Broken gods
Samaria would now discover the folly of trusting in her calf.
1. The futility of making it. "From Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God" (Hosea 8:6). Idolatry is a huge absurdity. That cannot be a god which we make with our own hands (cf. Isaiah 40:18-20; Isaiah 44:9-20). As foolish is it to make a god of wealth, position, reputation, or anything created by man's effort.
2. The folly of trusting in it. "Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off" (Hosea 8:5); "The calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces" (Hosea 8:6).
Anything earthly that man relies on will prove a vain help when God wills its overthrow, or the overthrow of him who depends on it.
3. The reward of serving it. "Mine anger is kindled against them" (Hosea 8:5). God's anger was kindled
"How long will it be ere they attain to innocency?" The effects of this kindling of God's anger are described in Hosea 8:7. One effect would be the destruction of their idol (Hosea 8:6).
II. SIN'S PENALTIES. (Hosea 8:7) Retribution is set forth under two images.
1. The wind and whirlwind. "They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." "The wind is an image of vain human efforts, from which ruin is developed, as naturally as the wind becomes a tempest" (Schmoller). The image suggests:
2. The blasted grain. "It hath no stalk." etc. The thought here is that of designs frustrated at every stage. It appears first as if there would be no stalk. Then such stalk as there is yields no fruit. Or if, perchance, there should be any, it is devoured by strangers. Thus, life without God proves to be but deceptive show, promise without performance, effort without result. It has to reckon with God's frown at every stage. He may nip its designs in their inception. He may thwart them a stage further on. He may prevent them from attaining final success. Or, if success be permitted, it is only that he may make their overthrow more striking in the end (Psalms 73:18; cf. Hosea 9:11, Hosea 9:16).—J.O.