Hosea 10:1

Empty vine. In the Scriptures, God’s people are frequently compared to a vine (Ps. 80:8; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 2:21; Matt. 21:33-41). The vine depicted here is not without fruit, but the fruit produced is for itself. From the standpoint of the owner the vine may be called “empty,” for he receives nothing from it. So with Israel. The Lord did not receive the fruit due Him from the nation for which He had done so much (see on Isa. 5:1-7). Bringeth forth fruit. While in name and profession the people of Israel were the people of God, in practice they did not yield the fruits of righteousness. They deserved the same judgment Jesus placed upon the barren fig tree (see Matt. 21:18, 19). Unto himself. Or, “for himself.” Few men can stand prosperity. Instead of being led by God’s goodness and benefits to a sincere repentance of sin and a closer walk with their Maker, they are prone to forget Him. The fruits of their blessings are selfishly kept for self and are not given back to Him. Thus God is often defrauded of the fruits men owe Him. It is a great abuse of God’s goodness to refuse to share our blessings with others. It is a great abuse of God’s goodness to refuse to share our blessings with others. See pp. 32, 33. Increased the altars. The Hebrew word translated “increased” comes from the same root as does the word translated “multitude.” The thought is that precisely according to the increase of their blessings was the increase of their apostasy. This presents in reality what has just been given in symbols, the large growth of Israel’s apostasy. The increase of population and material prosperity (see on ch. 2:8; PK 286) resulted in an increase in the number of idolatrous altars. Images. Heb. masseboth, “pillars” (see on Hosea 3:4; cf. 1 Kings 14:23).