Hosea

Hosea 12: God’s Indictment Against Deceitful Worship Collin Leong. December 31, 2025 (v1-14) The LORD's Indictment of Israel and Judah (v1) Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.  Exp: "Feeding on the wind" means chasing after nothing , like grasping air. (Ecclesiastes 1:14,17 - "chasing after the wind." ) The "east wind" in the middle east was notorious for being hot, dry, and damaging to crops. It wasn’t just useless—it was actively harmful. The "oil" possibly referring to Olive oil, which is a valuable agricultural products, used for food, lighting, medicine, and religious rituals. Olive oil represented wealth and surplus in Israel’s economy. (v2-6) The LORD has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways and his deeds. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood...

Hosea 11: God's Compassion For Israel Collin Leong. Dec 30, 2025 (v1-7) Out of Egypt I Call My Son (v1-2) When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.  Exp: When God said He called his son out of Egypt, He meant Israel as His son, where Moses brought them out from Egypt. However, Matthew 2:15 said about Jesus: “This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”   Matthew uses typology —Israel’s experience foreshadows Jesus’ life.  Jesus embodies Israel’s role as God’s true Son, succeeding where Israel failed. (v3-4) Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke of their jaws, and I bent down to them and ...

Hosea 10: Joy Apart From God Is Empty Collin Leong. December 29, 2025 (v1-15) Retribution for Israel's Sin (v1-2) Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars. Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.  (v3-4) Surely now they will say, "We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?" They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgement springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.  Exp: in v3 , the people aren’t saying “we don’t want a king”. Instead, they’re acknowledging the futility of kingship in their current situation. Because they have abandoned the LORD, their kings are powerless to save them. (v5-8) The people of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-aven. The people mour...

Hosea 9: God’s Love Withdrawn Collin Leong. 26/12/2025 (v1-17) Israel's Punishment (v1-3) Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor. The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them. They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.  (v4-6) They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD. What will you do on the appointed day, on the day of the LORD's feast? For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents.  Exp: In v5 , Hosea is saying ...

Hosea 8: Estrangement from God’s Word Collin Leong. Dec 24, 2025 (v1-14) Israel Will Reap The Whirlwind (v1-2) Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. To me they cry "My God, we Israel know you." Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.  Exp: The trumpet is a warning signal of imminent judgement, while vulture (or eagle)  symbolizes the swift and predatory enemy—most likely Assyria—hovering over Israel because of their covenant-breaking rebellion (v3-6) They made kings but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. I have spurned your call, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For it is from Israel, a craftsman made it, not God. The call of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.  Exp: In v6 , the craftsman represent...

Hosea 7: God Desires to Heal But Unable To Collin Leong. Dec 22, 2025 (v1-10)  Israel Has Rebelled Against God (v1-3) When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed. and the evil deeds of Samaria, for the deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Not their deeds surround them; they are before my face. By their evil they make the king glad, and the princes by their treachery.  Exp: In v1, when God says He would have healed Israel, it means that He wanted to heal them in the past, but instead, He found them practicing evil. This made it impossible for God to heal them. (v4-7 ) They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven whose baker ceases to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers. For with hearts like an oven they approa...

Hosea 6: Call to Return and God’s Healing Collin Leong. Dec 20, 2025 (v1-11)  The Unrepentance of Israel and Judah (v1-3) Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence. So let us know - let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.  Exp: In v2,  The “two days” often symbolize a brief, yet sufficient time of divine discipline. In Hebrew idiom, “two days” can mean “a little while,” while the “third day” marks the decisive turning point when God acts to restore. Early Christian interpreters connected Hosea 6:2 with Christ’s resurrection. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:4 and Jesus in Luke 24:46 emphasize “on the third day” language, echoing Hosea’s imagery of revival and r...

Hosea 5: God’s Indictment of Leaders Collin Leong. December 18, 2025 (v1-15) Judgement on Israel and Judah (v1-2) Hear this, O priests! Pay attention, O house of Israel! Give ear, O house of the king! For judgement is for you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor. And the revolters have done deep into slaughter, but I will discipline them.  Exp: Mizpah was a place of gathering and covenant (e.g., Judges 10:17; 1 Samuel 7:5–7 ). Hosea’s accusation flips its meaning, that they snared people in corruption. They spread a net in Tabor , in trapping the people in sin. Mizpah is at the east of Jordan river, in Gilead; while Tabor is in the west of Jordan river. By naming both, Hosea spans the whole land—north and south, east and west—showing that corruption is widespread. (v3-4) I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore; Israel is defiled. Their deeds do not permit them to return...

Hosea 4: God’s Case Against His People  Collin Leong. December 17, 2025 (v1-19) God's Charges Against Israel (v1-3) Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.  There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and the beast of the field and the birds and even the fish are taken away. (v4-6) Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget yo...