The Cepher of the Prophet Hoshea/The Book of Hosea.
Hosea (755 BC – 710 BC) was a pre-Assyrian invasion prophet writing to the northern kingdom. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah, emerging slightly after Amos. His name is another form of the word for “salvation”. He was probably a resident of the northern kingdom (although he may have moved to Jerusalem before the Assyrian invasion). He has a lengthy period off ministry.
Hosea’s purpose was to denounce sin in Ephraim, to warn of impending judgment and to assure the faithful that God’s love would win out in the end.
His main theme is God’s loyal love for His covenant people. This continued despite their spiritual adultery, both national and individual.
Hosea foretold the Assyrian invasion and the fall of Samaria.
He did not have an easy time as a prophet. At the beginning of his ministry God told him to get married but that his chosen bride would be unfaithful to him. Her infidelity would vividly illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to her covenant God.
Hosea chose Gomer as his bride, and they had three children. Each of the children had a symbolic name. The first boy was called “Jezreel” a name associated with bloodshed (Jezebel met her gruesome death in Jezreel – 1 Kings 21: 23). Their daughter was named “Lo-Ruhamah” which means “not loved”; announcing that God would temporarily withdraw love from Israel. The third child (a boy) was named “Lo Ammi” meaning “not my people”; anticipating the severe disruption of God’s covenant relationship with His people.
Because of Gomer’s adulteries, the marriage disintegrated, and she became the slave/concubine of another man. However, the Lord instructed Hosea to buy back his wife.
Hosea’s act of mercy towards his wife was a strong picture of the Lord’s great love for Israel.
God’s judgment on Israel would take the form of a drought, invasion and exile. But God never intended to abandon His people forever. He intended to restore them. When they repented of their sin, He would return them to the land, reunite North and South under the Davidic king. God will restore His rich blessings.
In the Book of Hosea, we see: –
Chapter 2: 2 – 13. God’s warning concerning Israel’s unfaithfulness and His threatened judgment.
Chapter 2: 14 – 23. A future blessing for Israel.
Chapter 7. The wickedness of Israel revealed.
Chapter 14. Israel urged to repent and enjoy God’s blessing.
Our first extract from the Book of Hosea, covers God’s warning concerning Israel’s unfaithfulness and their threatened judgment.
“Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; for she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband! Let her put away her harlotries from her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked and expose her, as in the day she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst. I will not have mercy on her children, for they are children of harlotry. For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has behaved shamefully, for she said, “I will go after my lovers, who gave me my bread and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.”
“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths. She will chase her lovers, but not overtake them; yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, “I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now.”
For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold – which they prepared for Baal.
Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time and My new wine in its season, and will take back My wool and My linen, given to cover her nakedness. Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her from My hand. I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths – all her appointed feasts.
And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said,” These are my wages that my lovers have given me.” So I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewellery and went after her lovers; But Me she forgot,” says the Lord.”
Verse 2. The faithful remnant of Israel is to “bring charges” against the nation on behalf of God; the people have been unfaithful to the covenant. The phrase “your mother” refers to the sinful nature of the people during Hosea’s time, symbolised by his wife, Gomer. The phrase “She is not My wife” reflects the reality of the state of the relationship between God and Israel; it had lost its vitality.
Verse 3. The Lord warns that He will publicly humiliate his unfaithful wife by stripping her “naked”. He may also bring drought upon her to “make her like a wilderness.”
Verses 4 and 5. The children of the sinful nation will also be unpitied because “they are children of harlotry” who went after false gods and gave them the credit for supplying them with food, clothing and luxuries. “The children” refers to the people of Israel who lived in the land and their “mother” (verse 2) is the land itself; both terms refer to the sinful nation. The Lord warns that He may disown the children because of their mother’s unfaithfulness.
