Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 1

 A PEOPLE IN DECAY: MORALLY

When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. Hos 7:1

When I would... God longed to heal Israel (also referred to here as Ephraim and Samaria, the capital city).

Samaria, As the capital, Samaria represents the northern kingdom.

for they commit... God's desire all along, was to heal Israel. We have talked a great deal about the will of man. Even though God wanted to heal them, they had to be willing to give up the worship of false gods, as we said in an earlier lesson. In the time of Jeroboam II, they made a calf and put it in their place of worship as symbolizing God.

The second subunit

The reference to the Lord’s desire to heal (cf. Hos. 6:1) His people come near the beginning of this subunit. God longed to restore Israel to a place of blessing, but His efforts were met with new outbreaks of sin and crimes. The people’s widespread deceit and robbery epitomized their lack of regard for the covenant (cf. Exo. 20:15).

INIQUITY UNCOVERED

The last clause of the previous chapter belongs to this. God desired to turn aside the captivity of His people and to heal Israel, but His pleading was unavailing because of their inveterate sin.