Hosea 7

V 1–2: INTERVENING INIQUITY Here, again, Ephraim represents Israel. Samaria is the capital city of the northern kingdom. Just when God would have healed Israel, Israel moves away from any place of repentance. Fraud, theft, robbery, hard hearts and wicked deeds put them out of reach of mercy and spiritual healing. V 3–7: ROTTEN RULERS Their rulers appease wickedness and lies. Their adultery, drunkenness, scoffing, and rejection of God lead a rebellious people even further away from God. Their immorality burns throughout the night like an overheated baker’s oven. Despite that, He remains willing to pardon them if they repent. But they refuse to call upon Him. V 8–10: SIMPLE SOLUTION Israel will neither recognise her failures, nor confess her compromised and half-baked spiritual life that is marked by pride. All God asks is that they return to God from sin and seek Him. V 11–16: SUBSTITUTE SAVIOURS Rather than calling out to God for forgiveness and help, Israel turns vainly to other nations which will ultimately betray her. Like Israel, many today vainly seek inadequate and powerless saviours rather than the only Lord and true Saviour.