GENERAL INFORMATION

Prophet Hosea - “God Saves”

Wife Gomer - The Harlot

Child # 1 Jezreel - “God Sows”

Child # 2 Lo-Ruhama - “No Mercy”

Child # 3 Lo-Ammi - “Not my People”

Territory Northern Kingdom (AKA, Ephraim)

Theme “O, Love That Will Not Let Me Go”

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Date c. 750-722

Scripture 2 Kings 14-17 & 2 Chron. 26-29

Kingdom Divided into “Israel” and “Judah”

Leaders Jeroboam II through Hoshea (last 7 kings)

Enemies Tiglath Pilesar III & Shalmeneser V

Nation Israel about to reap what it had sown

Problems Syncretism & Idolatry

MESSAGE & THEMES

Covenant Israel had committed spiritual whoredom (x13)

Promise Her husband (God) will remain faithful

Fulfillment Resurrection & Victory (1 Cor. 15)

KEY VERSES

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (4:6)

“Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.” (4:17)

“They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (8:7)

“O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!” (13:14)

OUTLINE

I. Hosea’s Identity & Calling A. Superscription 1:1 B. Marry a Harlot 1:2 C. Name your Children 1:3-8 D. Hold onto Hope 1:10-2:23 E. Redeem Your Wife 3:1-5

II. Covenant Lawsuit A. Summons 4:1

B. No Knowledge of God 1. Complaint Against the People 4:2-19 2. Complaint Against Leaders 5:1-15 3. Call to Repentance 6:1-3 C. No Keeping of Covenant 1. Impenitence 6:4-11 2. Decadence 7:1-10 3. Misplaced Trust 7:11-16 4. Apostasy 8:1-14 5. Judgment & Captivity 9:1-10:15 6. Faithfulness of God 11:1-11 D. No Truth or Honor 1. Liars & Cheats 11:12-12:14 2. Coming Destruction 13:1-13 3. Coming Redemption 13:14-16

III. God’s Loving Appeal A. Call to Repentance 14:1-2 B. Call to Trust 14:3 C. Promise of Pardon 14:4 D. Promise of Blessing 14:5-7 E. Idolatry Renounced 14:8 F. Invitation to All 14:9

DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

1. Do you think Hosea literally married, loved, and redeemed an actual harlot? Some read this passage as an allegory (for obvious reasons). What do you think?

2. Whether Hosea’s marriage was literal or not, what does it teach us about the limits of marital love? While adultery is a lawful ground for divorce, is there a better way?

3. Are we comfortable with the Bible’s use of ugly terms like “Whoredom” and “Harlotry”? If not, why not? How do we think and speak of idolatry or syncretism today?

4. Meditate upon how Jesus (whose name also meant “salvation”) fulfilled this prophecy by taking to himself an equally sinful bride, redeeming her, and beautifying her (c.f., Eph. 5:25-27).

5. Lack of knowledge brings destruction upon those who reject it and upon their children. How is the knowledge of God similarly rejected today in the churches?

6. God was offended at Israel’s sinful reliance on religious idols and pagan nations. Besides noting the folly of such, consider the many ways in which we do the same.

7. “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.” Jesus said the same thing about the Pharisees (c.f., Matt. 15:14). Is there ever a time when we should “give up” on people?

8. Most interpret the “moth and rust” of Matt. 6:19-20 as merely natural means of corruption and corrosion. How might Hosea 5:11 better inform our interpretation?

9. Are we comfortable with how God describes himself as a lion, leopard, bear, and wild beast which ribs open rib cages in his anger (c.f., 13:7-8)? If not, why not?

10. Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 often during his ministry. What exactly does it mean? How might we answer those who use it as an excuse for antinomianism?

hosea

getting to know theminor prophets