Book of Hosea Chapter 10 Vs. 3

 ONCE MORE: PUPPET-KINGS AND PUPPET-GODS

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? Hos. 10:3

what then should... Question 6. Next, Hos. 11:8.

We have no... These are the words of despair, not of repentance; of people terrified by the consciousness of guilt, but not coming forth out of its darkness; describing their condition, not confessing the iniquity which brought it on them. In sin, all Israel had asked for a king, when the Lord was their king. In sin, Ephraim had made Jeroboam king. In sin, their subsequent kings were made, without the counsel and advice of God; and now as the close of all, they reflect how fruitless it all was.

because we feared... Worshiped not, kept not his law, depended not on God, therefore we have no king, or one next to none, not able to help us.

what then should... And now if we had our king, were he as powerful, wise, and successful as Jeroboam the Second, yet it would be too late, the Assyrian power hath so far prevailed, and God is so far departed from us. Kings are not able to save without the God of kings.

The king that they had chosen for themselves, who was not appointed of God; and had no power at all to help them in their time of trouble. God had protected them from just such a problem, as long as they were obedient to Him. Now, they have placed their faith in others, and have no help at all. The fear of the LORD here, is speaking of the great respect that was due Him. It is really speaking of reverence.

As a result of the approaching invasion, the nation’s political structure would be shattered and her king removed (cf. Hos. 10:7, 10:15). In the aftermath of the calamity the people would recognize their own unfaithfulness (i.e., failure to revere the Lord) as the basis for judgment. The situation would become so hopeless that most would realize that even… a king could bring no remedy (cf. Hos. 13:10).