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The Twelve Minor Prophets

Hosea
​God's Love for Israel P1


Several years ago, at a conference in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England a young brother asked me a rather daunting question. Have you ever been disappointed with God? As Christian’s called to serve in the 21st century, it can be extremely easy to get discouraged. With faithful, fervent gospel preaching, few enter the kingdom. Through the ministry of God’s Word many Christians hear teaching on baptism but never obey! Others read the command, “This do in remembrance of me…” and never do it! Believers, aware of the new commandment, “Love one another…” sadly fall short! Disappointed with God? Every believer can say… NO! Discouraged? Most of us might say… YES! Is there an answer? The book of Hosea unfolds one of the greatest love stories in the Bible. Hosea’s love for Gomer is truly remarkable, but the love of God for Israel goes beyond all understanding. A nation loved by God… a nation that disappointed God… a nation that deserved God’s judgment… a nation still loved by God… a nation soon to be restored by God and to God! Recalling the manifestation of God’s love for us in the giving of His Only Son… perhaps like Israel we too have disappointed God! Remember the distinction… confess our sins… do not feed on failure! Instead of looking within we look up in wonder and worship… God loves us still! May the language of our hearts be… “Thanks, be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

​​Some background details for the setting and study of Hosea:
In the opening of Hosea (1:1) we have mention of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah. Also note the reference to Jeroboam the son of Joash, King of Israel. As mentioned in previous notes this makes Amos and Hosea contemporaries in their ministry, although Hosea’s lasted much longer. In the opening chapter of their respective books, both are linked with Uzziah King of Judah and Jeroboam King of Israel. The last six kings of Israel after Jeroboam were: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Hoshea (2 Kings 15:8-31; 17:6). Between them they reigned about 40 years. It is interesting that none of these are mentioned in Hosea, seeing his ministry continued to Hezekiah king of Judah and the time of Israel’s Captivity. Note the kings mentioned in Isaiah and Micah… they both being prophets to Judah!
 
The message of Hosea is primarily to Israel. Has Hosea any prophetic utterance against Gentile nations as in Amos? Just to ease us into a study of the 14 chapters we will look first at the references to Judah. Read them through. Israel then is likened too… and I have given a sample from the book. Again, read them through. Can you find any more? As to the soon coming judgment we have what Israel will be like. Finally, we have what God will be like to Israel. Not now their help, but an executer of judgment! Remember the first three chapters are the key to the book. In the reading of the references that I have given, get a feel for the book, and I will give various outlines for further study in Part 2.
 
What God thinks of Judah…
  1. Mercy upon the house of Judah (1:7).
  2. Judah and Israel under one head… United (1:11).
  3. Let not Judah offend… Warning (4:15).
  4. Warning unheeded meant Judgment… Judah also shall fall (5:5). The Princes of Judah are like them that remove the bound or landmark (5:10). God will be to them as rottenness (5:12). Judah saw the wound, perceived their weakness (5:13). God will be to them as a young lion… to tear (5:14).
  5. “O Judah, what shall I do unto thee…” (6:4). Despair at their Departure. Their goodness, kindness, quickly gone, like morning cloud, early dew. The “Also, O Judah…” (6:11), is a link to what went before, meaning the harvest is a Harvest of Judgment. What they have sown they will reap but over 100 years later than Israel.
  6. Judah, multiplied cities. False Hope! Fire of judgment against them (8:14).
  7. The context here seems to be judgment, not threshing out the corn, the relatively easy task, but Judah Plowing and Jacob (Israel) breaking the clods (10:11). Whole nation swept away!
  8. Returning here to the sin of Israel, we are reminded that Judah still Ruleth (KJV), walketh (JND), with God (11:12). In the NASB the word ruleth is translated Unruly! However, it is also translated Dominion in Genesis 27:40, so ruleth seems to be the most appropriate word here.
  9. God has a controversy with Judah although ruling, with some good kings, whereas Israel had none! Nevertheless, they too had departed and Forsaken the Commandments of the Lord (12:2).
 
