Today's first reading is presents a list of Israel's double-dealing. While they say they know God and worship God, their behavior says otherwise. Rather than trust in God alone, they have tried to preserve and protect themselves by raising up kings and creating alliances with foreign countries. As the situation becomes desperate, they offer sacrifices trying to gain God's favor, but God will not accept them, finding them half-hearted half-measures.
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]
The second reading offers a more forceful rejection of Israel's behavior. Again, it makes references to the altars and pillars (sacred stones) that the people have built -- these represent worship of false gods, rather than God. Beyond this, it says that Israel's reliance on other gods and other countries for preservation must be proven wrong by God. So the people must be completely defeated by a foreign army -- this is the necessary consequence of these sins.
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]
Reading the Bible in Its Entirety
If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 7-9 today.
If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hosea 7-9 today.
