Building a stone wall

The people of Israel misunderstood, thinking that it was the idols, not Yahweh (the Lord), who were giving them what they needed. (1) “Therefore” refers to the fact that the people of Israel were running after idolatry. Therefore, the Lord will place a hedge of thorns and a wall of stones in their path so that they cannot continue pursuing idolatry. As it says, “And I will build a stone wall against her so that she cannot find her paths.” (2) The people of Israel will attempt to run after idolatry, but because of the stone wall set before them, they will no longer be able to do so. As it is written, “And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not reach them; and she will seek them, but will not find them.” In this way, for her (the people of Israel), it will become as though the idols no longer exist at all. (3) Only at that point will the people of Israel finally realize how greatly they had been blessed by the Lord – which is what it means when she says, “I will go back to my first husband, because it was better for me then than now.” This is a prophecy of the restoration of the people of Israel.

Ignorance, the reason for destruction

Verse 8 is extremely important: “Yet she does not know that it was I myself who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.” This is also the central theme of the book of Hosea. (1) It was the Lord who gave the people of Israel “grain and new wine” as well as “silver and gold.” (2) However, the people of Israel used what they had received from the Lord for Baal worship (idolatry), thereby defiling the name of the Lord. (3) Because of that sin, judgment would fall upon the people of Israel. The problem of the people of Israel lay in their “ignorance.” Spiritual ignorance drove them toward destruction. It says, “She does not know that it was I myself who… lavished on her.” What sorrowful words these are. The Lord Jesus teaches the following: “Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Let us continue to walk today trusting in the love and mercy of our Father. God the Father will surely meet our needs.