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The Lord had worked in various ways in an attempt to get Israel to do His will. He had limited their strength and chastised them thorough the nations around them. He had strengthened their arms and helped them overcome their enemies. Every means whereby the promise of an inheritance of the land could be kept, had been exhausted. Now, due to their stubborn and persistent worship of idols they were to loose their inheritance by being driven out of their land. For all this, they continued to imagine evil of the Lord. They turned against Him by accusing Him of all their troubles. Hos. 7:15.
They returned, they turned back changing their ways but not to the ways of the Lord. They intensified their worship to their idols. The very one to whom they should have turned and approached with dedication and worship, went unheeded. They had become like a bow with a slack draw string or faulty in its ability to hit the target. Their leader would be eliminated by the sword because of the vile language and the cursing that they had become accustomed to using. They were so far from the Lord that they mocked and scoffed at Him. Hos. 7:16 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways. Prov. 14:14.
Set the trumpet to the lips. Prepare for its sounding. The blowing of the trumpet had a variety of meanings in Israel. In this instant it is a warning of an impending attack, a call for war. Hos. 8:1 Though they sound the trumpet, it is to be in vain, for none will respond. Because it is the hand of the Lord against them, and a display of His wrath, they have no heart for war. Eze. 7:14 It is a trumpet call which would cause great consternation among the people of Israel. Adversity from the Lord was to come upon them creating great fear. Amos 3:6 It is needful that the cause of this situation be considered. They will be judged according to their ways and will be recompensed for their abominations. Eze. 7:8-9 They had brought upon themselves everything that was about to take place in their lives. They had defiled the land by transgressing the Law and had changed the ordinances of the Lord. Worst of all, they had broken the everlasting covenant. The responsibility for their dilemma rested squarely upon their shoulders. Isa. 24:5.
In the last days, the sounding of the trumpets will signal events. In the book of Revelation, seven angels are introduced, each having a trumpet which will be sounded in their season. Rev. 8:2 Each of the happenings which they proclaim will have a profound effect on the affairs of both, the church and the world in the end of the age. The first five trumpets are pre-tribulation trumpets and will serve as warnings to the earth of impending doom.Rev. 8:6 – 9:1-11.