Monday, April 26, 2021

The Book of Hosea

The prophet Hosea ("The Lord is salvation") worked in the northern kingdom (Israel) shortly after Amos, see The Book of Amos. Samaria was the capital of this northern kingdom. Jerusalem was the capital of the southern kingdom (Judah).

Hosea's prophetic ministry was during the reign of Jeroboam II (son of Joash) who was king of the northern kingdom (Israel) (Hos 1:1, 2 King 13:13), see
Jeroboam II of Israel in Kings of Judah and Israel.

It was during the reigns of the following kings of the southern kingdom (Judah):

The economic prosperity of the northern kingdom had turned into moral decay and religious syncretism. God uses Hosea's marriage to the unfaithful Gomer to show how the people have betrayed the covenant with him (chapters 1-3). He rebukes and warns (4-10) while standing firm in his love (11-13). 

Hosea's prophecies became God's final warning to this northern kingdom. God's judgment came later in 722 BC through the Assyrian great power, and most of Israel was deported to foreign lands (2 Kings 17). Hoshea would be the last king to rule over Israel, see Hoshea of Israel in Kings of Judah and Israel. 

Hosea prophesied primarily to the nation of Israel. His main focus was Baal worship, it was a pagan faith. This, according to Hosea, was the main cause of Israel's downfall. Hosea reminds the people of Israel that they are the bride of the Lord. 
By being so, they have been unfaithful in worshiping Baal.

The Lord told Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman and have children with her, because as an unfaithful wife Israel was guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord
(Hos 1:2). Hosea's life would become a parable for Israel's life.

Hosea therefore married Gomer (Hos 1:3). Hosea brings three children with her:
  1. A son called Jezreel (Hos 1:4a). He is named after the Jezreel Valley where there had been a massacre (2 Kings 9:9–10). God will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel (Hos 1:4b–5).
  2. A daughter called Lo-Ruhamah, meaning "not loved" (Hos 1:6a). God will no longer show love to Israel. But he will show love to Judah and save them.
    (Hos 1:6b–7). Later, Judah will also be deported, see the Prophet Jeremiah.
  3. Another son called Lo-Ammi, which means "not my people" (Hos 1:8–9a).
    The people of Israel aren't God's people, and God isn't their God (Hos 1:9b). 
    But in the future they will be called 'children of the living God'. The people of Judah and the people of Israel will then come together.
    (Hos 1:10–11, 14:5–8). For the complete fulfillment of this prophesy, see 
    The Millennial Kingdom in The Prophecies of Isaiah.
Hosea then expresses tough love for his unfaithful wife, with the intention of winning her back (Hos 2–3). This is a picture on how God will deal with Israel. God wants to get their intention and through hardship make them turn back to him (Hos 5:15b). We should endure hardship as discipline, see the first part of The Book of James.

God said through Hosea to the people of Israel:
  • There was no faithfulness or steadfast love and no knowledge of God in the land (Hos 4:1b). The people were destroyed because of lack of knowledge
    (Hos 4:6a). We Christians can't love the world and Jesus at the same time.
    The sign of love is obedience to God's commandments (John 14:15,
    1 John 5:3), see Jesus and the Law.
  • There was swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. They broke all boundaries and bloodshed followed bloodshed. Therefore the land mourned. (Hos 4:2–3). There would be consequences beyond their own lives, that is, on their land, when they disobeyed God.
  • They accused each other of different things, which was wrong (Hos 4:4).
    See Dealing With Sin in the Church.
  • Their prophets stumbled (Hos 4:5). They had false teachers (Hos 4:8–9).
    See Jesus Denouncement of the Jewish Religious Leaders.
  • They would eat, but not be satisfied (Hos 4:10). It's a metaphorical language that they searched for satisfaction and happiness, but all they got was temporary excitement. If you live to please yourself, you will never have enough. See The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
  • A people without understanding will be ruined (Hos 4:14b). 
    A biblical principle is that any nation, city, or household divided against itself will not stand (Mat 12:25) 
  • Their love was like a morning cloud, like the dew that disappeared early
    (Hos 6:4b). It means that they were miserable about their suffering and came back to God, who rescued them. Then they quickly lost their heart for God and returned to their former sinful life. This behavior can be seen in The Book of Judges. There was no long-term change in their lives
    (Hos 7:14). It was just a desire to feel better. Godly sorrow leads to a change in the mind that is permanent.
  • They sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind (Hos 8:7a). It means that a man reaps what he sows. "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7–8).
  • When Israel prospered, their hearts became deceitful (Hos 10:1, 13:6), see Laodicea in The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation.
    They then turned away from the Lord. 
"For I (God) desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hos 6:6). Jesus said: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.
For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mat 9:13).

Hosea also prophesied about the time when Jesus will return (Hos 6:1–2),
see End of Time at the end of When Did Jesus Die and when Was He Born?

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