Hosea 8: religion that displeases the Lord

The Israelites were religious. They worshiped the Lord in a so wrong way, that in fact, they were sinning more even when they thought that they were pleasing the Lord. They didn't consult the Lord. They made a gold calf-god and named it "the Lord"  - a great sin. Instead of seeking refuge in the Lord, they sought refuge in Assyria - another lover for the prostitute Israel.


4-10
“They crown kings, but without asking me.
    They set up princes but don’t let me in on it.
Instead, they make idols, using silver and gold,
    idols that will be their ruin.
Throw that gold calf-god on the trash heap, Samaria!
    I’m seething with anger against that rubbish!
How long before they shape up?
    And they’re Israelites!
A sculptor made that thing—
    it’s not God.
That Samaritan calf
    will be broken to bits.
Look at them! Planting wind-seeds,
    they’ll harvest tornadoes.
Wheat with no head
    produces no flour.
And even if it did,
    strangers would gulp it down.
Israel is swallowed up and spit out.
    Among the pagans they’re a piece of junk.
They trotted off to Assyria:
    Why, even wild donkeys stick to their own kind,
    but donkey-Ephraim goes out and pays to get lovers.
Now, because of their whoring life among the pagans,
    I’m going to gather them together and confront them.
They’re going to reap the consequences soon,
    feel what it’s like to be oppressed by the big king.

The Lord, in his mercy, sent Hosea to Israel in order to make them understand how far they were from the Lord because they were unable to understand it.
May the Lord guide me and set me free from a religious activity that in fact, kindles the wrath of the Lord.