Intro to the Prophets, Hosea 1
Hosea 1
April 27, 2006
Intro: It was a desire of God, for his people, that they would be
“governed by God” = Israel.
A- That there would be judges who would seek God then
make social and legal determinations based upon His
Word. (U.S. and law books pre 1900)
1- Well this became a problem with the people, SEE,
everyone else has a king, “we want one too”.
a- So God gives them a king.
Proverbs 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
- And although Saul’s heart is in God’s hand
he fights God’s direction.
2- THEN WHEN King David is sitting on the throne Israel
is blessed. (WHY???).
Acts 13:22, (God) gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
a- We know that David had not: perfect, life, faith or
will.
b- BUT, all in all, as much as a man can, his heart
was knit with God’s.
3- Then along comes Solomon, David’s son and
successor.
a- Israel prospers as no other nation had before or
since.
- We see in Solomon a man of great wisdom
whom God has blessed.
Read 1 Kings 4:29-31
* BUT the wisdom of man (best case)
does not even approach the
majesty of God.
Read 1 Kings 11:1-13
4- After Solomon comes the “boam boys”
a- That’s Rehoboam and Jeroboam (no relation)
- (Rehoboam’s testimony)
- (Jeroboam’s testimony)
B- The nation Israel is now divided.
1- The northern kingdom = 10 tribes.
a- Jeroboam’s turf
2- The southern kingdom = 2 tribes (Judah & Ben)
b- Rehoboam’s hood
C- God wanted to rule Israel through a judge.
1- And God blessed when the Judge had a heart to hear
his soft still voice.
a- Man wanted to be ruled by a king.
- And God blessed when the king had a heart
to hear his soft still voice.
2- BUT there came a time in Israel when the rulers would
no longer listen.
b- When that happens God raises his voice by
using a Prophet.
- So with the start of Elijah’s ministry the
prophet age starts.
* 875BC Ahab’s rule.
> The books of the Prophets can be broken down into 4
categories:
#1- The Prophets to the Southern kingdom (Judah)
1- Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah,
Habakkuk,
#2- Then there are the Prophets to the Northern kingdom (Israel)
2- Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Nahum, Obadiah.
#3- Then the Prophets in exile
3- Daniel & Ezekiel
#4- And the Prophets after Judah is brought back (Babylonian).
4- Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi
a- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are the
Major Prophets
b- The other 12 being the Minor Prophets.
> So why Hosea 1st?
A- BECAUSE of the typology, the point God wants to start
us off with is.
1- 1st Hey you’re breaking the LAW.
2- BUT ALSO KNOW THIS: You’re breaking my heart.
a- What really kills us, concerning our kid’s.
- The law VS heart.
> The time of Northern Israel (Israel)
A- They are going through a time of great prosperity.
1- Reclaiming lost land, and growing good crops.
2- BUT (as with U.S.) when prosperity is on the rise,
morals are on the decline.
a- There is rampant: Religious corruption, Social
injustice, moral decay, and political anarchy.
- During Hosea’s time (2 Kings 15-18) Israel
had 7 kings, each described this way:
* “He did evil in the sight of the Lord”
b- The prevailing mindset is: Look how God does
not judge but turns a blind eye.
- Kind of like an adulteress women who’s
husband keeps taking her back.
* The judgment wheels of God: They
move VERY SLOWLY but VERY
SURELY.
Isaiah 5:20-21, Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Read Romans 2:2-5
2 Peter 3:15, and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—
> And effective way of teaching any concept is to make
instruction insightful through illustration.
A- And now God Speaks to Hosea, not giving him an
illustration, BUT MAKING HIm AND ILLUSTRATION.
Read Verse 1
A- And interesting illustration of a plain pure person that
God uses.
1- In Hebrew writing if you had a relative of notoriety, you
would be described as a descendant of that person.
a- If not then your father’s name was used.
- His father’s name is used = plain
2- As far as pure?
a- Beeri = well.
- His dad was a well of living water in his life
b- Hosea = Salvation
- See this relationship (Jesus = God is
salvation)
(Jesus) Isaiah 53:2, For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
Read Verses 2-3
A- The only thing worse than marring a harlot is marring a
harlot named “Gomer”.
1- Gomer = consumer or completer.
Read Proverbs 5:1-14
a- Her father: Diblam = 2 cakes (in the sense of
greedily devouring for sweetness)
2- Harlotry = Whoredoms
a- A woman who is repeatedly guilty of sexual
immorality.
- THINK: A spouse, God’s people
> As with numerous people in scripture Hosea’s children are
given specific names for specific reasons.
#1- 1st son Jezreel
Read Verses 4-5
A- Jezreel is a take off or play on the name “Israel”.
1- Israel = God prevails (governed by God)
2- Jezreel = God scatters (left by God)
- Again a look at Israel’s heart
* Jehu
See 2 Kings 10:29-31
- This word of God was fulfilled 70 years later with
the death of king Zechariah’s assassination and
the Assyrian captivity.
* REMEMBER: It’s so easy to be, Religiously
right BUT relationally wrong.
#2- 2nd child “It’s a girl”
Read Verses 6-7
A- SO what are going to name your new baby girl.
1- My wife and I decided on: “not loved”
a- Kind of congers up images of a set of twins.
Malachi 1:2-3: “Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated (loved less)”.
2- Why would God love Jacob/Judah and love less
Esau/Israel???
a- What is the worse sin you can commit?
- The worse sin you can commit is the sin
you don’t repent of.
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
* Judah = Repentant heart
* Israel = Unrepentant heart
b- Are you depending upon God’s GOOD GRACE
or His Greasy GRACE?
#3- The 3rd child
Read Verses 8-9
A- Simply this child is named “hell”
1- Not literally but this is the definition of hell.
Matthew 25:30, And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
> At this point there is only one redeeming hope
Read Verses 10-11
James 2:13, ...Mercy triumphs over judgment.
A- People of Hosea’s time must have look at Hosea and
said “what does he see in her???”
1- A 3rd party could look at you and wonder the same.
1 Corinthians 13:4, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Psalm 30:11, You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Hosea 1
April 27, 2006
Proverbs 21:1
Acts 13:22
1 Kings 4:29-31
1 Kings 11:1-13
Isaiah 5:20-21
Romans 2:2-5
2 Peter 3:15
Isaiah 53:2,
Proverbs 5:1-14
2 Kings 10:29-31
Malachi 1:2-3
1 John 1:9
Matthew 25:30
James 2:13
1 Corinthians 13:4
Psalm 30:11