Hosea: The Redeemer of Israel

Introduction

Open to Hosea 11 tonight and we will look at verse 1-12. Hosea 11:1-12.

In chapter 1 we saw what seems to be contradictory statements that are reconciled n Christ.

“8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” 10  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” (Ho 1:8–10, ESV)

We have seen this several times in the text of scripture as we have gone alone. Remember Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 30:1–3 ESV

1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

We see this throughout the scriptures, for all people. Repentance and Faith, turning from sin to salvation. By grace.

And we will see it again tonight as we get a picture of Jesus as the perfected Israel.

We have to consider what we mean when we say every text points to Christ, or what the Apostle Paul means when he said, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Co 1:20, ESV)

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Heb 11:13, ESV)

This is very important for our text tonight, we will see that all of good promises are for those that believe and all the judgement are for those that do not. This is all made clear because Matthew connects verse 1 here to Jesus directly.

Let’s Read

Hosea 11:1–12 ESV

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all. 8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. 10 They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. 12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word

Let’s Pray

Transition

Body

Out of Egypt I have called my Son

Hosea 11:1–7 ESV

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.

out of Egypt I have called my Son.

“13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Mt 2:13–15, ESV)

We see the Apostle applies part of this verse to Christ directly. This presents problems as Calvin says,

“But here arises a difficult question; for Matthew, in chap, 2, accommodates this passage to the person of Christ. […] I think that Matthew had more deeply considered the purpose of God in having Christ led into Egypt, and in his return afterwards into Judea. In the first place, it must be remembered that Christ cannot be separated from his Church, as the body will be mutilated and imperfect without a head. Whatever then happened formerly in the Church, ought at length to be fulfilled by the head. This is one thing. Then also there is no doubt, but that God in his wonderful providence intended that his Son should come forth from Egypt, that he might be a redeemer to the faithful; and thus he shows that a true, real, and perfect deliverance was at length effected, when the promised Redeemer appeared.” [1]

I enjoyed RC Sproul’s comments here from the reformation study Bible simple because its so direct and consice “out of Egypt I called my son. Here and in v. 4, reference is made to God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Ex. 4:22). Jesus, as the true Israel, was also brought out of Egypt (Matt. 2:15). [2]

This should lead to a quick considering of Jesus life,

He was called out of Egypt, (Matt. 2:15)

He was Baptized in the Jordan (Luke 3:21–22)

What did Jesus mean it was to fulfill all righteousness? (Matthew 3:15)

It was so that he would pass through every step that Israel took to get to the land.

He was in the wilderness for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:1–11)

He has twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1–4)

The gates are the patriarchs and the foundations are the apostles (Revelation 21:12–14)

Revelation 21:12–14 ESV

12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

He is the Temple that was razed up in three days (John 2:18–22)

That new temple, is his Body the church. Are we not called the body of Christ. We he was raised we were all rased in him just a sure as Gods predestining power makes it.

He is the Root and rule in the right of King David (Matthew 1:1)

He kept the Law perfectly (Hebrews 4:15)

He is called the Lamb that was sacrificed (Revelation 5:12)

So what do we do with the rest of these 6 verse, (2-7)

“2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.”

This is the show the the righteousness of Christ.

They were loved and healed and they left.

He was crushed, rejected, and despised, (Matt 21:42, Isa 53:3, Isaiah 53:5) yet he was still true.

So verse 7, “My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.”

YHWH will not hear them, but YHWH will hear Christ, and all those that are in Christ. God is loathed to reject himself.

Transition

God is loathed to reject himself.

God will not Reject Christ

Hosea 11:8–9 (ESV)

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

Ephraim went into exile 200 or so years before the Babylonian exile.

again is not going to work

Transition

What then is the restoration

Their Homes

Hosea 11:10–12 ESV

10 They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. 12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

shall go after the YHWH

Conclusion

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

References

[1] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 386–387.

[2] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1511.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.