When The Enemy Descend Like An Eagle Because They Have Broken The Covenant And Cast Off What Is Good, Israel Will Cry In Vain, ‘”O God Of Israel We Know You” (Hosea 8:1-3).
The present hopelessness of Israel's current situation comes out strongly here. The enemy are coming against them like an eagle descending on its prey (compare Deuteronomy 28:49), and this because they have broken the covenant and disobeyed His Law. So desperate will the situation be that Israel will appeal to YHWH on the grounds that He is their God and known to them. But it will do them no good because they have ‘cast off what is good', that is have rejected Him, His covenant and His ways. Therefore all that remains is for them to be effectively pursued by their enemy (compare Deuteronomy 28:22; Deuteronomy 28:45;
Analysis of Hosea 8:1-3.
· “The ram's horn to your mouth!” Like an eagle he comes against the house of YHWH. (Hosea 8:1 a).
· Because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law (Hosea 8:1 b).
· To me they will cry, “O God of Israel, we know you” (Hosea 8:2).
· Israel has cast off what is good (Hosea 8:3 a).
· The enemy will pursue him (Hosea 8:3 b).
Note that in ‘a' the eagle will some against the house of YHWH (the people of Israel), and in the parallel the enemy will pursue them. In ‘b' they have transgressed His covenant and trespassed against His Law, and in the parallel they have cast off what is good. Centrally in ‘c' they make their false and hypocritical cry to YHWH.