The phrase, “I will go”, is literally translated “Let me go”. This indicates a strong desire. Israel attributed her current prosperity to the idols of her heathen neighbours; “her lovers.” She would not be deterred from following them. These verses anticipate the exile when Israel would be separated from the idols of the Baals.
But God will “hedge up” her way; i.e., will put all kinds of roadblocks and obstacles in her way until she decides to “return” to Him (her “first husband”).
Verses 8 and 9. Since Israel did not acknowledge that God had provided their agricultural prosperity, He would “take back” his blessings and no longer provide for the nation’s basic needs. When God withheld rain and thus effected the productivity of the land, it would show Israel that Baal was not the god of rain and fertility or even a god at all. The offerings which were being made to Baal came from God’s dowry to Israel including gold and silver.
Verse 11. All Israel’s religious holidays will be cancelled; taking away her joy.
Verse 12. The people of Israel believed that the Baal idols gave them agricultural prosperity in return for worship. The Lord would end that prosperity and break down the nation’s defences and turn them into overgrown thickets inhabited by wild beasts.
Verse 13. Israel will be punished for “the days of the Baals” i.e., Her service to Baal and her neglect of the living God.
“So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a moulded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.”
Our second extract concerns the future blessing for Israel with God’s mercy on His people.
“Therefore, behold I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
“And it shall be in that day,” says the Lord, “that you will call Me “My Husband” and no longer call Me “My Master”, for I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely. 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.
It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer, “says the Lord; “I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, “you are My people!” And they shall say, “You are my God!””
Verse 14. After punishment, having separated Israel from her “lovers”, the Lord will woo her back, “speak comfort to her”. He will “bring her back into the wilderness”; the coming exile from the land is compared to the wilderness wanderings of Moshe’s time.
Verse 15. The “Valley of Achor” means “the valley of trouble”; a reminder of the sin of Achan and the disciplining of the nation for his sin (Joshua 7: 24 – 26). But this place would be transformed into a “door of hope”, when the returning exiles pass through it on their return to the land. He will “give her her vineyards”, causing rejoicing and singing as when they came out of Egypt. This process alerts Israel that her disciplining and judgment would not last forever.
Verses 16 and 17. Israel will call God “Ishi” (my Husband) not “my Master” (“Baal” can be translated “master”). The people will be cleansed of Baal worship, even to the degree of forgetting the names of the Baals. If they addressed the Lord as “my Master”, it might remind them of their former devotion to Baal. Affection and intimacy can be seen as a replacement for rulership. They shall go through a new regeneration in the New Covenant.
Verse 18. Israel will dwell in safety and peace because of the “covenant” God will make with them. “The beasts of the field” and all animals will be rendered harmless. Warfare will also end.
Verses 19 and 20. Israel will be married to the Lord forever, under terms of “righteousness and justice in lovingkindness and mercy”. They will be secure in God’s faithfulness.
Betrothal in Jewish marriage tradition was a binding commitment; the last step before the wedding and consummation.
Israel brings nothing to the marriage. God makes all the promises and provides all the dowry. Israel will respond positively to the Lord’s love and acknowledge that He is her husband and benefactor.
Verses 21 – 23. In that day “Jezreel” will no longer mean ”scattered” but “sown”. The people will be sown in their own land. “Heaven” will provide the necessary rain, and “earth” will bless them by being fruitful.
Israel can be called “Jezreel” as God will plant the people back in the land.
For our third extract, we return to the theme of the wickedness of Israel prior to the Assyrian invasion.
“They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker – he ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough, until it is leavened. In the day of our king princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers. They prepared their heart like an oven, while they lay in wait; their baker sleeps all night; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire. They are all hot, like an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings have fallen. None among them calls upon Me…
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without sense – they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them according to what their congregation has heard.
Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me. They did not cry out to Me with their heart when they wailed upon their beds. They assembled together for grain and new wine, they rebel against Me; though I disciplined and strengthened their arms, yet they devised evil against Me; they return, but not the Most High; they are like a treacherous bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.”
