Hosea 7:1-7, Ephraim’s Fatal Failure (2)

We are still wondering about Hosea 7:1, and in what sense the “wickedness of Samaria” was uncovered in the time of Hosea.  You may already have a thought on this from what we have shared so far about the “times of Hosea.”  But before I seek to answer the question, let me go a little deeper into God’s mercy shown to Ephraim.

·       2 Kings 13:17: When Jehoash visited Elisha on his deathbed, Elisha challenged the king to strike the ground with arrows, calling them “the arrow of the LORD’s deliverance.”  This Hebrew word (tesua) is a common word but most often is used of any type of salvation/deliverance.  It is first used by Samson (Jud. 15:18), then Saul (1 Sam. 11:9-13).  When King David speaks of “salvation” he uses another term, yasa, which is related to the name “Jesus.” 

·       2 Kings 13:5: The LORD gave Israel a deliverer to restore the “promised land” to Israel, the land east of the Jordan.  This word is, in fact, yasa.  This word has it’s origins with Moses who “delivered” the shepherdess-daughters of the priest of Midian (Ex. 2:17).  The second use in Ex. 14:30 refers to  salvation at the Red Sea. 

·       2 Kings 14:26: There was no helper for Israel.  God, the LORD, was to be Ephraim’s helper, as Jacob had said when he blessed his sons (Gen. 49:25).  This first use is followed by Deut. 32:38, in the Song of Moses, where a disobedient and idolatrous Israel is told to look to her own “rock” for help.  This term is a powerful reminder of the way it was supposed to be in terms of the relationship between God and Israel. 

We have mentioned these terms to emphasize that God had not ceased to desire to be in a relationship with the people of the NK.  Through prophets like Hosea and Jonah, as well as Elijah and Elisha, God made it clear that the door was still open for repentance.  During this time the terrible times of Baal worship had come to an end.  We know that in Elijah’s time there were many prophets of the LORD in the NK (1 Ki. 18:3-4; 2 Ki. 2:3,5), which continued to be the case with Elisha (2 Ki. 2:15). 

This is the significance of the ministries of Elijah and Elisha.  They stand out for their ministry to the NK.  Their days are critical for Ephraim.  Ephraim must repent or God will, shut the door.  This was what happened.  After the death of King Zechariah the NK only lasted another 41 years, with 5 kings.  We are not told of any prophets who ministered in the NK during that time.

Hosea describes Israel in his day, using several pictures.  One is that they are “like an oven” (Hos. 7:4-7), with evil passions that are hot that drive them.  They are like a “cake unturned” (7:8-10).  They have been baked on one side, perhaps in that Baal worship has been rejected.  But the cake is not being finished by turning to their true and only Rock, the LORD their God.  Instead they have resurrected the wickedness of Samaria. Perhaps there is an application for the USA as we approach the 250^th birthday of our beginnings.  More than anything, this “celebration” should be an opportunity to consider our relationship with our Creator, a relationship that He has graciously provided through Christ Jesus, and ONLY through Christ Jesus.  The door will not always be open!