The trumpet of alarm is to be sounded (vi). The fact that it is a vulture that is over Israel speaks of the nation being dead or nearly dead. This has come about because of their sin and rejection of the Lord. The northern kingdom had appointed its own leaders (v4) and set up idols to worship. They want to do things their own way, theys ee this as freedom but it brings real consequences.

The people had set up golden calves to worship but the lord has spurned these and they will be destroyed (v5-6). The people’sow the wind and they shall reap a whirlwind’ (v7). In rejecting the Lord they have become pathetic, like a wild donkey wandering about (v9). The picture is of a hopeless people without direction and without hope.

Ephraim (the northern kingdom) had many altars as places of worship (v11), but the laws of God were now strange to them (v12). This was ignorant worship that they engaged in, a religion without true knowledge. Their worship is not accepted by God (v13) and judgment therefore comes (v14).

We need to be careful that we’re at peace with God and that the Lord has accepted us through Christ. If not our worship is useless make-believe.