Hosea 9:7-10

Israel separated themselves unto shame -- Hosea 9:7-10 : The time had now come that Israel would receive what they deserved. The sad thing is that Israel knew it too. They knew that they deserved this punishment from God. The ones that should have led Israel back to God have been nothing but a disappointment. The prophets were fools and the spiritually minded men acted as if they were "mad." Israel was guilty of many sins and especially the sin of hatred.

God's watchman came with His message for the people. He was rejected and the false prophet accepted in his stead. The false prophet was a hidden snare to the people. He got them into serious trouble. They were just as brutal and corrupt as were the men of Gibeah when the Levite's wife was raped and murdered. God remembered their sin, and now they will face punishment. God had taken Israel as a weak and defenseless people and made of them a great nation.

They had an opportunity to glorify God for what He had done for them Instead they worshipped "Baal Peor, that disgusting idol, and became as disgusting as the idol they loved." Baal Peor was a Moabite idol. In worship to Baal young women prostituted themselves. This became one of the sins that Israel was later guilty of.