| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Hosea Overall

 
Hosea - God's Redeeming Love (1:1-3:5)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. About the time that Amos (the "country prophet") was prophesying to
 the northern kingdom of Israel
another prophet came on to the scene
 a. His name was Hosea
 b. Whose name means "salvation" (Joshua and Jesus are derived from
 the same word)
 
2. While the audience was the same
there were some differences...
 a. Amos was from Judah (Tekoa); Hosea appears to have been from
 Israel
 b. While Amos showed little patience with his northern relatives

 Hosea displayed a large degree of sympathetic understanding
 toward his own people
 c. Just as Amos is reminiscent of John the Baptist in his approach

 so Hosea is reminiscent of how Jesus approached people
 
[In this lesson
the first of several on Hosea
we will see why Hosea
was so sympathetic
even as he condemned his own people for their sins.
Let's start with some...]
 
I. BACKGROUND MATERIAL
 
 A. THE MAN...
 1. His father was named Beeri (Hos 1:1)
but nothing more is 
 known of his ancestors
 2. Some think he may have been a priest
in view of his high 
 regard for the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood
 3. We read of his wife (Gomer
Hos 1:3) and his children...
 a. Jezreel
a son - Hos 1:4
 b. Lo-Ruhamah
a daughter - Hos 1:6
 c. Lo-Ammi
another son - Hos 1:8-9
 -- Through his family
the basic message of Hosea will be 
 illustrated (see below)
 
 B. THE DATE...
 1. Hosea prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah
Jotham
Ahaz

 and Hezekiah
kings of Judah; Jeroboam II also reigned during
 this time in Israel - Hos 1:1
 2. Most place the time of his work at 750-725 B.C.
 3. Hosea was possibly a young man when Amos was almost through
 with his ministry
 4. His work in relation to other prophets during this period of
 time:
 a. Amos and Hosea prophesied to Israel
 b. Isaiah and Micah were prophesying in Judah
 
 C. BACKGROUND OF THE TIMES...
 1. For a good background of this period of Bible history
cf. 
 2 Kin 14-17; 2 Chr 26-29
 2. The northern kingdom of Israel was on its last legs...
 a. Sin was even more rampant than seen in the book of Amos
 b. Religious
moral
and political corruption was rampant
 3. One word sums the condition of the nation of Israel: harlotry
 (whoredom
KJV)
used thirteen times throughout the book
 
 D. KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK...
 1. An analogy is made between Hosea's experience with Gomer
and
 the Lord's experience with Israel
 2. This analogy is described in chs. 1-3
and serves as the 
 backdrop to chs. 4-14
 
[With this brief introduction to the book of Hosea
let's now survey
the first three chapters...]
 
II. HOSEA'S FAMILY
AND THE ANALOGY WITH ISRAEL (1:1-3:5)
 
 A. ISRAEL'S REJECTION SYMBOLIZED... (1:2-9)
 1. Hosea commanded to marry "a wife of harlotry" - Hos 1:2-3
 a. Her name was Gomer
 b. If the parallel between Gomer and Israel is exact
then she
 was not a harlot at the time of the marriage; but her 
 background would prompt her to become one
 c. She certainly would come to symbolize what Israel had 
 become
 2. Gomer bears three children - Hos 1:4-9
 a. The first son is named "Jezreel"
 1) Which means "God scatters"
or "God sows"
 2) His name prefigured God's judgment on the ruling house 
 of Israel - Hos 1:4-5
 b. The daughter is named "Lo-Ruhamah"
 1) Which means "no mercy"
 2) Her name describes God's attitude toward Israel
though
 Judah still found grace in God's sight - Hos 1:6-7
 3) Some suggest that the daughter (and the son to follow)
 were not Hosea's
 a) Note it does not say she bore "him" (Hosea) a 
 daughter
as before
 b) I.e.
Gomer had become a harlot - cf. Hos 2:4
 c. The second son is named "Lo-Ammi"
 1) His name means "not my people"
 2) Thus God declares his rejection of Israel - Hos 1:8-9
 
