When a People Forget God (Part II)

Introduction

I. Hosea and Gomer vv. 2-3

A. Hosea

A historical prophet, seen by mention of his father, Beeri.

Name means ‘God has saved’ or ‘Salvation.’

B. The command to marry a harlot

Was Gomer a prostitute when Hosea married her, or did she later become one? Can God command Hosea to marry a prostitute?

Gomer was likely already a prostitute when Hosea married her.

We must remember, God can do whatever He wants. Though this may seem like a sinful or perverse act to us, through Hosea’s marriage, God is painting a vivid picture as a reminder to the harlot, Israel.

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer, and the corresponding children, functioned as a physical symbolic act of the relationship between God and the harlot Israel.

Notice that the text mentions nothing of how Hosea felt about God’s command. God simply commanded and Hosea did.

C. Gomer

A historical woman, seen by the mention of her father, Diblaim.

Her name means ‘consume completely.’

Worked as a prostitute or ‘harlot.’

Combining her profession with the meaning of her name, we receive a poignant picture of how living a lifestyle of sin consumes us completely.

Possibly involved with the fertility cults to Baal and Ashtoreth.

II. Jezreel (‘God Sows’ or ‘To Scatter’) vv. 4-5

A. The Valley of Jezreel

A fertile valley in Israel central to prosperity through agriculture and trade.

Many significant conflicts and battles were fought over this consequential valley.

Just as we associate Chernobyl with nuclear disaster, an Israelite would have associated Jezreel with war and bloodshed.

B. An end to the kingdom of Israel

2 Kings 10:25–30 (NASB95)

25 Then it came about, as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the royal officers, “Go in, kill them; let none come out.” And they killed them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the royal officers threw them out, and went to the inner room of the house of Baal. 26 They brought out the sacred pillars of the house of Baal and burned them. 27 They also broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. 28 Thus Jehu eradicated Baal out of Israel. 29 However, as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin, from these Jehu did not depart, even the golden calves that were at Bethel and that were at Dan. 30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”

v. 30 Jeroboam II was the fourth generation of Jehu’s descendants.

v. 30 also tells us Jehu was commended by God for his actions at Jezreel. So, what is his house being punished for?

Hosea 1:4 is better translated ‘And I will visit the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu.’

Jehu had seen firsthand how swiftly God’s wrath came upon an apostate nation, even acting as the agent of God’s wrath. Yet, he was no better than the wicked kings who came before him. Because of that, what God used Jehu to do, He would also do to his house.

Jeroboam II’s son, Zechariah, would sit on the throne of Israel for all of one month before he was assassinated in the valley of Jezreel.

This is likely the reason only Jeroboam II is mentioned in the superscript of Hosea 1, even though the book is addressed to the northern nation of Israel. In Hosea and God’s eyes, he was the last legitimate king of Israel.

C. Break the bow of Israel

The breaking of the military strength of Israel, beginning with the death of the king.

III. Lo-Ruhamah (‘Not Loved’ or ‘No Mercy’) vv. 6-7

A. Top 10 names not to name your child

Communicates rejection and abandonment to trials

Imagine Hosea’s neighbor’s reaction to his daughter’s name. Imagine his response: Don’t worry about her, for YOU, Israel, are the child!

B. The problem with v. 6

The exact translation of v. 6 is highly debated. Most translate it ‘that I will never forgive them,’ or some variation thereof.

Apparently, the most obvious translation of the Hebrew is ‘But I will certainly forgive them.’

How can God say He will not show compassion and then immediately say He will certainly forgive them? Perhaps these seeming contradictions demonstrate the grieving heart of God over His people. Furthermore, they demonstrate the immense complexity of the God we serve.

Such ‘contradictions’ are common throughout Hosea.

C. I will deliver Judah … I will not deliver them

God will deliver Judah, but not by military means

Ultimately, we see the salvation of Israel come not by power or might, but through the person of Jesus Christ.

IV. Lo-Ammi (‘Not My People’) vv. 1:8 - 2:13

A. Israel rejects God

Exodus 6:7 NASB95

7 ‘Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Through this fateful name, God declares His covenant with Israel to be null and void.

Understand, God is not rejecting Israel. Israel is rejecting God.

B. More ‘contradictions’?

Hosea treats the sin of the people and the faithfulness of God as equally true.

Everything God has already said through Hosea’s naming of the children is true, yet we see a glimpse of hope.

Israel will continue to grow (Abrahamic Covenant)

Genesis 22:17 NASB95

17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Israel will return to God

‘Living God’ is also a stark contrast to the dead, worthless ‘gods’ which Israel served.

Israel will be regathered and unified

Israel will be brought back to life (‘Jezreel’ now associated with salvation)

Ezekiel 37:3–6 NASB95

3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ 5 “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

C. Reversal of Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi

Hosea 2:1 — A change in name represents a change in status.

Say to your brothers, “My people.”

Say to your sisters, “My beloved.”

Conclusion