Key verse: 6
BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND HIM
God's charge against Israel continues. The sins of Israel are their idolatry and their double life. God will judge Israel and also the neighbouring country. But God has hope.
1. I know Israel (1-7)
The arrow of God's condemnation turns to the noble and priestly class. They are the leaders and those who are responsible for the sheep of the nation. But they neglect their responsibility and they leave as they please. Even if they work good deeds it's only dead works (Heb 9:14) which can't help their salvation. So, because of their hypocrisy with their spirit contaminated with adultery, there is no room for divine knowledge, destroying it. Hosea speaks about Judah, even if he is the prophet of northern Israel. The influence of the brother nation will be great. God will judge both. At any rate, there is no reason to their sacrifices, because it represents only their soiling because of their double heart. They may seek the Lord's face, but God has departed from them (6). We must seek God with all our heart, because this is the only way we can find God (Jr 29:13).
2. He will not help you (8-15)
A judgment is exercised against the kingdom of Ephraim through Judah; then, both will fall by the pagan enemy. The invasion is not from the north but from the south, according to the localities of verse 8. There also will be looting and murder (9,14). They establish their own regulation and laws contrary to God's command. The same applies today with for example the permission of work on Sunday. God degrades himself to be a ringworm and rot for his people because they are soiled. Both are sick and seek to be healed by the pagan king of Assyria (Yared means revenge). Both have bought from him services in cash but this king doesn't profit them. No healing is predictable. He doesn't contribute anything to them, maybe because of his trick, but the true reason is because the Eternal God has decided to punish them and none can divert the execution of his will ! But it's not to completely destroy them but so they repent and come back to him (15).
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