 B. ISRAEL'S RESTORATION FORETOLD... (1:10-2:1)
 1. Though cast off
God promises a restoration
 2. There might be a reference to the restoration from Assyrian 
 and Babylonian captivity
 3. However
both Paul and Peter apply this promise to believing
 Jews and Gentile in the church - Ro 9:25-26; 1 Pe 2:10
 
 C. ISRAEL'S UNFAITHFULNESS... (2:2-13)
 1. Condemnation for her sinful conduct - Hos 2:2-5
 a. Charges of harlotry and adultery
 b. No mercy on her children
as the children of harlotry
  -- God's rage for Israel's unfaithfulness described in terms
 of an enraged husband who learns not only of his wife's 
 adultery
but that the children are not his
 2. Punishment for her sinful conduct - Hos 2:6-13
 a. God will prevent Israel from finding her lovers
 b. God will take away the blessings and the feasts that Israel
 enjoyed
 c. God will destroy what Israel has used to commit spiritual 
 harlotry
 -- Israel's sin was foremost her idolatry (cf. references to
 "Baal"); God viewed such idolatry as a form of "harlotry"!
 
 D. ISRAEL'S RESTORATION DESCRIBED... (2:14-23)
 1. Using a "wilderness"
God will win her back
just as He did in
 the days of Moses and Joshua - Hos 2:14-15
 2. God will cure her of using the language of Baal worship 
 - Hos 2:16-17
 3. God will establish a covenant of peace and safety
and betroth
 Israel to Him once again - Hos 2:18-20
 4. God will once again bless them
and be merciful to them as His
 people - Hos 2:21-23
 -- While there may be references to the restoration from 
 captivity
it also foreshadows the age of the Messiah and His
 spiritual blessings - cf. Ro 9:25-26; 1 Pe 2:10
 
 E. ISRAEL'S RESTORATION SYMBOLIZED... (3:1-5)
 1. Hosea is charged to love an adulterous woman - Hos 3:1-3
 a. Most take this to be Gomer
who had gone into harlotry
 b. Hosea takes her back
though with a period of probation
 2. Symbolizing God's willingness to take Israel back - Hos 3:4-5
 a. Also with a probationary period
in which there be no king

 sacrifices
etc.
 b. But Israel would return
and seek the Lord and David their
 king (the Messiah?)
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In these first three chapters
it appears God used Hosea to teach 
 Israel an object lesson...
 a. Through Hosea's experience with Gomer
God provided Israel a 
 concrete illustration of what His relationship with Israel had 
 been like
 b. Israel had played the harlot; but God would take her back

 following a period of punishment and probation
 -- Keeping this analogy in mind will assist our understanding of the
 remaining chapters
 
2. A lesson to be learned from this analogy is how God views apostasy:
 spiritual harlotry!
 a. Christians
we are "betrothed to Christ - cf. 2 Co 11:2
 b. But we too can become spiritual harlots" if we are not careful! 
 - 2 Co 11:3
 
Are we being true to our betrothal? May the words of the Lord in Hosea
encourage us to remain ever faithful:
 
 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes
I will betroth you to Me
 in righteousness and justice
in lovingkindness and mercy; I will
 betroth you to Me in faithfulness
and you shall know the LORD."
 
 (Hosea 2:19-20)

－－《Executable Outlines》

 
Hosea - God's Redeeming Love (4:1-7:16)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our previous lesson we began our survey of the book of Hosea...
 a. Noting that Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel
 b. Whose work began as Amos' was ending
and prophesied from 750-725
 B.C.
 
