In Today's Email:
Welcome to the Book of Hosea!
Hosea (“salvation”) was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel from 786-723 B.C., making him one of the longest serving prophets. Famously, God uses the prophet’s marriage as an object lesson of the spiritual state of Israel. His message is a warning of the coming judgment and a call to repentance.
A few quick facts about
The author is Hosea
This book was written around 723 B.C.
The key verse is 4:1 – “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”
A brief outline:
Hosea’s Personal Example – Chapters 1-3
Hosea’s Prophecies – Chapters 4-14
Key Chapters:
Hosea’s Marriage and its Message – Chapters 1-3
Hosea 1 Notes
In this chapter is the record of Hosea’s family.
vs. 1 – The introduction to the book, noting the very long ministry of Hosea by the number of reigns he served under.
vs. 2-5 – To illustrate the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel, God commands Hosea to marry a pagan woman. Much of this story has been romanticized over the years and we must be careful to read the actual details. She is called a prostitute, but I think this is less her occupation and more about her religion. The two go hand-in-hand in ancient Canaan. Her name is Gomer (“completion, consummation”), the daughter of Diblaim (“two fig cakes”). A son is born to Hosea and Gomer who he names Jezreel (“God has scattered”). This foretells the end of Jehu’s dynasty on the Northern throne (as promised in II Kings 10:29-31) with the assassination of Zechariah in II Kings 15:8-12. Also, in vs. 5 there is a hint at a defeat in battle in the valley of Jezreel. We do not have record of it, but it is believed to be a loss to the Assyrians in 721 B.C.
vs. 6-7 – Next, a daughter is born. She is named Loruhamah (“unpitiable, no more mercy”). This points to the coming fall of Israel, which is contrasted with the preservation of Judah.
vs. 8-9 – Next, a son is born who is named Loammi (“not my people”). This pictures the rejection of Israel in judgment.
vs. 10-11 – God gives hope even in prophecies of doom. He looks beyond the coming judgment and sees the future Millennial Kingdom. The “day of Jezreel” is Armageddon.
Hosea 2 Notes
In this chapter judgment and restoration are prophesied for Israel.
vs. 1-5 – God is still speaking here. He drops the “not” from the names of the children, making Loammi (“not my people”) to be Ammi (“my people”) and Loruhamah (“unpitiable, no more mercy”) to be Ruhamah (“pitied”). I do not believe this passage is speaking literally about Gomer, but allegorically about Israel.
vs. 6-13 – God uses judgment to turn the hearts of Israel back to him. They had forgotten Him and His blessings. He would chastise them because of their idolatry.
vs. 14-23 – Once Israel is cleansed of her sins, God would move to win their hearts back anew. In vs. 15 the valley of Achor (“troubling”) is mentioned, which is the site of Achan’s sin and punishment in Joshua 7. Turning that place of trouble into a way toward blessing. In vs. 16 we jump ahead prophetically to “that day” (the Millennial Kingdom), when Israel would not serve God out of duty (Baali means “master”) but out of love and devotion (Ishi means “husband”). The glories of that day are then described.
Hosea 3 Notes
In this chapter Hosea redeems Gomer.
vs. 1-3 – Gomer had left Hosea, returning to her idolatrous ways. She was now being sold as a slave to pay her debts. God commands Hosea to go and redeem her. He does so, paying 15 shekels of silver and one and a half homers of barley. According to Amos 8:5, one ephah of barley was sold for on shekel, and Hosea’s payment would be 15 ephahs, thus worth 15 shekels. That makes the price paid to redeem Hosea 30 shekels, the price of a slave set in Exodus 21:32. Instead of making her his slave, Hosea restores her as his wife. Did she deserve this? Absolutely not! It is purely of grace; the same grace God offers to all sinners.
vs. 4 – A prophecy of the difficult times ahead after the fall of Israel to Assyria. There is a mixture here of good things and bad things. The king, prince, sacrifice, and ephod can all be seen as positive. The image and teraphim are objects associated with idolatry.
vs. 5 – Here we look ahead again to the Millennial Kingdom.
Hosea 4 Notes
In this chapter is an indictment against Israel and its priesthood.
vs. 1-5 – The indictment against Israel for their sin is the cause for the coming judgment.
vs. 6-11 – The tribe of Levi had largely defected to Judah once Jeroboam embraced idolatry. The only priests in the land were corrupt at best and idolators at worst.
vs. 12-19 – Israel had chosen idolatry and God was allowing them to reap what they had sowed. In vs. 15 is a fun wordplay with the changing of Bethel (“house of God”) to Bethaven (“house of iniquity”), illustrating the wicked idolatry started by Jeroboam there. In vs. 17 the tribe of Ephraim is singled out. They were the most powerful tribe in the northern kingdom and supplied most of its kings. When you see Ephraim in this book it is usually directed at the leadership of the nation.
Hosea 5 Notes
In this chapter judgment is announced.
vs. 1-7 – The coming judgment is announced for the sins of Israel and its people. It is the only way to turn their hearts back from their idolatry.
vs. 8-15 – The judgment is described. The Assyrians would invade and conquer. Instead of seeking God, they had attempted alliances with Assyria. King Jareb (“avenger”) is not literally one of the Assyrian kings, but representative of them and their character. They had not turned from light judgment (the moth and decay in vs. 12) so God was sending terrible judgment (lion and young lion in vs. 14).
Hosea 6 Notes
In this chapter is God’s expectation of repentance.
vs. 1-3 – The response of the people to the judgment. This foresees the full, future repentance at the close of the Tribulation. God’s restoration is seen as sure as the seasonal rains in vs. 3.
vs. 4-6 – Repentance is what God was seeking. Note in vs. 6 that is the hear that God desired and not religious performance.
vs. 7-11 – Instead of repenting, the people had double down on their sins.
Hosea 7 Notes
In this chapter the heart of the erring nation is revealed.
vs. 1-7 – The depravity of the people is compared to a hot oven that is consumes all.
vs. 8-16 – The nation and its leaders had sought help and deliverance from anyone but God. They turned to Egypt and Assyria. They turned to idols. Their hope would fail in these.
Closing Thoughts
The drama of Hosea and Gomer is one of the most poignant in Scripture. We always undervalue our sin. We often think little or nothing about our crimes against God. Through Hosea’s story we are brought to understand better how God views our sin. Thankfully, we are also brought to better understand His marvelous love!
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Behold the Love, the Gen’rous Love” by Isaac Watts.
Behold the Love, the generous Love,
That holy David shows;
Hark, how his sounding Bowels move
To his afflicted Foes!
When they are sick, his Soul complains,
And seems to feel the Smart;
The Spirit of the Gospel reigns,
And melts his pious Heart.
How did his flowing Tears condole
As for a Brother dead!
And Fasting mortify'd his Soul,
While for their Life he pray'd.
They groan'd, and curs'd him on their Bed,
Yet still he pleads and mourns;
And double Blessings on his Head
The righteous GOD returns.
O glorious Type of heav'nly Grace!
Thus Christ the Lord appears;
While Sinners curse, the Saviour prays,
And pities them with Tears.
He the true David, Isr'el's King,
Blest and belov'd of GOD,
To save us Rebels dead in Sin,
Paid his own dearest Blood.