hosea

The Minor Prophets

1. The title originated in Augustine's time - approximately 4th century AD.

2. These books are called minor in the sense that they are shorter than the other OT prophetic books. The minor prophets preach a major message.

3. The Hebrew OT refers to them as one book simply called "The Twelve."

4. The Minor Prophets may be divided into three groups:

a. prophets of Israel - Jonah, Amos, and Hosea

b. prophets of Judah - Obadiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah

c. postexilic prophets - Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi

I. The Background of the Prophet and His Prophecy

A. The personal life of Hosea

1. More is known about Hosea's personal than any of the other minor prophets because his personal life became entwined with the message he presented.

a. His wife and children were signs and prophecies to Israel, Judah, and the future reunited nation.

b. His marriage to Gomer made such a negative impression on his contemporaries that they called him "fool and maniac." (9:7)

c. C.H.Bullock noted, "No prophet took a greater risk than Hosea, and no prophet suffered more personal anguish than he."(Bullock 84)

2. Hosea's name means "God is salvation" the same as Joshua and Jesus. Salvation was indeed the message that Hosea declared.

a. Hosea was a native of Israel. This is evident by the language of the book showing that he knew the region very well.

Notably, there are a lack of references to specific places in the southern kingdom of Judah.

b. Hosea was the son of Beeri whose origin and occupation are unknown but possibly was agricultural in nature.

3. His addresses were likely presented in Bethel (referred to as Beth Aven - House of Vanity) and Gilgal, the centers of idol worship, and possibly the capital of Samaria.

B. Historical Background

1. Hosea 1:1 places his ministry during part of the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Judah.

a. His ministry likely spanned 3 decades from c.752-724 BC. just prior to the fall of the capital of Samaria and exile of Israel (since there is no mention of that event occurring within the book).

b. Hosea was the only writing prophet of the Northern Kingdom (Amos preached to the North but was from the South, and Jonah thought from the North preached to Nineveh)

2. Historical happenings

a. It was a time of outward prosperity in Israel

1). Jeroboam II had recovered the largest land area since Solomon and even recaptured Damascus.

2). The southern kingdom under Uzziah was also enjoying a time of successful wars and large-scale building projects.

b. Assyria was the rising power and is mentioned frequently within the book (7:11; 11:5,11; 12:1; 14:3)

c. 2 Ki. 15:8-17:41 summarizes the tragic 25 years prior to the fall of Israel in 722 B.C. Four kings of this period were murdered.

Israel's kings reigning during the ministry of the prophets

Jehoash (798-782 B.C.)	Jonah (784-772)
Jeroboam II (793-753)	Amos (765-755)
Zechariah (753-752)	Hosea (755-724)
Shallum (752)
Menahem (752-742)
Pekahiah (742-740)
Pekah (752-732)
Hoshea (732-722)

d. In 735 Tiglath Pileser III of Assyria carried off the people of Naphtali and took Gilead.

1). Hoshea sought help from So king of Egypt

2). Samaria was besieged 3 years until its fall in 722

3). The Assyrians carried off the people and settled foreigners in the land.

II. The Prophecy of Hosea

A. Chapters 1-3 deal with the marriage of Hosea to Gomer and their children.

1. The Lord's first word to Hosea was to marry a woman who would later become a harlot, Gomer, daughter of Diblaim (v 3).

a. Hosea's life was to be a living example to Israel portraying God's relationship to her.

b. The Lord told him to do this because the land was guilty of vile adultery by departing from the Lord (1:2).

c. The message to be portrayed was the God had chosen Israel and made her His bride, but she had chosen to commit adultery by departing from Him and seeking other gods.

d. Herein is found the main thrust of Hosea's message - God's undying love for His people. For this reason Hosea is often referred to as the Prophet of Love.

2. Hosea and Gomer had three children (1:2).

a. They are referred to as children of unfaithfulness because Gomer was unfaithful to her husband.

b. The mother represents Israel corporately while the children represent the nation individually.

c. Each child's name had a message associated with it.

1). The first child, a son, was named Jezreel for in a short time the Lord would punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel.

a). Jezreel was the place where Jehu had established his dynasty. Jeroboam II was his descendent.

b). At Jezreel, Jezebel and Ahab had Naboth murdered for his inheritance (1 Ki. 21). Because of this, God pronounced their doom in Jezreel;.Ahab was killed first, then Jezebel and their son Joram.

c). Jehu's motivation, however, was pride and ambition not the judgment of God, therefore judgment was to be upon him also.

d). Jezreel means both "God scatters" referring to God's divine judgment upon Jehu and "God sows" looking forward to restoration.

e). Jehu's dynasty and the Northern Kingdom was destroyed in the valley of Jezreel - the plain of Esdraelon in Palestine.

2). Their second child, a daughter, was named Lo-Ruhamah meaning "not pitied, not compassionated, not loved."

a). The house of Israel was doomed for retribution for the sin they had committed repeatedly.

b). Yet he would still show mercy to Judah and rescue them (Isaiah 37 and 2 Ki. 19 - Sennacherib) "by the Lord their God"

3). Their third child, a son, was named Lo-Ammi meaning "not my people."

a). God would break His relationship with them as seen in Lev. 26:12, "I will be your God and you shall by my people."

b). Yet the Abrahamic covenant would remain no matter what Israel did. It is an unconditional covenant while the Mosaic was conditional and was broken by God's people.

