Hosea 8:1-4

Israel broke God's covenant -- Hosea 8:1-4: Hosea eight begins with God, Israel and the Assyrians. Israel had broken her covenant with God and ignored His teaching. Now it was time to sound the warning because Assyria would swoop down on Israel like an eagle to its prey. Assyria came against Israel at the mandate of God to punish her because of her transgressions. When the persecution came against Israel she called to God saying, "We claim you, the LORD, as our God." Sadly, with Israel, love for God was only talk. God said, "They have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law."

Hosea said, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good." The thing that Israel had cast off was the covenant or the good agreement that they had made with God. The enemy, in this case the Assyrians, pursued Israel to her destruction. Israel left God out of their thinking. They choose kings and other leaders without consulting God. They made idols of silver and of gold. This led to their spiritual downfall. Israel had forgotten her maker.