Hosea 2:6-13

Hosea 2 6-13

v.6-7 In this section we see God’s response to Israel’s adulterous ways. It is outlined with three different “therefores” (v.6, v.9, v.14). The Lord will act in ways that will bring Israel back to Himself.

The first way the Lord does this is by keeping her from her lovers. He does this with a “hedge of thorns” and a “wall”. In Job 1: 10 we see that the Lord put a hedge around Job so that the devil could not get to him. In Hosea we see that the Lord puts a hedge around Israel so she cannot get to the devil! In both instances we see God intervening for His covenant people.

A hedge of thorns was often used in these days to keep livestock from getting into a garden area. A wall, of course, would do the same thing. Israel would “pursue” and “seek” her lovers. Yet she would not be able to lay hold upon them. This is part of God’s disciplining process for His children. He will keep us from getting those sinful things we desire. He will allow us to get close enough to see it, but not grab hold of it. James M. Boice makes a great application of this book in his commentary “The Minor Prophets”. He says:

“God will let you get close enough to wealth to taste it, but then keep it just beyond your grasp. If you think you are going to become famous in show business and are willing to leave the commands of God behind in your upward scramble to get there, God will let you get close enough to know and envy others who have made it but keep you an unknown.”

God’s discipline will bring Israel to her senses. She will remember how well she had it with her first husband. She will be like the prodigal son who “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17).

v.8 The reason that Israel continued to worship the pagan gods was she believed they were the ones who were providing for her. Israel was even offering sacrifices to Baal. She was praising Baal for the blessings of the Lord. God’s discipline would open her eyes. When Baal was not able to provide for her, she would realize that he is no god at all. The people of Baal would exile Israel into captivity and treat them as slaves. Then Israel would recognize there is no benefit to serving him.

We should not forget Gomer in all of this as well. Gomer would come to her senses. She would recognize that her lovers were not the ones who truly cared for her. When this happened, she would return to Hosea, and he would lovingly receive her.

v.9 Here we have the second “therefore”. This is the second way that the Lord will bring Israel back to Himself. This time He will take things away from Israel. God’s discipline seems more severe here. He takes away the necessities of life. He removes food, drink, and clothing from Israel. We cannot help but be reminded again of the prodigal in Luke 15. He had become so hungry that he was willing to eat the food the hogs were eating. I think it is implied that God’s first act of discipline did not bring Israel back. As a result, the discipline is brought up a notch. Now we see her hungry and naked.

v.10 Israel had experienced serious economic prosperity in Hosea’s day. This prosperity made her desirable in the eyes of the surrounding pagan nations. She was beautiful, strong, and prosperous. God would make sure that she was no longer perceived in this way. She would stand before the nations naked and malnourished. The phrase “no one will deliver her out of my hand” does not mean that other nations will come to her rescue but fail. It means that no one will want to come to her rescue. She is not a beautiful woman anymore. She has nothing to offer the pagan nations.

v.11 Israel would no longer celebrate. Celebrations had played an important part in Israel’s culture. The many days set aside to worship the Lord were some of the happiest days Israel experienced. Her “mirth” (happiness) was gone. In exile they could not expect their captors to provide for them. Israel had continued to celebrate the special days of the Lord. However, it was so mixed with paganism that one would hardly recognize it at all. Those days were no more, however.

v.12 Israel had falsely come to believe that her prosperity was a result of her devotion to pagan gods. She believed her vineyards and groves were blessings from gods such as Baal. It took some time to grow fruit trees and vineyards. They were signs of the longevity Israel had experienced in the land. In an act of judgment, however, God would destroy these vineyards and trees. The land would return to a wilderness overtaken with weeds and thorns. The fruit left would be eaten by the animals. This implies that the people are no longer there to eat the fruit. They will be taken away. What had taken Israel so long to build up would be torn down quickly.

v.13 “Baals” probably refers to the many different idols built all over the land in honor of Baal. Israel was being punished by the Lord for her devotion to Baal. Notice three things about her worship of Baal.

* It was intentional. She made herself beautiful for her new god. She decorated herself with earrings and jewels.

* It was spiritual. She burned offerings to the false gods. Actions that were reserved for the Lord were done in devotion to Baal.

* It was enjoyable. She pursued after these false gods. They did not have to look for her, she was looking for them!

In this section we see Gomer’s actions as well. She had fallen in love with other men. She made herself beautiful so they would desire her. She did things for them that should have been reserved for her own husband. She chased after them with great excitement. This must have broken Hosea’s heart. Soon, however, Gomer would find that she was not as attractive as she once was. Her lovers would not chase after her as they had before. They would see her as a pitiful woman. They would no longer treat her with kindness, but with cruelty.

This is the case with many immoral women in our culture. They start out as beautiful and desirable. They forsake the one who loves them the most for other men. When the beauty begins to fade, they realize that they have forsaken true love for temporary pleasure. So, it is with people in general. We try to be attractive to the world so we can enjoy its pleasure. When the world is through with us, we find ourselves empty and needy. It is then that many come to Christ, the One who loves them the most.

Thoughts to Consider

1. In His great love, God will often keep us from getting what we want.

2. In His great love for us, God will sometimes take away things we need so we will recognize Who we need the most.

3. Unthankfulness will lead to idolatry.

4. God is not impressed when we attempt to impress the world.