3. Even as the Lord tells Israel they are no longer loved and no longer His people, He still promises future blessings as seen in Hosea 1:10-2:1 (Feinberg 18).

a. national increase (1:10a) "like the sand...."

b. national conversion (1:10b) "they will be called the sons of the living God."

c. national reunion (1:11a) "the people...will be reunited."

d. national leadership (1:11b) "they will appoint one leader."

e. national restoration (2:1) "my people ... my loved one."

All three names have been changed - for Jezreel the day will be great, the people will then be called Ruhamah and Ammi - My loved and My people.

4. Chapter 2 is an allegory relating Hosea and Gomer's relationship to the relationship of the Lord and Israel.

a. Both Gomer and Israel were unfaithful to their husbands and committed adultery.

1). She chased after her lovers until they abandoned her (2:4, 5-7).

2). When she realized her position, she returned to her husband, yet even then she did not acknowledge the fact that He was her source. She had forgotten Him.

b. The Lord's response was to expose and judge her.

1). God's judgment includes (Feinberg 20):

a). nakedness

b). waste

c). hunger

d). thirst

e). shame

f). sadness

g). loneliness

h). desolation

2). God disowns her - the Valley of Achor (2:15), yet out of this comes a door of hope for God will reclaim her. Verse 2:15 is the key verse of the chapter.

a). The valley of Achor refers to Israel's entry into Canaan. There Achan sinned and Israel was defeated at Ai. Achan's death occurred in the valley of Achor. This opened the door to their victory at Ai. Achan's sin became a blessing by opening the land.

b). When Israel acknowledged her sin and repented, she would be restored. This is the door of hope.

5. Chapter 3 records the reunion of Hosea's marriage.

a. The Lord directs Hosea to show love to his wife again even though she is an adulteress now with another man.

1). He went and bought her for 15 shekels of silver and a homer and lethek (about 10 bushels) of barley. He paid for her less than a price of a slave (a common slave cost 30 pieces). The barley represented the price of an animal showing her absolute worthlessness. Yet he purchased her back to himself even though she was rightfully his.

2). She was instructed to live with Hosea many days, not be a prostitute, not be intimate with any man and he would live with her.

b. This return was symbolic of the Lord purchasing back His bride from harlotry.

1). God portrays His boundless love for His bride for He commands Hosea to love Gomer as He loves the Israelites even though she plays the harlot with other gods.

2). The raisin cakes mentioned were part of a ceremony to the queen of heaven (Jer. 7:18, 44:19).

c. This chapter is pivotal in not only the book of Hosea but in the Bible. Verse 4 is one of the greatest proofs of the divine origin of prophecy.

1). Israel will not be the same as she was, for she will live many days without:

a). king or prince - no civil polity or national identity

b). sacrifice or sacred stones - no Temple, no high priest, no sacrifice, no atonement system.

c). ephod or idol - no idolatry; Israel has never again turned to idolatry

2). Three marks of time are mentioned which are significant throughout prophetic literature.

a). many days

b). afterward

c). in the last (latter) days

3). Finally the Israelites will

a). return }the Lord their God

b). seek }and David their king

c). come trembling (with fear) to the Lord

B. Hosea's message (4-14) can be summarized in 4 main parts.

1. The Lord presents His case against Israel (4:1).

a. The Lord opens with the command to "hear", again repeated in 5:1 and followed by His pleas to "come" (6:1) and "return" (14:1).

b. The Lord's point of contention is threefold:

1). They lack faithfulness to God.

2). They lack knowledge of God.

3). They lack love for God.

c. Throughout the book He lays out the charges against Israel (which He repeatedly refers to as Ephraim, the most powerful northern tribe).

1). Israel has not acknowledged the Lord their God (2:8, 4:1, 5:4). They scornfully boast that they are rich and none will find any iniquity in him (12:8). The Lord proclaims "Israel's arrogance testifies against them...."(5:5) Feinberg notes on pg. 33 "Pride is always out of place and is so often meant to conceal other errors." On pgs. 28, 60-61 Feinberg comments, "Prosperity had the opposite effect that it should have had. The more they were multiplied, the more they sinned against the Lord."..."How easy it is to feel that God is surely pleased with us, merely because we are outwardly prospered of the Lord. Prosperity is not enough, for is it not the goodness of God that leads us to repentance, to reconsider our ways before Him?"

2) Israel has committed spiritual adultery following after Baal and the gods of Gilgal and Bethel (2:8,13; 4:15; 5:11; 8:5; 11:2). They had sinned at Baal Peor (9:10) as seen in Numbers 25 by committing themselves to sensuous idolatry. Israel suffered from a divided heart not knowing who they wanted to serve. Hos. 4:17 says they are "joined to idols." The Heb. word signifies they were under the spell of these idols and were helpless to free themselves. The Lord said as much in the sad indictment in 5:4, "their deeds do not permit them to return to their God."

