WOW how heart breakingly sad chapter after chapter...Our GOD is sooooooo good!!! What is it about our flesh that doesn't want the laws and the commandments from GOD over the laws of sin and death of the grave? How does the devil,and his fallen angels,deceive mankind into believing their way is better,and finally,once we have tasted and seen how good the LORD is what does the world have that is better??? We read the results of what happens from turning our hearts affections away from the LORD. The land of JUDAH is special to the LORD and He angers when people give it away to our enemies especially after giving it to us as a special gift. The CJB uses a word "vassal" for Hoshea and Judahs situation,in other words,the land that belongs to the people of GOD,they are now paying for protection and rent to live there..say what??? I see why the LORD gets angry, it's just like us when we become angry and displeased with our children when they purposely disobey our rules and commands. Have you ever told or wanted someone to get out of you sight or like "Go to your room?".Verse 18 says the LORD removed them out of HIS sight,and they deserved it,they completely turned away and broke the Father's Heart.Israel and Judah tried to mix worshiping their GOD and the other gods,but of course,that won't work either. JESUS calls us continually to come follow HIM,pick up our cross and leave everything behind...JESUS LEFT ALL OF HEAVEN AND IT'S FULLNESS to come to earth and become a human being,born from a human woman as we all were,and showed us what to do to become a son and daughter of the Most High GOD.He served GOD as a Child until the time of water baptism and the baptism with HOLY SPIRIT power in the river,and then His Ministry to the world began.Once JESUS paid the penalty for our sin it freed us from the power holding us as sinners,and it empowered all believers with Holy Spirit Authority to engage the world with the powerful Dominion from CHRIST that seated us as saints with CHRIST in the Heavenly realm of Spiritual Government control. We are no longer sinners after becoming saints,tho we sin,the Blood of CHRIST cleanses us from all unrighteousness and we move on taking back all the devil has stolen. This world or the devil has nothing to offer the saints of GOD,for His love is more precious than silver and gold. We have no business with the devil,but to tear his kingdom down and restore the Kingdom of our GOD and CHRIST...So let's keep busy people of GOD for He is worthy!!!