Hosea 7
The Lord enumerates the sins of Israel which include deception 1, thievery 1, wickedness among the leaders 3, adultery 4, drunkenness 5, and uncontrolled passions 6, and the worst of all is that they fail to call on the Lord 7. They also mix with the nations which saps their strength and they do not see it 8-9. Israel acts in arrogance and fails to seek the Lord 10. They seek help from Egypt and God will judge them for this 11-13. They fail to call out to the Lord from their hearts 14 and fail to turn to Him 15-16. Note: What does it mean that the Lord longs to redeem them 13b ? Do their actions 'prevent Him from acting' ? 

Hosea 8
Israel will soon face an enemy because they have rejected what is good and trusted in their idols 1-6. They 'sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind' 7. Note: This is true of every individual who lives apart from the Lord and embraces idols and his own ways. All that Israel worked for would be consumed by others 7-8. Though lost in the nations, the Lord would still bring them out to judgment 9-10. They have followed God's law, but in a corrupting way 11-13. Israel has forgotten their 'Maker' and built many things that will come to nothing 14. Note: Again I see the principle that sin has destructive consequences that can not be ignored, nor escaped.

Hosea 9
The judgment of the Lord was coming 7 and the details of their downfall 1-6 were foretold by His prophets 8a. They face this due to their own corruption and sins 8b-9. Note: Much is said by the Lord concerning the sin of His people, which He is about to judge, in order to teach us that sin is devastating and deserving of God's wrath (judgment). The Lord 'looks back' to the beginning days of Israel, when they appeared to have promise (like grapes found in the desert or the first of the fig tree), but they quickly turned to idols 10. Their glory will 'fly away' and they will suffer 11-13. Verse 14 and 17 appear to be the prayer of the prophet, in fact all these verses seem to reflect the prophet's view, which really was the Lord's evaluation of the people. He could 'see' what the Lord was pointing out regarding the people. Note: Can you and I clearly see the truth of God's Word in the world around us ? Do we pray accordingly ?

Hosea 10
Israel is further described as taking their increase and using it for 'false' sacrifices 1-2. They have no king and face many lawsuits 3-4. Their idols are useless 5-6. They and their king will be carried away 7-8. They have a history of sinful actions that merit the judgment of God 9-11. There is a call to repentance in verse 12 which is dependant upon the Lord. However, they were 'ripe' for judgment 13-15. Hundreds of years of rebellion against the Lord finally reach the tipping point. Note: Even at this critical point, there is still hope for repentance and a returning to the Lord 13. Do you and I seek the Lord, while He may be found ?

Hosea 11
The tenderness and loving-kindness of the Lord is expressed in 1-4. Israel is called the Lord's son in verse 1. This is also applied to the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:15). The response of Israel was to turn from the Lord. Even in the face of judgment 5-6 they are 'determined to turn' from the Lord 7. They Lord 'can not give them up' 8. He withholds His wrath 9. Their following Him and being settled in the land speaks of restoration 10-11. Note: Can it be that the Lord is saying He will not totally give them over to His judgment, so as to be completely destroyed as a people and nation. I would suggest that this is was so, since they did come under the judgment of God by the hand of the Assyrians.

Hosea 12
Ephraim is feeding on wind as they make a treaty with Assyria 1. Judah, the southern kingdom is no better, and is called to repentance 2-6. Ephraim boasts of his wealth 7-8. Is this where they were placing their trust ? The Lord warned them through the prophets 10 and has lead them through prophets 13. How is it that they could ignore all that God had done for them 3-5, and turn to false worship 11 and pagan nations 12. This provoked the Lord to anger and they will bear their guilt 14. Note: The Christian must take heed to these words for we can 'backslide' and trust in ourselves or worldly principles which are devoid of the Lord's truth. The result can be the same, in that we suffer the disciplining hand of God. We must hear and heed the warnings HE gave long ago !

Hosea 13
Ephraim once has status, but because of their sin, they lost this 1. They make idols for themselves and even have 'human sacrifices' 2. How low could they go ? They will disappear like mist or smoke 3. They were only to acknowledge the Lord who had cared for them; yet they forgot Him 4-6. They would face the Lord in judgment because set themselves against Him 8-9.  They thought a king was the answer, so the Lord gave them a king and took him away also 10-11. Ephraim was guilty and his sin was kept on record, to be judged by the Lord 13. The Lord would ransom from the grave and redeem from death 14. Note: This is fully realized by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). Though this was sure to be part of the Lord's plan for their future, they would certainly face His judgment in the future also 15-16. Note: Even with all these words and images of warning, the people continued in their sins until they were swept away by the hand of the Lord. Sin is most awful if it moves God to act this way towards His own people. If He does this towards His own, what is the outcome of the ungodly and sinners ? (see: 1 Peter 4:17-18).

Hosea 14
The final message of this book is a call for the people of Israel to return to the Lord and seek His forgiveness for their sins 1-2. Note: God is just and He is also kind and merciful. True repentance will include their recognition that Assyria is no help to them, neither is the work of their hands 3. This return and restoration would be brought about by the Lord who would 'heal their waywardness' 4. God would refresh them like dew 5, cause them to grow 6, and make them a place or renown once again 7. Idols will no longer be their stumbling block or reason for lacking in (spiritual) fruit 8. The one who is wise and discerning will recognize these truths and will act accordingly, but the same will cause the rebellious to stumble 9. Note: How is your life before God ? Are you fully given to know and follow His ways or are you as stubborn Ephraim racing towards the judgment of the Lord ? Just because the Lord offers hope, one should not remain indifferent to repentance !