Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 15

 THE CONFUSION OF THE NATION

Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me. Hos. 7:15

Though I have... Bound (trained) and strengthened Israel’s arms, yet the people still trusted idols (Eze. 30:24-25).

It was God who had made them strong in the first place. They did not realize who had really helped them. They did not know who their friend was. They looked to the world for answers that only God had the answer to.

They seek God with no heart, no true appreciation of what He is, but use the senseless means by which the heathen invoke their gods: they cut themselves, and so apostatize from Me! And yet it was I who disciplined them, I strengthened their arm, but with regard to Me they kept thinking only evil! So fickle and sensitive to fear, they turn indeed but not upwards; no God-ward conversion theirs.

Israel’s rebellion also revealed her ingratitude. The Lord had trained… and strengthened them (lit., their arms, NASB). Elsewhere the expression strengthen the arms can refer to divine bestowal of military might (Eze. 30:24-25). Perhaps Israel’s past military successes (including those of Jeroboam II; cf. 2Kgs. 14:25-28) are in view. Despite experiencing divine aid in battle, Israel treated God like an enemy. The phrase plot evil against Me suggests intense hostility and ill will. Similar language is used to describe Joseph’s brothers’ schemes to destroy him (Gen. 50:20).