Hosea 8: 1-9 Israel reaps the whirlwind:

Put the trumpet to your lips! Israel has rejected the good, so now the enemy will pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me. They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves. The Lord has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. For they sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, and yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. For they have gone to Assyria like a wild donkey all alone.

The Jews were a divided nation at this time. There was the kingdom of Israel whose capital city was Samaria and the kingdom of Judah whose capital is Jerusalem. God is directing this message toward Israel, because their first king who was Jeroboam made for his kingdom golden calvess to worship. He wanted them worshipping these idols to prevent them from going to Jerusalem for true worship in God's temple. This became known as the sin of Jeroboam, who caused the people to sin. This same sin was repeated by succeeding kings in Israel, even though it was God who delivered them from bondage in Egypt with a strong hand. Because of this disobedience, these Jews will be operating without God's covenant blessing.

Daily Prayer: Father, it is easy to look at others and say, "How could they do such a thing?" Yet in our own way, we repeat the same sin. Every time we put anything ahead of you, such as shopping, ballgames, finances, or our homes and children, we are committing the sin of idolatry. Forgive us Father. Create in me a clean heart and renew my spirit so that I turn to you first for all my needs and praises. In Jesus name I pray Amen.