Verses 4 – 7. Ephraim was full of hardened sinners; fraudsters, robbers, doers of evil deeds, adulterers and drunkards. They had been encouraged in their wickedness by their rulers. There had been political turmoil in the northern kingdom; between 752 BC and 732 BC, four kings were assassinated.
The dangerous, uncontrollable perpetrators of these crimes are described as being like a large baker’s oven that has been heated up for several hours while the dough is rising. By the morning, the “flaming fire” will be quite destructive. The people and the princes were inflamed with lustful passions.
Verses 11 and 12. Instead of depending on the Lord for protection and political stability, Israel formed alliances with neighbouring nations. Israel was caught between two superpowers – Egypt and Assyria. Israel tried to keep her independence by playing one power off against the other. But this vacillating policy did not work. Israel was like a “silly dove without sense” fliting from one place to another. However, the Lord would trap them and “chastise” them for their spiritual instability.
Verse 13. Like a bird that flies away when frightened Israel “fled” from the Lord and from His standards, despite His willingness to help the people. They “wailed” to God with their voices but not “with their hearts”.
God sent a drought and took away Israel’s ”grain and new wine”. Yet instead of turning to Him in repentance, the idolatrous people demonstrated their devotion to Baal.
According to Canaanite religious belief, prolonged drought was a signal that the storm god, Baal, had been temporarily defeated by the god of death and was imprisoned in the underworld. Baal worshippers would mourn his death in the hope that their tears might facilitate his resurrection and the restoration of their crops.
Verse 15. That God had “strengthened their arms”, probably refers to God’s past help in military campaigns during the reign of Jeroboam the Second. He had taught them how to win victories by being “disciplined and strengthened”; yet they now trusted in idols and so would meet defeat and “derision” (verse 16).
Verse 16. A “treacherous bow” is one that is damaged or flawed in its workmanship. It is unreliable for a warrior or a hunter. Though the Lord had been faithful to Israel, they had not been loyal to Him, and they would suffer the consequent humiliation.
Our final extract from the Book of Hosea sees Israel urged to repent and enjoy God’s blessing.
“O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, “You are our gods.” For in You the fatherless find mercy…
Ephraim shall say, “What have I to do anymore with idols?” I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; your fruit is found in Me. 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.”
Verses 1 – 3. The final part of Hosea’s prophecy begins with a call for repentance. “Sacrifices of our lips” are called for – not mere lip service.
“Take words”: a model prayer of confession is offered for future use. The people of Israel were to pray for God’s gracious forgiveness and renew their allegiance to Him by renouncing foreign alliances, their own military strength and artificial gods. They are to acknowledge that God is their only hope.
God has repeatedly demanded mercy for the orphan. Consequently, Israel could expect to receive compassion if they repent.
Verse 8 and 9. God is still speaking to Israel. He wants the “idols” of His people to be a thing of the past. He is their protector and provider – the “green cypress tree” from where her fruitfulness would come.
Hosea’s epilogue concludes the prophecy by presenting the reader with two ways of living – obedience or disobedience. He appeals to all his readers to be wise; to choose the Lord’s way “for the ways of the Lord are right.”
Conclusion.
The Book of Hosea gives us a clear and balanced picture of God. He loves His people and desires an intimate and vibrant relationship with them. He is jealous of their affection and tolerates no rival. He will discipline them/us as severely as is necessary for our disobedience.
His divine reaction to His people’s sin is evidence of His love and commitment. He will allow nothing to ruin the relationship He has established and will do everything to preserve it.
For our part, we should learn from the example of Ephraim and watch against the beginnings of backsliding. Let us take care of the little sins. Let us watch against coldness of heart. No one backslides all at once – we don’t turn from the Lord and become outward sinners overnight – it happens little by little. If our love for Messiah has grown a little cold, we must act and ask the Lord to inflame our hearts again.
AMEN.