3). Israel has committed physical prostitution associated with her cult practices (4:10-14). None was innocent.

4). Israel set up kings and princes without the authority of God (7:7; 8:4; 13:10-11). Israel's departure from the Davidic dynasty was intricately woven with their decline into idolatry.

5). Israel consistently sought the help of man rather than placing trust in the Lord (5:13; 7:11; 12:1). They sought the help of Assyria and Egypt without realizing that these "foreigners sap his strength" (7:9).They have mixed themselves with the nations and have been swallowed up (8:8).

6). Israel is a nation overflowing with corruption and wickedness.

a). There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and bloodshed (4:2; 6:8-9; 7:1).

b). The priests feed on the sins of the people (4:8).

c). They have illegitimate children (5:7).

d). The leaders are drunkards (7:5).

d. The Lord even provides examples from their own history to spur them on to seek the Lord.

1). Jacob sought after God. Even though his means may not always have been best, his desire was the blessings of God (12:3-6,12).

2). The prophets had been sent to instruct the people (12:10).

3). Moses had brought them out of Egypt and cared for them (12:13).

2. The Lord reveals their imminent punishment.

a. They are rejected by the Lord (4:6; 9:17) because they have rejected knowledge and ignored God's law. The Lord will not be found by them (5:6).

b. Ephraim will be laid waste (5:9). The destruction of the Lord is compared to:

1). a flood of water 5:10

2). moth and rot 5:12

3). devouring lion 5:14, 13:7

4). a net capturing birds 7:12

5). leopard waiting to pounce 13:7

6). bear robbed of her cubs 13:8

7). east wind 13:15

c. Judgment will be marked by the following characteristics:

1). death of joy 9:1-2

2). exile from their land 9:3-6

3). loss of spiritual discernment 9:7-9

4). declining birth rate 9:10-16

5). casting out 9:17

d. Two woes are declared:

1). Woe to them because they have strayed from me (7:13).

2). Woe to them when I turn His love for His people Israel (9:12).

e. Ephraim is compared to very transitory things because he would soon fade.

1). morning mist

2). early dew

3). chaff

4). smoke

3. The Lord reinforces His love for His people Israel.

a. The first significant statement of His love is found in ch 3.

b. The love of God again becomes the dominant note of the final four chapters.

1). The Lord reminds Israel of His love for them.

a). He loved him and called His son out of Egypt (10:1).

b). He tenderly taught Ephraim to walk (10:3).

c). He healed them (10:3).

d). He led them with cords of love (10:4).

e). He lifted the yoke from them by bringing them out of Egypt (10:4; 12:9; 13:4).

f). He fed him (10:4, 13:6).

g). His compassion is aroused (10:8).

h). He cared for them in the desert (12:9; 13:4).

2). The impassioned plea of the Lord is sent forth.

a). "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?" He could not destroy them as He had Admah and Zeboiim (cities destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah) (11:8).

b). The Lord pleads "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God" (14:1) and "you must return to your God" (12:6).

c). The Lord cries "I long to redeem them..." but they must turn from their sins.

4. The Lord restores His people.

a. He waits for their response to His pleas. He says, "I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me"(5:15).

1). The Lord waits for them to return to Him (6:1-3, 14:1).

2). He awaits their request for forgiveness and acknowledgement of God's power and trustworthiness (14:2-3).

b. When His people return, the Lord promises fathomless blessings.

1). I will remove the names of the Baals (2:17).

2). I will make a covenant for them (2:18).

3). I will respond (2:21).

4). I will plant her for myself in the land (2:23).

5). I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. (13:14).

6). I will heal their waywardness (backsliding) (14:4).

7). I will love them freely (14:4).

8). I will answer him and care for him (14:8).

9). I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one' (2:23).

10). I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people' (2:23).

11). I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness. (2:19-20)

Applications to our Christian walk found in Hosea:

1. Sowing and reaping plays a role in our lives. (8:7) sow the wind, reap the whirlwind (10:12) sow righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love

2. The Lord desires us to acknowledge His presence. (4:6) people are destroyed from lack of knowledge (6:6) God desires acknowledgement of Him over burnt offerings and mercy over sacrifice. (13:4) Acknowledge Him as the only Saviour (Jn. 17:3) "Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

3. The Lord requires us to maintain love and justice and wait for God always (12:6). Micah 6:8 asks, "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

4. Forgiveness hinges upon repentance (14:2-3).

5. God never stops loving the wayward. The word for love used in Hosea is "hesed". It is a complicated word meaning mutual and reciprocal relationship - love, loyalty, aid, and sense of duty. It is always and only operative through a covenant relationship and is contingent upon obedience to God. Acting contrary to hesed is destructive to one's spiritual life. The word occurs six times in Hosea (2:19; 4:1; 6:4,6; 10:12; 12:6). Even though an individual's love for God may cease, God's love will never cease, especially for His chosen people Israel.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction To The Old Testament Prophetic Books. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986.

Feinberg, Charles L. The Minor Prophets. Chicago: Moody Press, 1948-1952.

Gallagher, Rev. Patrick. Class Notes for Hosea.

Jensen, Irving L. Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.