What do we learn from Hosea?

[Michael Scaman]

Hosea is the 10th most quoted book of the OT in the NT.
Hosea, some say, ministered 30 years, longer than any major or minor prophet
Hosea 3 is the 2nd shortest chapter in the Bible after Psalm 117, but some say the most stunning chapter in the Old Testament where Hosea buys his wife back at auction at half of the usual price of a cheap slave, not 30 shekles but 15.

see --> Hosea and his family, a portrait of grace

 

[mark kennedy]

Hosea is the 10th most quoted book of the OT in the NT.
Hosea, some say, ministered 30 years, longer than any major or minor prophet
Hosea 3 is the 2nd shortest chapter in the Bible after Psalm 117, but some say the most stunning chapter in the Old Testament where Hosea buys his wife back at auction at half of the usual price of a cheap slave, not 30 shekles but 15.

see --> Hosea and his family, a portrait of grace

Please forgive the outline, I have a thing for overview:

1. Prophetic Marriage
2. Judgment and Restoration
3. Gomer and Hosea Reunited
4. Spiritual Adultery
5. Judgment and Restoration
6. Willful Transgression
7. Willful Refusal to Return
8. Willful Idolatry
9. Judgment of Dispersion
10. Judgment of Destruction
11. God’s Love for Israel
12. Ephraim Feeds the Wind
13. Ransom from the Grave
14. Repentance and Restoration​

Hosea is one of four great writing prophets of the eighth century BC. Israel was bent on a course of idolatry at the height of their affluence and security. Ephraim features prominently since it was the heart of the tribes of Israel. God puts them on notice, repent of your spiritual harlotry or go into exile. Like all of the prophets, especially the eighth century ones, there is a time of judgment, exile and this is followed by repentance and restoration. God refuses to give up on that nation to this day.

Such a traumatic way for the prophet to have to get the point across, it must have been emotional agony. When we think of idolatry we should think about this:

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. (Col. 3:5-7)
​

This was a time of unprecedented peace and security, God gave them ample time to repent. He sent prophets, Hosea, Amos, Micah and Isaiah. They prophesied tirelessly just as God reaches out to us to this day. It's not so much the lessons we did learn from them, but the ones we never seem to that worry me.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[Michael Scaman]

It was a time of material prosperity yes, but not spiritual prosperity.

It's interesting that Hosea has a bunch of important places quoted in the new testament


Some passages in the New Testament coming from Hosea include:
1) believing gentiles together with jews were not a people and now are a people
2) death where is your sting
3) out of egypt I called my son
4) and there is a hope of the Messiah since the Jews are pointed toward a Kingly David figure

Hosea and his family, a portrait of grace

5) there is also the concept of the land mourning because of the sins of the people
which comes out in romans where fish, animals and birds die and suffer because of the sin of man