2. The key to understanding the book is the analogy illustrated in the
 first three chapters...
 a. In which Hosea and his wife Gomer illustrates God's experience 
 with Israel
 b. Which served as an object lesson to express "God's Redeeming
 Love" for His people
 
3. We therefore saw in the first three chapters...
 a. Israel's rejection symbolized
in the names of Hosea and Gomer's
 children - Hos 1:2-9
 b. Israel's restoration foretold - Hos 1:10-2:1
 c. Israel's unfaithfulness described
depicted as a wife guilty of
 harlotry - Hos 2:2-13
 d. Israel's restoration described
cured of her idolatry - Hos 2:
 14-23
 e. Israel's restoration symbolized
depicted as a harlot taken back
 to be a wife - Hos 3:1-5
 
4. The rest of the book contains the messages of Hosea
proclaimed with
 this analogy in the background; there is...
 a. God's indictment of Israel and her sins - Hos 4:1-7:16
 b. God's warning of punishment that is to befall her - Hos 8:1-10:15
 c. God's promise of a future restoration - Hos 11:1-14:9
 
[In this lesson
we shall continue our survey of Hosea by noticing 
God's indictment of Israel for her sins
chapters 4-7...]
 
I. GOD'S INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL (4:1-7:16)
 
 A. THE CHARGE AGAINST ISRAEL (4:1-5:15)
 1. Against the nation as a whole - Hos 4:1-3
 a. For no truth
mercy
or knowledge of God is in the land
 b. All forms of wickedness are rampant
 2. Against the priests in particular - Hos 4:4-14
 a. It does no good to contend with the people
for people do
 not respect their priests
 b. The priests themselves have rejected knowledge
which is to
 their destruction
 c. The priests feed off the sins of the people
increasing
  their own spiritual adultery
 3. A word of warning to Judah in the south - Hos 4:15-19
 a. Judah
don't be like Israel!
 b. Judah
leave Ephraim (Israel) to her idols!
 4. Against the priests
rulers
and people - Hos 5:1-7
  a. They have been a snare
not a help
 b. Their idolatry has led Israel to stumble
even Judah as
 well
 d. God has withdrawn Himself from them
 5. The impending sentence - Hos 5:8-15
 a. Ephraim (Israel) shall be laid waste
and Judah shall not 
 escape either
 b. Like a lion
God will come upon them and tear them away
 c. This God will do until they confess their sin and 
 diligently seek Him
 
 B. THEIR APPEAL REJECTED (6:1-7:16)
 1. The call to repentance - Hos 6:1-3
 a. Some believe these three verses are Hosea's desperate plea
 to Israel to repent
 b. Others think that these are the words of Israel
but was 
 not sincere
  -- In either case
verse four reveals the shallowness of 
 Israel's faithfulness
 2. Rejected because of Israel's true condition - Hos 6:4-7:16
 a. Faithfulness was only temporary
like the morning cloud or
 early dew
  b. They offered sacrifices
but did not show mercy or truly
 know God
 c. They transgressed the covenant
and became defiled
even
 influencing Judah
 d. When God would have healed them
their iniquity was even 
 worse
 e. Idolatry
alliances with pagan nations
rejection of God's
 efforts to discipline them...all these things were the 
 charges brought against Israel!
 
[Like a Judge in court God has brought His charges against unfaithful
Israel. Like an unfaithful spouse who committed adultery
so Israel 
has done to God! Our next study will consider God's warning of the 
punishment to befall Israel
but before we finish this lesson let's 
review..]
 
II. SOME KEY PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION
 
 A. "MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE"
 1. Notice Hos 4:1
6
 2. This verse
like many others in the Bible
emphasizes the 
 importance of knowing the Word of God - cf. Ja 1:21
 -- How is your knowledge of God's Word?
 
 B. "EPHRAIM IS JOINED TO IDOLS
LET HIM ALONE"
 1. Consider Hos 4:17
 2. The context is that of warning Judah to stay away from Israel
 3. There often comes a time when efforts to restore the erring
 are futile; rather than risk being influenced adversely

 withdrawal of association is necessary - cf. 1 Co 5:11-13
 
 C. "YOUR FAITHFULNESS IS LIKE A MORNING CLOUD..."
 1. Read Hos 6:4
 2. Many people are quick to profess repentance
but do remain 
 true to the Lord; how faithful to the Lord are we?
 
