230521 Hosea 3: Israel's Reconciliation | Unrequited Love

Hosea 3 | 1 Then Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her companion and is an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I bargained for her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.” 4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek Yahweh their God and David their king; and they will come in dread to Yahweh and to His goodness in the last days.

Introduction

When love is not reciprocated it is unrequited love. Unrequited is non-reciprocated. Un-returned

Possible intro a commonly understood story of unrequited love (Quasimodo/Esmeralda, Great Expectations,

Main Point

Romans 5.8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Prayer

Context

Time is appx 725BC or 100 years after Joel

Hosea ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II and into the reign of Hezekiah

Assyria was conquering and taking captive portions of Israel which finally and fully fell in 722BC

Corruption, prostitution and sexual immorality were peaking

I). Unrequited Love (v1) The Command

Hosea 3:1 “Then Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her companion and is an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.””

Deut 7.7-8 ““Yahweh did not set His affection on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because Yahweh loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your fathers, Yahweh brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

2 Cor 12.15 “So I will most gladly spend and be fully spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”

Called to love as Christ has loved

Exegesis of Love אהב

The word for love is shown in four different

First אֱֽהַב - Go again, love a woman (IMPERATIVE)

Sense: to love (care) – to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards.

Second אֲהֻ֥בַת (PASSIVE PARTICIPLE)

Sense: to be loved – to have great affection, care or loyalty shown to (THE ACTION IS TAKING PLACE ON GOMER)

Third כְּאַהֲבַ֤ת (substantive, active, infinitive construct)

Sense: love (affection) – a strong positive emotion of regard and affection.

Last וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י (ACTIVE PARTICIPLE)

Sense: to love (like) – to find very enjoyable or agreeable.

Israel was involved in pagan fertility cult worship

II). Recovered But Apart (v2-3) The Command Effected

Hosea 3:2-3 “So I bargained for her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Then I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.””

15 shekels of silver is worth appx $130. USD as of 05/11/2023

1.5 Homers of Barley is worth $73 USD as of 05/11/2023

This woman is worth appx $200 in USD

Globally the average cost of a slave is $90

Hosea seems to have had to haggle to come up with the money to buy Gomer

III). The Great Reversal (v4-5) The Analogy Explained

Hosea 3:4 “For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols.” 5 “Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek Yahweh their God and David their king; and they will come in dread to Yahweh and to His goodness in the last days.”

This is now - there is no king, no prince, unable to sacrifice, without even the priesthood

When is the afterword? Assumed to be at the second coming of Christ

Application

Conclusion

So what

John 4 - You have been married 5 times and the one you now have is not your husband