1. Why was the Lord going to be as an eagle against His house?
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“Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law” (Hosea 8:1).
The prophet setting the trumpet to his mouth (Isaiah 58:1, Ezekiel 33:1-20, and Joel 2:1-17).
Going forward though, they would not hear these warnings (Jeremiah 6:14-17).
The imagery of an eagle as it ties to punishment from God via an invading nation (Deuteronomy 28:47-58).
Transgression of the Lord’s covenant [alliance, pledge] (Joshua 7:1-26 [vs. 11; 15], Joshua 23:16, Judges 2:16-23, and Hosea 6:5-7). Remember, Israel had a covenant relationship with God (Jeremiah 3:14). That covenant was witnessed by themselves long ago (Joshua 24:14-28).
Transgression of the Law (James 2:10-12 and I John 3:4; cf. Jeremiah 2:8 and Daniel 9:10-11).
2. What did Israel cry unto God and say?
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“Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee” (Hosea 8:2).
Deuteronomy 5:28-29, Psalms 78:36-37, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 48:1-8, Ezekiel 33:30-33, Mark 7:1-13, Titus 1:16, and I John 2:1-6
3. What did Israel cast off?
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Good: “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him” (Hosea 8:3).
Psalms 36:1-3, Psalms 81:10-16, and Lamentations 4:12-19
4. Were their actions of God?
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No: “(4) They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. (5) Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? (6) For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces” (Hosea 8:4-6).
They set up kings, but not by the Lord from the very first (I Samuel 8:1-22; cf. Deuteronomy 17:14-20).
Idolatry (Exodus 20:23, Deuteronomy 5:7-9, Deuteronomy 11:16-17, Acts 15:20, I Corinthians 6:9-10, I Corinthians 10:14, and I John 5:21).
While they cast off God, their idols did nothing for them (Psalms 115:1-8, Isaiah 45:20, Jeremiah 2:27-28, and Jeremiah 10:14).
How long will they not be innocent (Jeremiah 13:27)?
5. How was Israel going to be swallowed up?
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They would be among strangers; Gentiles: “(7) For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. (8) Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure” (Hosea 8:7-8).
Here we see the often taught principle of you reap what you sow (Job 4:8, Job 34:11, Proverbs 1:31, Proverbs 12:14, Proverbs 14:14, Proverbs 24:12, Isaiah 3:10-11, Jeremiah 2:19, Jeremiah 4:16-18, Jeremiah 32:19, Ezekiel 22:31, Hosea 7:2, Hosea 8:7, John 5:28-29, Romans 2:4-11, II Corinthians 5:10, and Galatians 6:7-9).
Not just as a figure of speech, but literally too; they would not have a fruitful harvest (Jeremiah 14:1-6 and Joel 1:10-12).
Israel swallowed up (Lamentations 2:1-16); scattered (Jeremiah 50:17).
They provided no pleasure to the Lord (Malachi 1:6-10 cf. Revelation 4:11).
6. Who had Ephraim hired?
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Many lovers among the nations: “(9) For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. (10) Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes” (Hosea 8:9-10).
They went up to Assyria (II Kings 16:1-18).
The wild ass (Jeremiah 2:24-25).
They had hired lovers (Ezekiel 16:1-63 and Ezekiel 23:1-49).
God planned to gather them (Jeremiah 31:10).
Assyria, the burden, etc. (Isaiah 14:24-32).
7. What did Ephraim make many of?
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Altars to sin: “Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin” (Hosea 8:11).
Hosea 10:1-2
Yet, they acted as though there was no sin (Hosea 12:1-8).
8. How did Ephraim look at the great things written to them of the law of God?
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As a strange thing: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12).
They word of God was certainly made known among them (Deuteronomy 1:3, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Deuteronomy 27:1, and II Kings 17:13).
Great things were revealed therein (Psalms 119:18, Acts 3:25, Romans 9:4, and Hebrews 10:1).
Counted as a strange thing (Isaiah 5:24 and Jeremiah 6:15-19) because they did not know our Lord (Isaiah 45:4-5 and Jeremiah 4:22).
9. Why did God reject their sacrifices and set His plan to send fire upon their cities?
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“(13) They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. (14) For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof” (Hosea 8:13-14).
This is a point similarly made by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:21-23).
Their sacrifices were unacceptable because of their disobedience (Isaiah 1:10-18).
God knew they’d return to Egypt instead of Him (Isaiah 31:1 and Jeremiah 37:1-10) to no avail (Isaiah 36:6).
They forgot the Lord (Hosea 13:6) as they have before (Deuteronomy 32:15-18 and Psalms 106:21).
Nothing was going to stop what God was going to have sent upon them (Jeremiah 4:5-13 and Jeremiah 19:1-15).