Daily Devotions
Hosea
"They have gone up to Assyria"
Text: Hosea 8:9
THE MIGHT OF ASSYRIA
The last couple of kings were Pekah and Hoshea (2 Kings 15:27-31). In both their reigns Assyria’s might was felt bitterly.
“For they have gone up to Assyria,
Like a wild donkey alone by itself;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
Yes, though they have hired among the nations,
Now I will gather them;
And they shall sorrow a little,
Because of the burden of the king of princes.”
Hosea 8:9-10
1. “For they have gone up to Assyria”
a) The reign of Pekah is in mind.
b) Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria invaded Israel.
c) Many cities were captured.
d) Many from Israel were taken captive and brought to Assyria (2 Kings 15:27-31).
2. “Like a wild donkey alone by itself”
a) Israel was well-compared to a wild donkey.
b) It remained stubborn and untrained.
3. “Ephraim has hired lovers”
a) Hoshea became king after he killed Pekah.
b) He sought the help of Egypt in his desire to resist Assyria.
4. “Yes, though they have hired among the nations, now I will gather them”
a) Hoshea not only sought help from Egypt.
b) The help of other nations was also sought.
c) But these efforts were futile.
d) The LORD was against Israel for its stubbornness and its idolatrous ways.
e) He will gather them up and they would be conquered by the Assyrians.
5. “And they shall sorrow a little, because of the burden of the king of princes”
a) Hoshea was the last king of Israel, the northern kingdom.
b) Israel would sorrow in the land of captivity.
c) The king of Assyria would place a burden on all the captives of Israel.
The end of the northern kingdom of Israel came in 722 BC when Assyria conquered the land.