 D. "FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE..."
 1. This passage (Hos 6:6) was often quoted by Jesus - Mt 9:13;
 12:7
 2. It reflects what was said in the Proverbs - Pro 21:3
 3. Micah taught the same principle - Mic 6:6-8
 4. It is not that God did not call for sacrifice
but all the
 worship in the world will not cover a lack of mercy and true 
 knowledge of God! - cf. Hos 4:6
also Jer 9:23-24
 
  E. "THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IN THEIR HEARTS THAT I REMEMBER..."
 1. Look at Hos 7:2
 2. How sad that people sin
as though there is no God who takes 
 notice of what they are doing
 3. But a time is coming when all that has been done will be 
 brought to light! - cf. Eccl 12:14; Ro 2:16; Rev 20:12
 -- Our only hope is to have our sins forgiven by the blood of 
 Jesus!
 
 F. "EPHRAIM HAS MIXED HIMSELF AMONG THE PEOPLES"
 1. Cf. Hos 7:8
 2. Through unsavory associations
Israel had been corrupted
 3. Such is the danger of the wrong companions - cf. 1 Co 15:33
 4. Thus we need to heed warnings such as those found in 2 Co 6:
 14-18
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Truly the words of prophets like Hosea were "written for our
 admonition" - 1 Co 10:11
 a. Like Israel
we have been richly blessed - Ep 1:3
 b. Like Israel
we are expected to remain faithful - Re 2:10
 
2. The question is
will we "fall after the same example of
 disobedience"? - cf. He 4:11
 a. Will we fall for lack of knowledge?
 b. Will we fall because our faithfulness is like a morning cloud or
 early dew?
 c. Will we fall because we forget the importance of mercy in our 
 service to God?
 d. Will we fall because we do not consider that God remembers what
 we do?
 e. Will we fall because rather than be the "salt of the earth"
we
 become so "mixed" by those in the world we lose our flavor? (cf.
 Mt 5:14)
 
Through a careful and serious study of the prophets
we are more likely
to avoid making the same mistakes as Israel
and to heed the words of
the apostle Paul:
 
 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
 (1 Co 10:12)

－－《Executable Outlines》

 
Hosea - God's Redeeming Love (8:1-10:15)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Thus far in our survey of the book of Hosea
we have seen...
 a. The analogy of Hosea and Gomer
illustrating God's experience 
 with Israel
 1) Israel's rejection symbolized
in the names of Hosea and 
 Gomer's children - Hos 1:2-9
 2) Israel's restoration foretold - Hos 1:10-2:1
 3) Israel's unfaithfulness described
depicted as a wife guilty 
 of harlotry - Hos 2:2-13
 4) Israel's restoration described
finally cured of her idolatry 
 - Hos 2:14-23
 5) Israel's restoration symbolized
depicted as a harlot taken 
 back to be a wife - Hos 3:1-5
 b. God's indictment of Israel
 1) The charges brought against Israel - Hos 4:1-5:15
 2) Israel's appeal rejected - Hos 6:1-7:16
 -- The theme proposed for this book has been "God's Redeeming Love"
 
2. The love God has for Israel does not preclude the need for 
 punishment if she is to be truly redeemed...
 a. As mentioned in Hos 2:13
 b. This punishment will be seen in the form of the Assyrian 
 invasion
as foretold in the section now before us
 
[In this lesson
we shall continue our survey of Hosea by noticing 
God's warning of punishment that is to befall Israel
chapters 8-10...]
 
I. GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL (8:1-10:15)
 
 A. WARNING OF APPROACHING JUDGMENT (8:1-14)
 1. Judgment is coming because they transgressed the covenant 
 - Hos 8:1-6
 2. They have sown the wind
through their alliances with Assyria

 and shall reap the whirlwind - Hos 8:7-10
 3. The altars of their religion has made them sin
their 
 punishment will be a "return to Egypt" (Egypt as a symbol of 
  captivity) - Hos 8:11-13
 4. Israel has forgotten his Maker
and even Judah places more 
 trust in fortified cities; but judgment will come upon them 
 both - Hos 8:14
 
