthegoodProphetpointsout,itisamysteryastowhythisis.But,it
issoandwemustneverthinkthatourSalvationinJesusorourtrustinGodwill

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
13/13
completelyridourmindsofthisterriblecondition.Andyet,becausetheChurch
hasdiscardedtheonestandardGodhasgivenustodeterminewhatisactually
trueandright…aconcrete,writtenstandardbywhichwecanknowgoodfromevil,
moralfromimmoral…thenChristianshavebeentaughttorelyontheverything
Scripturetellsusnottorelyon…ourmortallysickhearts…ourownmindsthat
inevitablyseekourownways.Again…thisiswhatEphraim/Israelhaddoneto
itself.
Thethoughtofwar…ofmilitaryengagement…isinsertedattheendofverse13
(Israel’sdeceivedwaywastoputtheirtrustinthelargenumbersofsoldiersthey
had).Thus,ironically,sinceIsraelputtheirtrustintheirmilitaryinsteadofin
God,Hewouldpunishthemmilitarily.Assyriawouldinvade,kill,andexilethem.
Theirmilitarythattheythoughtsomightywouldfalltoamuchmightierone.
Hereisanotherthingthat,althoughIhaveharpedonitthroughoutour
explorationofHosea,IaskyourindulgencethatIcandoityetagain.Whatis
happeningtoIsraelisnomorenorlessthanexactlywhatthecursewithinthe
CovenantofMosesforbreakingGod’scommandmentssayswouldhappen.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:45-52
45
"Allthesecurseswillcomeonyou,pursuingyou
andovertakingyouuntilyouaredestroyed,becauseyoudidn'tpayattentionto
whatADONAIyourGodsaid,observinghismitzvotandregulationsthathegave
you.
46
Thesecurseswillbeonyouandyourdescendantsasasignandawonder
forever.
47
Becauseyoudidn'tserveADONAIyourGodwithjoyandgladnessin
yourheartwhenyouhadsuchanabundanceofeverything;
48
ADONAIwillsend
yourenemyagainstyou;andyouwillservehimwhenyouarehungry,thirsty,
poorlyclothedandlackingeverything;hewillputayokeofirononyourneck
untilhedestroysyou.
49
Yes,ADONAIwillbringagainstyouanationfromfar
awaythatwillswoopdownonyoufromtheendoftheearthlikeavulture,a
nationwhoselanguageyoudon'tunderstand,
50
anationgriminappearance,
whosepeopleneitherrespecttheoldnorpitytheyoung.
51
Theywilldevourthe
offspringofyourlivestockandtheproduceofyoursoil,untilyouhavebeen
destroyed.Theywillleaveyouwithoutgrain,wine,oliveoil,oryouryoungcattle
andsheep-untiltheyhavecausedyoutoperish.
52
Theywillbesiegeallyour
townsuntilyourhigh,fortifiedwalls,inwhichyoutrusted,collapseeverywhere
inyourland,whichADONAIyourGodgaveyou.

Lesson18-HoseaChapter10continued
14/13
Theapplicationisthis:forthosewhoclaimtrustintheGodofIsrael,butwho
behaveaccordingtoourownwaysandtrustinthemightofourarmedforcesand
ourintelligence,amilitarydisasteriswhatwillbringuslow.
Iwillclosewiththisthought.Believers:althoughthevastmajorityofushave
beentaughtthefairytalethatwehavebeenjoinedtoacovenantwithJesus(a
newcovenantseparatefromallothercovenantsthatabolishesallearlier
covenants),therealityisthatbymeansofJesusandHissacrificeofcourageand
loveontheCross,we…whowereoncestrangerstothecovenants…havebeen
joinedtothesamecovenantsthatGodmadewiththeHebrews,only
accomplishedinanewway.Andsincethatisthecase,wearesubjecttothe
samelawsandcommands,thesameblessingsandthecurses,aswas(andis)
Israel.Thecursewehavebeensavedfromiseternaldeath,butmostcertainly
notthecursesinthesenseofpunishmentsanddisciplinesforourwrongful
behavior…asdefinedintheTorah.
Nexttime,we’llfinishupchapter10andmoveintochapter11.