Here is a very striking passage in these words of the Lord, and is as suited to all ages as to the age of Israel. The Lord saith, that the great things he wrote to Israel were counted by them strange things. And Reader! what more strange to thousands, who call themselves Christians, than the pure doctrine of Christ's blood and righteousness, as the only possible means of salvation, and yet what so great and so glorious? Who, untaught of God the Holy Ghost, can enter into a right apprehension of that blessed doctrine; God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them? 2 Corinthians 5:19. We shall indeed know these things to be the great things of God, if so be the Holy Ghost condescends to be our teacher. But without his gracious instruction, the mystery of godliness will be to us as strange things, and men will now, as much as in the days of Christ's flesh, call the most blessed truths hard sayings, and go back from Jesus, who never in heart walked with Jesus. John 6:60-66, etc.
Related Commentaries of Hosea 8:9
Hosea 8:9-14
9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.b
10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrowc a little for the burden of the king of princes.
11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
13 They sacrificed flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.