Hosea
The Day of Rebuke
In this chapter God’s judgment results in three things: 1. Rebuke (vv. 1-7). This is addressed to the religious leaders, the nation in general and the royalty. It is especially directed to the religious and governmental leaders, who have been …
God Condemns Israel’s Idolatry
“Whoredom and wine and new wine†(v. 11) are the sins that commonly accompany idolatry. These sins dull the sensitivity and understanding so that the people no longer wish to even retain God in their thoughts. Instead of consulting the God who made the trees and t …
Israel is Doomed
Knowing that life is filled with choices, we must, as Jacob of old, wait upon the Lord (Gen. 49:18). Jacob’s descendants likewise had to make choices, but they chose to go against God and His love …
The Symbol of an Unfaithful Wife
“The word of the Lord that came” indicates that this prophecy is not Hosea’s (v. l). It is a prophecy that originated with God Himself. In dealing with the words of this prophecy a person is not dealing with the words of man, but rather with the very words of God. Hosea was a spokesman for the …
The Divine Lover
Gomer and Israel have left their true husband, Gomer for other men and Israel for other gods. Both were deceived. The Lord calls upon the harlot’s children to accuse their mother of adultery (v. 2). If she does not repent, consequences will follow (vv. 3-5). Like Gomer, Israel is willing to believe …
The Heartlessness of The People
Israel’s foolish acts are listed (vv. 1-7), and her floundering is portrayed (vv. 8-16). God’s desire for Israel was healing and restoration. Instead, they were involved in lying, theft, robbery (v. l), blatant contempt of God (v. 2), political corruption (v. 3), and uncontrolled lust (v. 4)…
A Picture of The Divine Lover
Gomer broke Hosea’s heart but because if it she made it possible for him to give the world a picture of the “divine lover.†He promised His love in the repeated “I will†statements to the Jewish people. “I will allure†(v. 14). God doesn’t …
Turning Back to The Lord
Hosea called for repentance (vv. 1-3) and God promised restoration (vv. 4-8). God had to punish Israel for its gross and repeated violation of His law, but He would do so with a heavy heart. The preceding chapters have painted a very drab picture (v. l). Now the prophet instructs them to return …
Israel Rejects The Lord
The people of Israel had intermarried with foreign people and had picked up their evil ways. When we spend a lot of time with people, we can easily pick up their attitudes and begin to imitate their actions. In this chapter we find five reasons for God’s judgment on Israel…
The Balances of Deceit
Before developing the themes of guilt and judgement (12:9-13:16), Hosea reminded Israel of its unfaithfulness (vv.1-2), and of its need to repent (vv. 5-6). In doing so he drew a lesson from the …