What Israel is likened to…
Backsliding heifer (4:16). Stubborn, “throws off her yolk, and turns backward instead of going forward” (Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament, Merrill F. Unger). 
Morning cloud (6:4). Goodness, (loyalty NASB), promising, but soon goes away. Disappointment!
An oven heated (7:4). Adulterers, unfaithful, an unseen working... but seen by God! The fire of evil… leavened.
Heart like an oven (7:6). Plotting in the heart… lying in wait... sleeping in the night…ready to be ignited in the morning. Hot as an oven (7:7). Full of lust, treachery, fulfilling their evil desire.
Cake not turned (7:8). “Neither bread nor dough” (John Gill's Exposition on the Entire Bible). Not fit for eating, soon to be discarded. Captivity!
Silly dove (7:11). Fluttering between two, Egypt and Assyria. Anywhere for help but to God.
Deceitful bow (7:16). Israel unreliable… undependable.
A wild ass by himself (8:9). Untamed… obstinate… self-willed… with disastrous alliances.
Grapes in the wilderness (9:10). How God found them at first… but! They became like those that they loved.
An empty vine (10:1). Bringing forth fruit… for himself. Luxuriant vine… but no fruit for the Lord of the vineyard.
Heifer that is taught (10:11-13).
  • A work they loved doing... v 11. Treading out the corn.
  • The work they would be doing… v 11. Plowing… laborious task.
  • The work they should be doing… v 12. Sowing… righteousness. Reaping… mercy. Breaking the fallow ground. Seeking the Lord.
  • The work they had been doing… v 13. Plowed wickedness. Reaped iniquity. Eaten the fruit of lies.
(The four headings in the above paragraph by John Riddle, The Minor Prophets: Precious Seed Publications).
A merchant or a Canaanite (12:7). Deceitful… thinking that none would discover his evil and treachery.
 
What Israel will be like…
“Therefore they shall be as the Morning Cloud, and as the Early Dew that passeth away, as the Chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the Smoke out of the chimney” (13:3). This fourfold graphic illustration is suggestive: Assyrian captivity for Israel and no return, unlike Judah returning from Babylon (Ezra 2:1). Nationalised Idolatry at Bethel and Dan was the reason for the severity of their judgment. This was introduced by Israel’s first king, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the man who made Israel to sin (1 Kings 12:25-33). However, the restoration of the Whole Nation, all 12 tribes, awaits the day still to come when, “Behold a King shall reign in righteousness…” (Isaiah 32:1). There will be no lost tribes and no failure in the Divine purpose.
 
What God will be like to Israel…
“Therefore I will be unto them as a Lion: as a Leopard by the way will I observe them: I will meet them as a Bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a Lion: the Wild Beast shall tear them” (13:7-8). Again, we have another fourfold description of God’s judgment against them. This is the One who said, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help” (13:9). God could also say, “… they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters…” (Jeremiah 2:13). There is indeed a very poignant gospel application for today! God, who is a Saviour God, rejected by the individual, will be their judge in a day to come. Presently He loves the World and still delights to bless. Is it any wonder that Paul could say, “Brethren my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1)? Let this be our prayer for those who are in our homes and around us in our communities! Hosea… GOD IS LOVE!
 
