The Book of Hosea
Lesson 31
Hosea:
Hosea was a contemporary of Amos- both prophesying to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hoses is often called “the prophet of Israel’s zero hour.” Israel had degenerated into such spiritual depravity that God’s judgment could no longer be delayed. II Kings 15-17 covers the period of Hosea and records the terrible sins of idol worship and unbridled sex in that time.
The Central Message:
“Return unto the Lord” – Hosea 6:1 (Return occurs 15 times in this book)
The Structure of the Book:
Hosea- His Marriage- Compared to God and Israel (Chapters 1-3 analogy)
Sin, Judgment, and Ultimate Blessing of Israel (Chapters 4-14)
Hosea-His Marriage (Compared to God and Israel) Chapters 1-3:
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Through the heartbreak of Hosea’s own marriage, he had come to Israel’s sin against God. Gomer, Hosea’s wife, typified the nation Israel (1:1-4)
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The children were named to symbolize judgment:
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Jezreel (1:4-5) means “God scatters”
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LO-RUHAMAH (1:6-7) means “not obtained mercy”
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L0-AMMI (1:8-9) means “not my people”
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Hosea’s patience, compassion and his final acts of redeeming, chastening and restoring Gomer are the same qualities God will, and does, have for sinning Israel.
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The chastisement of Israel is described in chapter 2 and the symbolism and prophecy was fulfilled. (II Kings 15:19-20; 17:5-23).
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New names are given to the children to tell of the future restoration of Israel-JEZREEL (scattered 1:5) now becomes “gathered together” in 1:11.
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“LO-AMMI” (not my people) TO “AMMI” (my people).
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“LO-RUHAMAH” (not obtained mercy) to “RUHAMAH” (have obtained mercy)
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The latter days for Israel are described in chapter 3.
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Thus we have the whole story of Israel, past, present, future in these three chapters.
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Verse 3:2 , we see “redemption”
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Sin, Judgment and Ultimate Blessing of Israel: Chapters 4-14
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There was a lack of knowledge of God in Israel accounting for the adulterous nation:
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Hosea 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.
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Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge: I will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
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There were False Priests and Prophets:
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Hosea 4:5
Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
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Hosea 4:9
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their doings.
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There was Immorality (spirit of unfaithfulness):
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Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
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Judgment and Punishment of Israel:
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Hosea 8:7
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: If so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
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Ultimate Blessing of Israel:
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Hosea 3:5
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.
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Hosea 14:4
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
Note: Israel is the adulterous wife of Jehovah, to be restored in grace (Hosea 2:16-23). The Church is the virgin espoused to one husband (II Cor. 11:1-2). Israel then, is Jehovah’s earthly wife (Hosea 2:23); the Church is the Lamb’s heavenly bride (Rev 19:7).