71.
They have spoken words. Words of prayer, promise and considered to be words of worship. They were vain words. Empty of true meaning and even while being uttered their hearts were far from the Lord. Hos. 10:4 Jesus taught that vain repetitions, memorized, canned prayers if you please, were but empty words. Words spoken eloquently more for the ears of those gathered than for the Lord. Mt. 6:7.
They responded affirmatively to the covenant of the Lord. While all the time, knowing in their hearts that they would not keep their portion of the covenant. Their word meant nothing and could not be trusted. Paul listed covenant breakers as one of the signs of a reprobate people. Rom.1:31 Therefore judgment was about to break upon them like unto a poisonous weed in the midst of their plantings. Their actions and response to the covenant of the Lord is the root cause of all that is happening to them. The Lord warned them that those who turned aside to chase after other gods, would be like a root bearing gall and wormwood. Deut. 29:18 These roots of bitterness, however small, all have an effect on our families, our friends and associates. It is an attitude which cannot be hidden and according to Paul is the sign of one who has fallen from grace. Heb. 12:15.
Fear to come upon the hearts of the people living in Samaria, losing their golden calf. From Bethel (the house of God) they had turned to Bethaven, (the house of vanity, or idolatry). Unger, gives an interesting interpretation of the name, the house of nothingness. They could not have gone to a greater extreme. The people who at one time were called the people of God are now the people of the golden calf. Priest and people shall mourn over the loss of their calf gods. How empty, how void of all the help expected from a god they must have felt when their gods were taken captive. Its glory, its power had been stripped from it and it was proven to be vulnerable, weak and ineffective.
Hos. 10:5
The destiny of the calf gods was to be carted off, in captivity to Assyria as a gift to king Jareb ( meaning a revenger). A heathen king used by the Lord to punish Israel for their idolatry. The loss of their gods in such a fashion was an embarrassment to Israel. Furthermore, they were ashamed of such defenseless and useless idols. Hos. 10:6 Their rebellion and sin was against the Lord. Isaiah predicts the end of such a country or individual. In the process of their punishment they will be ashamed, be disgraced, dry up like a dead tree and an unwatered garden. The mighty man and his works will burn together and there will be no one to quench the fire. Isa. 1:28-31 Samaria and its king destined to be blown away like the foam on a raging sea is lifted and carried by the strong winds of a storm.