The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. (Hosea 1:2)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:5)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receivea us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. (Hosea 14:2-4)
Overview
[1] Hosea, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee ©, with free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3)
Beginning with Hosea and concluding with Malachi, there are twelve short prophecies designated as the Minor Prophets, while Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are called the Major Prophets. The Minor Prophets are so called because of the size of the books, not because of their content. However, even that criterion for division is not completely accurate since Hosea is a longer book than Daniel. Actually, the so–called Minor Prophets are not minor. Each of them batted in the major league and was a star in the message that he brought.[2] Book of Hosea, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)
The Minor Prophets were exceedingly nationalistic, but they were not isolationists. They dealt with the fact that God’s people had broken the law of God, the Ten Commandments. This necessarily puts an emphasis on works, good works. For this reason the liberals and the promoters of the social gospel have used the Minor Prophets a great deal. Unfortunately, they have missed the main message of these prophets. We will see some of that when we get into the prophecy of Hosea. The Minor Prophets warned against godless alliances with other nations. They were extremely patriotic and denounced political and moral corruption. They warned Israel against an isolationism from God. (Read the complete article)
The Book of Hosea can be divided into two parts: (1) Hosea 1:1-3:5 is a description of an adulterous wife and a faithful husband, symbolic of the unfaithfulness of Israel to God through idolatry, and (2) Hosea 3:6-14:9 contains the condemnation of Israel, especially Samaria, for the worship of idols and her eventual restoration.[3] Hosea, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
The first section of the book contains three distinctive poems illustrating how God’s children returned time after time to idolatry. God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, but after bearing him three children, she walks away from Hosea to her lovers. The symbolical emphasis can be seen clearly in the first chapter as Hosea compares Israel’s actions to turning from a marriage to life as a prostitute. The second section contains Hosea’s denunciation of the Israelites but followed by the promises and the mercies of God.
The Book of Hosea is a prophetic accounting of God’s relentless love for His children. Since the beginning of time God’s ungrateful and undeserving creation has been accepting God’s love, grace, and mercy while still unable to refrain from its wickedness.
The last part of Hosea shows how God’s love once again restores His children as He forgets their misdeeds when they turn back to Him with a repentant heart. The prophetic message of Hosea foretells the coming of Israel’s Messiah 700 years in the future. Hosea is quoted often in the New Testament. (Read the complete article)
Hosea was a contemporary of Amos in Israel, and of Isaiah and Micah in Judah, and his ministry continued after the first, or Assyrian, captivity of the northern kingdom 2 Kings 15:29. His style is abrupt, metaphorical, and figurative.Discussion
Israel is Jehovah’s adulterous wife, repudiated, but ultimately to be purified and restored. This is Hosea’s distinctive message, which may be summed up in his two words, Lo-ammi, “not my people,” and Ammi, “my people.” Israel is not merely apostate and sinful--that is said also; but her sin takes its character from the exalted relationship into which she has been brought.
The book is in three parts:
1. The dishonoured wife, Hosea 1:1-3:5.
2. The sinful people, Hosea 4:1-13:8.
3. The ultimate blessing and glory of Israel, Hosea 13:9-14:9.
The events recorded in Hosea cover a period of 60 years (Ussher)
[1] Bible scholars are divided on the issue of whether to take Hosea and Gomer’s story literally or as an allegorical story of God’s passionate and persistent love for His unfaithful people, the nation of Israel.
Those who say that the Book of Hosea is allegorical and not literal say that God’s command for Hosea to marry an adulterous woman violates His holiness. On the other hand, there are Bible scholars who say that Hosea and Gomer’s story is presented in such a simple narrative that it should be taken literally.
The middle ground may be held by those scholars who say that God’s command for Hosea to marry adulterous Gomer should be taken “proleptically” that is, looking towards the future. This view, holding a literal interpretation of Hosea, says that Gomer was chaste at the beginning of the marriage but later on became immoral.
[2] The promises of God in Hosea (based on Selected Promises of God in Each Book of the Bible, by Kenneth Boa)
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. (Hosea 1:7)[3] Quotations from Hosea are found in Matthew 2:15; 9:15; 12:7; Romans 9:25-26.
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:10-11)
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. (Hosea 2:19-20)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (Hosea 11:4)
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. (Hosea 11:9)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (Hosea 13:14)
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:9)
[4] Biblical references to adultery:
- Genesis 39:12
- Exodus 20:14; 22:16-17
- Leviticus 18:20; 9:20; 19:29; 20:10-12
- Deuteronomy 5:18; 22:13-29; 23:17; 27:20, 22-23
- Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:3-9; 5:20-22; 6:24-29, 32
- Hosea 1:2
- Matthew 5:27-28; 5:32; 15:19; 19:9, 18
- Mark 7:21; 10:11-12; 10:19
- Luke 16:18; 18:20
- John 8:4-11
- Romans 7:3; 13:9
- 1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-10, 13, 15-16, 18
- Galatians 5:19, 21
- Ephesians 5:3, 5
- Hebrews 13:4
[1] An Exegetical Commentary: Hosea (14 articles), by Richard D. Patterson (download PDF)
[2] Materials by David Malick
- An Argument of the Book of Hosea (download PDF )
- An Introduction to the Book of Hosea (download PDF)
[4] Undying Love - The Story of Hosea and Gomer, by Richard L. Strauss (download PDF )
[5] Anchored by God’s Love (Lesson 2), by Kay Daigle (download PDF )
[6] The Minor Prophets, by J. Hampton Keathley, III (download PDF )
[7] Marital Unfaithfulness Breaks the Heart of God's Loyal Love, by Paul G. Apple
[8] Readings on marital infidelity
- Marital infidelity: causes, consequences and conclusions
- Priceless counsel from a bargain sale book: “How to save your marriage alone”
- "Sad Movies Always Make Me Cry"
- Surviving Marital Infidelity
Hosea 1:2
[1] The Power of a Name, by Brent Hudson, Atlantic Baptist University / River of Life Church / Allison Church
[2] Love Without Limits, by Herman L. Murray
[3] Can You Love an Unfaithful Thing? by Robert Wright
[4] Hosea, by Jason W. Miller
[5] Our Father - 7-25-04 Sermon, by Donald McNeeley
[6] Hosea outline for study, by Jason W. Miller
[7] OT Survey 113 Seminar 21 Hosea, by Andrew Hodge
Hosea 4:1 -19
[1] Ephraim has his idols, Sermons from Ulster
Hosea 5:15 -6:6
[1] Outside the Lines, Central Baptist Church - Lowesville
Hosea 6:6
[1] Knowing God, by James Huffman
[2] The Right and Wrong Way to Live, by Bruce W. Logue
[3] Missing the Point, by Bruce W. Logue
[4] Fertilizer for Fruit, Hosea 6, by Michael Urciuoli
Hosea 13:14
[1] Ransomed from the Power of Death, South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee AR
Hosea 14
[1] Restored Wineskins, Hosea 14:1 -9, Central Baptist Church, Lowesville
[2] The Cure, Hosea 14, by Michael Urciuoli
[3] The Road back Home, by David Harp
[4] The Reunion of Two Prodigals Part 8, by Greg Stuckey
For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner
Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.
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