John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind , etc.] The sense is, the Israelites took a great deal of pains in the idolatrous worship of the calves, and made a great stir, bustle, and noise in it, like the wind; were very vainglorious and ostentatious, made a great show of religion and devotion, and promised themselves great things from it, peace and plenty, wealth and riches, all prosperity and happiness, enjoyed by Heathen nations; but this was lost labour, it was labouring for the wind, or sowing that; they got nothing by it, or what was worse than nothing; it proved not only useless, but hurtful, to them; for, for their idolatry, and continuance in it, the whirlwind of God’s wrath would be raised up against them, and the Assyrian army, like a vehement storm of wind, would rush in upon them, and destroy them; so they that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption, ( Galatians 6:8); it hath no stalk ; what they sowed did not rise up above ground; or, if it did, it did not spring up in a blade or stalk, which was promising of fruit; no real good, profit, and advantage, sprung from their idolatrous practices: the bud shall yield no meal ; yea, though it rise up into a stalk, and this stalk produced ears of corn, yet those so thin, that no meal or flour could be got out of them, and so of no worth and use: and if so be it yield : any meal or flour: the strangers shall swallow it up ; the Israelites should not be the better for it; it should till come into the hands of foreigners, the Assyrian army. The meaning is, that if they did prosper and increase in riches, yet they should not long enjoy them themselves, but be pillaged and spoiled of them; as they were by the exactions of Pul, and by the depredations of Shalmaneser, kings of Assyria. So the Targum, “if they got substance, the nations shall spoil them of it.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The manifold sins of Israel. (Hos. 7:1-7) Their senselessness an hypocrisy. (Hos. 7:8-16)
Hos. 7:1-7 A practical disbelief of God's government was at the botto of all israel's wickedness; as if God could not see it or did not hee it. Their sins appear on every side of them. Their hearts were inflame by evil desires, like a heated oven. In the midst of their troubles a a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God. The actua 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 fort 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.
Hos. 7:8-16 Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Thoug they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldo cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercie only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ an holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, Of God, and renew a right spiri within us _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew כי3588 רוח7307 יזרעו2232 וסופתה5492 יקצרו7114 קמה7054 אין369 לו צמח6780 בלי1097 יעשׂה6213 קמח7058 אולי194 יעשׂה6213 זרים2114 יבלעהו׃1104
