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Hosea 8:1-10

 Israel was throwing away their covenant relationship with God, and Hosea knew (from his own broken marriage) how God felt about that kind of abandonment.
In previous chapters, Hosea had described the pain, disappointment, and frustration God has borne.

Now it's time to feel/experience God's anger...


The same Hebrew word that gets translated here (in verse 1) as "eagle" can also be translated as "vulture".
How might this alter how you read this opening section?


Verses 4-10 talks all about Israel's self-reliance.
In verse 4 we read about Israel's choice of kings.
How does this speak to this issue of self-reliance?

Verses 5-6 talk about Israel's own created state religion.
How does this speak to this same issue of self-reliance?

In verses 8-9 we read about how Israel sold herself.
How does this speak to this issue of self-reliance?

What is Israel likened to in verse 9?
How does this line up with what we've already seen in both Hosea 4:16 and Hosea 6:4?

How can you relate to how Israel is behaving here?
How does God feel about that?

Are you now (or have you ever) been in a stage in life where you believe in Jesus, but you don't act/feel like you need him or rely on him, and rely on yourself instead?

How about church?
Have we come to rely more on gifted-members, money, nice buildings, or good preaching and less on God?

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