Gary Woods

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  • Home
  • Gospel Words
    • A Deadly Deed
    • Saving a President
    • The Death Zone
    • An Anchor of the Soul
    • Afraid Twice
    • Two Ways
    • Withering Grass & Fading Flowers
    • A Spider's Web
    • The Voice of the Son of God
    • Forgiven!
    • The Full Assurance of Hope
    • A Sinner's Prayer
    • A Present & Personal Saviour
    • The Great Supper
    • Judgment is Coming
    • A Closed Heart
    • "Iceberg Right Ahead!"
    • The Lamb of God
    • Truth & Certainty
    • 'Then the King Will Say'
    • The Testimony of the Chief of Sinners
    • The Testimony of the Lord's Prisoner
    • The Power of Christ
    • The Good Shepherd
    • 'Wonderful Words of Life'
    • Finding Wisdom
    • The Unchanging Person of Jesus Christ
  • Bible Answers
    • Remembering Our Creator
    • Was the Cross Necessary?
    • What is God Like?
    • Does the Resurrection Matter?
    • What's in a Name?
    • Why Must We be Saved?
    • "Who Art Thou, Lord?"
    • "The Unknown God" - Just Who is He?
    • "What is Truth?"
    • "Holy, Holy, Holy"
    • Knowing God
    • A Conversion Story
    • The Gospel according to Jonah
    • "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man Approved of God"
    • The Saviour of the World
    • A Chosen Vessel
    • Who is Jesus?
    • God's Mercy & Judgment
    • Does What I Think about the Son of God Matter?
    • 'How Shall we Escape if we Neglect so Great Salvation'?
    • What is Life Really All About?
    • The Rock of Ages
    • Easter Messages >
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 1
      • The Sufferings of Christ - Part 2
      • The Resurrection of Christ
      • Zion's King & God's Lamb
    • Christmas Messages >
      • Joseph, Mary & the Birth of Jesus
      • "A Savior who is Christ the Lord"
      • Hark the Herald Angels Sing
      • Covenant Promises & the Birth of Christ
  • Timeless Truths
    • Timeless Truths 1
    • Timeless Truths 2
    • Timeless Truths 3
    • Timeless Truths 4
    • Timeless Truths 5
    • Timeless Truths 6
    • Timeless Truths 7
  • Expository Messages
    • Topical Messages >
      • Spiritual Warfare
    • Psalms >
      • Psalms 84-88 >
        • Psalm 84 - The Courts of the LORD
        • Psalm 85 - 'Revive us Again'
        • Psalm 86 - Calling upon God in the Day of Trouble
        • Psalm 87 - The Glory of Zion, 'City of God'
        • Psalm 88 - Hands Stretched out in Grief
    • Minor Prophets - Study Notes by Gary Woods >
      • The Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview
      • Hosea P1
      • Hosea P2
      • Joel P1
      • Joel P2
      • Amos P1
      • Amos P2
      • Obadiah
      • Jonah
      • Micah
      • Nahum
      • Habakkuk P1
      • Habakkuk P2
      • Zephaniah
      • The Post-Captivity Prophets - An Introduction
      • Haggai
      • Zechariah P1
      • Zechariah P2
      • Malachi
    • The Lord's Upper Room Ministry >
      • John 13:1-3 - The Omniscient Christ
      • John 13:4-17 - The Foot Washing Ministry of the Perfect Servant
      • John 13:18-38 - The Son of Man Glorified
      • John 14:1-3 - The Father's House P1
      • John 14:4-7 - The Father's House P2
      • John 14:8-14 - The Father's Visibility
      • John 14:15-26 - The Father's Gift
      • John 14:27-31 - The Father's Primacy
      • John 17 - The Lord's Intercessory Prayer
      • Excursus: The Passover & the Last Supper
    • Romans >
      • Romans - An Introduction
      • Romans - An Outline
      • Romans 1:1-7 - Paul's Salutation
      • Romans 1:8-17 - Visiting Rome & Gospel Debt
      • Romans 1:18-32 - Wrath Revealed & Why
      • Romans 2 - An Introduction to a Difficult Chapter
      • Romans 2:1-5 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P1
      • Romans 2:6-11 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P2
      • Romans 2:12-16 - The Hypocrisy of the Self-righteous P3
      • Romans 2:17-29 - The Guilt of the Self-confident
      • Romans 3:1-20 - 'All the World Guilty'
      • Romans 3:21-24 - The Heart of the Gospel P1
      • Romans 3:25a - The Heart of the Gospel P2
      • Romans 3:25b-31 - The Heart of the Gospel P3
    • 1 Corinthians >
      • 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21 - Worldly Wisdom
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