Albert Barnes Commentary Hosea 7:15

"Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise mischief against me." — Hosea 7:15 (ASV)

Though I have bound - Rather, (as in the E. M.) And I have chastened, I have strengthened their arms, and they imagine mischief against Me. God had tried all ways with them, but it was all to no avail. He chastened them in love, and in love He strengthened them. He brought the enemy upon them (as previously in the days of the Judges) and gave them strength to repel the enemy, just as He raised up judges of old and had recently fulfilled His promise, which He had made to Joash through Elisha.

But it was all in vain. Whatever God did, Israel was still the same. All this only resulted in further evil. The prophet sums up in four words all God’s varied methods for their recovery, and then contrasts them with the one result: fresh rebellion on the part of His creatures and His people.

They imagine - Or devise mischief against Me. The order in the Hebrew is emphatic: and against Me they devise evil; that is, against Me—who had thus tried all the resources and methods of divine wisdom to reclaim them—they devise evil. These are words of great condescension. For the creature can neither hurt nor profit the Creator. But since God condescended to be their King, He also condescended to look upon their rebellions as so many efforts to injure Him.

All God’s creatures are made for His glory—and on earth, chiefly man; and among men, chiefly those whom He had chosen as His people. Therefore, when they set themselves to diminish that glory by giving it to idols , they, as far as they were able, devised evil against Him. Man would dethrone God if he could.