Hosea 8:8-11

Israel made altars to sin -- Hosea 8:8-11: Idolatry brought spiritual ruin upon Israel. The idolatry of Israel had ruined that nation and the gentile nations considered them worthless. "They be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure." They were looked at as if they were a broken vase or a broken piece of pottery. They were of no value to anyone. Israel was like a wild donkey that had run off just to go its own way. They ran off to Assyria and hired them as allies. Israel had committed idolatry. This was compared to a man's wife committing adultery, and even worse in that she hired her lovers. Israel is like an unfaithful wife that would use money given to her by her loving husband to pay men to come in to her.

Israel had made a bargain with Assyria for help. Sadly that heathen nation was as helpless as Israel herself. God's people would be scattered from their own land and be gathered into the net of the heathen country. The worthless kings and rulers of Israel would be of no help to deliver her from the hands of Assyria. Israel had built many altars. Sadly the altars led to sin and not to true worship. Their altars literally became places for sin. In Assyria, the horrible practice of idolatry would be forced upon Israel and would continue to produce even more sin.