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"Her king is cut off"

Text: Hosea 10:7

A NATION DESTROYED

It took so much to build the nation of Israel. The sad reality was that the blessings of the LORD were taken for granted. The bent towards sin was not dealt with and Israel plunged into disaster.

“As for Samaria, her king is cut off,
Like a twig on the water.
Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel
Shall be destroyed.
The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars;
They shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’
And to the hills, ‘Fall on us!'”
Hosea 10:7-8

1. “As for Samaria, her king is cut off, like a twig on the water”

a) Samaria, the capital represented the nation of Israel.

b) “Her king is cut off”

i) Hoshea would be the last king.

ii) He was imprisoned by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17).

c) “Like a twig on the water”

i) The king is compared to a mere twig.

ii) It is being carried away by the current of the river.

2. “Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel shall be destroyed”

a) Aven is the short form of “Beth Aven” (House of nothingness).

b) The sin of Israel was located at Aven, Samaria.

c) This sin problem would be destroyed.

3. “The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars”

a) The altars are usually well-kept.

b) But with the destruction of Samaria, these areas of worship, including the altars would have thorns and thistles growing there. They represent neglect and abandonment!

4. “They shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!'”

a) These are expressions.

b) They represent the following sentiments:

i) Shame

ii) Despair

iii) Hopelessness