71 When I would heal Israel , The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered , And the evil deeds of Samaria , For they deal falsely ; The thief enters in, Bandits raid outside , 2 And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness . Now their deeds are all around them; They are before My face . 3 With their wickedness they make the king glad , And the princes with their lies . 4 They are all adulterers , Like an oven heated by the baker Who ceases to stir up the fire From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened . 5 On the day of our king , the princes became sick with the heat of wine ; He stretched out his hand with scoffers , 6 For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting ; Their anger smolders all night , In the morning it burns like a flaming fire . 7 All of them are hot like an oven , And they consume their rulers ; All their kings have fallen . None of them calls on Me.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 7:1-7
Commentary on Hosea 7:1-7
(Read Hosea 7:1-7)
A practical disbelief of God's government was at the bottom of all israel's wickedness; as if God could not see it or did not heed it. Their sins appear on every side of them. Their hearts were inflamed by evil desires, like a heated oven. In the midst of their troubles as a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God. The actual wickedness of men's lives bears a very small proportion to what is in their hearts. But when lust is inwardly cherished, it will break forth into outward sin. Those who tempt others to drunkenness never can be their real friends, and often design their ruin. Thus men execute the Divine vengeance on each other. Those are not only heated with sin, but hardened in sin, who continue to live without prayer, even when in trouble and distress.