 B. ASSYRIAN CAPTIVITY FORETOLD (9:1-17)
 1. Because Israel has played the harlot - Hos 9:1-2
 2. Ephraim (Israel) shall "return to Egypt" - Hos 9:3-9
 a. Egypt used as a type for captivity
but then Assyria is 
 mentioned by name
 b. They will be unable to celebrate the feasts
  c. They will be punished for their sins
 3. The fleeting glory of Israel - Hos 9:10-17
 a. Though considered the firstfruits
they soon gave 
 themselves over to idolatry
 b. Thus their glory will fly away
and they will be like one 
 childless
 c. For their wickedness
God will cast them away
 
 C. ISRAEL'S SIN AND CAPTIVITY REITERATED (10:1-15)
 1. Her guilt and coming captivity - Hos 10:1-8
 2. Her sin and coming punishment - Hos 10:9-15
 
[With such ample warnings through prophets like Hosea
God let Israel
know what was to befall her. Yet the prophet's message did not end
there. A message of hope concerning restoration was also proclaimed

which we will shall consider in our next lesson. For a few remaining 
moments
let's review...]
 
II. SOME KEY PASSAGES IN THIS SECTION
 
 A. "I HAVE WRITTEN FOR HIM THE GREAT THINGS OF MY LAW
BUT THEY WERE
 CONSIDERED A STRANGE THING"
 1. Notice Hos 8:12
 2. This is a sad commentary on the condition of Israel
 a. God had done a wondrous thing by giving them His Word - cf.
 Ps 19:7-11
 b. Yet they had become so perverted that God's word seemed
 strange to them!
 3. Is this not true today as well?
 a. We have been richly blessed with the full revelation of 
 God's will through His Son Jesus Christ
 b. Yet many people (even some in the church)...
 1) ...are so unaware of what the Bible says
 2) ...are so caught up in the thinking of the world
 ...that the principles and truths of God's word are 
 "considered a strange thing"!
 -- Is God's word considered a strange thing to you?
 
 B. "SOW FOR YOURSELVES RIGHTEOUSNESS
REAP IN MERCY"
 1. Consider Hos 10:12
 2. While we cannot earn our salvation by good works
works of 
 righteousness can result in experiencing God's grace and mercy
 a. A case in point is the conversion of Cornelius - Ac 10:1-6
  b. His fear of God
prayers
and alms did not save him
but 
 God did take notice
 c. By striving to serve and please God
he came to know the 
 way of mercy and salvation
 -- Thus we should be diligent in our service
not to earn 
 salvation
but to receive God's gracious mercy - e.g.

 Onesiphorus - 2 Ti 1:16-18
 
 C. "YOU HAVE PLOWED WICKEDNESS
YOU HAVE REAPED INIQUITY"
 1. Read Hos 10:13
 2. Iniquity (injustice
NASB) is the natural consequence of 
 wickedness
 a. When people turn their ears away from hearing the Word of 
 God
they will be wicked
 b. And the consequence is great injustice and lawlessness
 -- Sadly
I believe we can see why our society is reaping so much
 injustice and lawlessness today (because of the wickedness 
 that is sown)
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The messages of Hosea
though first spoken to a people of an earlier
 time
speak to us also...
 a. History tends to repeat itself; we need to learn from the 
 mistakes of others
 b. The people of God are not immune from apostasy
wickedness and 
 rebellion
 
2. As Paul wrote to the church of Corinth
after reviewing parts of 
 Israel's history...
 
 "Now these things became our examples
to the intent that we should
 not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (1 Co 10:6)
 
3. God's "intent" in preserving the Old Testament was that we might 
 benefit from Israel's mistakes
 a. The works of prophets like Hosea can certainly help
 b. Will his words be well known to us
or will they too be 
 "considered a strange thing"?
 
I pray this study will help his words become more familiar to us...

