INTRODUCTION: It is time for them to seek the Lord. Yet, they are the children of God. They must have fallen far from where the Lord would have them to be. How did they get in such a state? First, we will go back to the first six verses of the chapter to see Their Fallen Condition . Then, we will come back to verse 12 to study Their Final Chance to return to the Lord.

1. THEIR FALLEN CONDITION (Hosea 10:1-6 [1] Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. [2] Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. [3] For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? [4] They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. [5] The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. [6] It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
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1. An Empty Vine (Hosea 10:1Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
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1. Acting on felt needs , he seeks to satisfy those needs
2. In doing so, he brings forth fruit only unto himself (Philippians 2:21
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3. This leads to an empty vine and emptiness (Isaiah 29:8It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
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4. To ease the emptiness, he builds great altars and images (Hosea 8:11Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
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2. A Divided Heart (Hosea 10:2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
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1. Now he finds his heart divided between self and God
2. Though he tries, he cannot find peace in either (Matthew 6:24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
   See All...; James 1:8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
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3. He loses confidence in his religion of altars and images
3. A Rejected King (Hosea 10:3For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
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1. He rejects the rule of the Lord over his life (John 19:15But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
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2. He claims that he has no king over him
3. He does not know who his king is (John 8:34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
   See All...; Romans 6:16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
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4. A Broken Covenant (Hosea 10:4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
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1. He has broken his commitment to the Lord (Galatians 3:1-4 [1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
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2. His words about God mean nothing now
3. Judgment on his life begins to spring up all over
5. A Departed Glory (Hosea 10:5The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
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1. His imagined security begins to fall apart
2. The glory of the Lord departs from his life (1 Samuel 4:21-22 [21] And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. [22] And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
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6. A Sense of Shame (Hosea 10:6It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
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1. He is taken captive by evil forces (2 Timothy 2:26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
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2. Shame becomes the fruit of his life (Jeremiah 2:26-27 [26] As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets. [27] Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
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3. He becomes ashamed of his own counsel
2. THEIR FINAL CHANCE (Hosea 10:12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
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1. Sow in Righteousness
1. Instead of bearing fruit unto self, he must sow the seed unto himself
2. The seed he sows is righteousness (Psalm 126:5-6 [5] They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
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2. Break Up the Fallow Ground
1. He must recognize the fallow ground in his life
1. Fallow ground was farm land that had laid untouched for a period of time.
2. It would become hard and could not be used for growing crops until the hard clods and dirt had been broken up by the plow
2. He must put forth the effort to break up the fallow ground
3. Seek the Lord
1. He must determine to seek the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
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2. He must seek the Lord now – “it is time”
3. He must seek the Lord faithfully – “till he come”
4. He must seek the Lord expectantly – “rain righteousness”

CONCLUSION: Are you going down the path that leads to shame? Has the glory already departed from your life? Or perhaps you have rejected the Lord as your King and broken your covenant with Him. Maybe you are only in the first stages where you are bearing fruit unto yourself and your heart is divided. Wherever you are, now is the time to repent and come back to the Lord. Break up that fallow ground and sow in righteousness as you seek the Lord.