Hosea 5 - 8

Hosea continues to lay out God's words to the nation.  The nation has dealt very treacherously with God - saying one thing but doing quite another.  As a result, punishment has been earned and will be meted out.  Israel has made her own decisions, ignored God's clear commands, refused to hear God's messages and turned her back on God's singular worthiness of worship.  When God punishes, He will do so rapidly, completely and devastatingly.  Israel will look to others - her former allies and partners in these crimes - for help, but help will not come.  In fact, those that would seem to be the best source of help will turn and devastate Israel even further.  It is a foolish thing to walk away from a loving and just God.