－－《Executable Outlines》

  
Hosea - God's Redeeming Love (11:1-14:9)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our survey of the book of Hosea we have proposed the theme as
 "God's Redeeming Love"; this may have seemed strange...
 a. As we considered "God's Indictment of Israel" in chapters 4-7
 b. As we considered "God's Punishment for Israel" in chapters 8-10
 
2. But as we saw in the first three chapters
Hosea's experience with
 Gomer serves as an analogy of God's experience with Israel...
 a. Following the adultery there was a period of separation
 b. Following the separation there was the ultimate restoration
 -- Therefore Israel would be restored
but only after a period of
 separation
 
3. Here is another way to summarize chapters 4-14...
 a. God is holy (which is why He must indict Israel for her sins) 
 - Hos 4-7
 b. God is just (which is why Israel must be punished for her sins)
 - Hos 8-10
 c. God is love (which is why He will restore Israel) - Hos 11-14
 -- So having declared the holiness and justice of God
Hosea now 
 proclaims His great love for Israel
 
[In this lesson we shall complete our study of Hosea by first looking
at...]
 
I. GOD'S PROMISE OF A FUTURE RESTORATION (11:1-14:9)
 
 A. GOD'S LOVE DESPITE ISRAEL'S REBELLION (11:1-11)
 1. God brought Israel out of Egypt
yet they worshipped the Baals
 - Hos 11:1-2
 2. God nurtured Israel though they knew it not - Hos 11:3-4
 3. God will send them to Assyria because of their backsliding 
 - Hos 11:5-7
 4. Yet God will return them to their homes - Hos 11:8-11
 
 B. ISRAEL'S REBELLION AND GOD'S CHASTISEMENT (11:12-13:16)
 1. Ephraim (Israel) is full of sin
and while Judah still walks
 with God to a degree
God has a complaint against Judah as 
  well - Hos 11:12-12:6
 2. Ephraim is cunning and boastful
and so God will bring his 
 reproach upon him - Hos 12:7-14
 3. Ephraim and Samaria (both representative of Israel)
shall be
 held guilty and punished accordingly - Hos 13:1-16
 
 C. ISRAEL'S FUTURE RESTORATION (14:1-9)
 1. A call to return to the Lord
for Assyria will not save - Hos 
 14:1-3
 2. God promises to heal their backsliding and return them to the
 land - Hos 14:4-7
 3. Ephraim (Israel) will finally be cured of her idolatry - Hos 
 14:8
 4. A concluding call to wisely consider these things - Hos 14:9
 
[God fulfilled His promise to restore Israel (and Judah) starting with
the decree of Cyrus and under the leadership of Zerubbabel
Ezra
and 
Nehemiah (cf. the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). As indicated in Hos 
14:8
Israel was once for all cured of her idolatry. Her faith in God
may have weakened later on
but idolatry never had the appeal it once 
had.
 
In the spirit of Hos 14:9
which calls upon us to understand and know
what is revealed in this book
here are some...]
 
II. CONCLUDING LESSONS TO BE DRAWN FROM HOSEA
 
 A. GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE...
 1. He loves His people
 a. Like a man loves his wife (cf. Hosea and Gomer)
 b. Like a father loves his child - Hos 11:1
 2. Because He loves His people...
 a. He blesses them abundantly
 b. He nurtures them patiently - Hos 11:3-4
 
 B. GOD IS A GOD OF HOLINESS...
 1. He expects His people to know His will - Hos 4:1-2
6; 8:12
 2. He expects His people to avoid harmful influences - Hos 7:8-9
 3. He expects His people to sow righteousness
not wickedness 
 - Hos 10:12-13
 
 C. GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE...
 1. He cannot let sin go unpunished - Hos 9:9
 2. Those who remain in sin He will devour - Hos 13:7-8
 
 D. GOD IS A GOD OF MERCY...
 1. He call upon His people to repent - Hos 14:1
 2. He will gladly heal those who do so - Hos 14:4
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Hosea presents a picture of God who is certainly desirous of
 redeeming those He loves
 a. Sadly
not many took Hosea's message seriously
 b. I.e.
only a remnant of Israel returned after the restoration
 
2. Today
God's redeeming love is offered through His Son Jesus Christ
 - cf. Ep 1:3-7
 a. Sadly
not many take the gospel message seriously either
 b. Even as Jesus warned - cf. Mt 7:13-14; 21-23
 
What many need to heed is the call of Hosea at the end of his book...
 
 Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? 
 Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The 
 righteous walk in them
But transgressors stumble in them.
 (Hos 14:9)

－－《Executable Outlines》