Hosea: An Overview

July 27

FBC Baxley

Pm svc

Title: Relentless Love Series Title: Hosea: Love That Won’t Let Go

Text: Hosea 1

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel:

2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”

6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them.

7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”

8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son.

9 Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.

10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’

11 The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

-PRAY

INTRODUCTION: THE LOVE THAT WON’T LET GO

Tonight we are beginning a new series on one of the most raw, personal, and piercing books in the Old Testament: the book of Hosea.

And I want to start with a story that sets the tone for this powerful book.

A man once stood in a courtroom, facing his wife.

She had filed for divorce after years of betrayal and had recently returned home, bruised and ashamed.

She had left him for another man, only to find heartbreak and abuse.

As the judge prepared to finalize the separation, the man stepped forward, took his wife’s hand, and said, “Your betrayal broke me. But I still love you. I forgive you. I want to restore this marriage.”

The room fell silent. Some people gasped. It didn’t make sense. How could love go that far?

Church, this is the heart of the book of Hosea.

It’s a love story—but not the kind you’d expect.

This is the story of God’s love for a people who betrayed Him—and His relentless pursuit to win them back.

I. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF HOSEA

Let me set the stage.

A. Who Was Hosea?

His name in Hebrew is הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hōshēaʿ) — meaning “salvation” or “deliverance.”

The root of Hosea and the root in Hebrew of Yeshua are the same… both names are from the verb “yasha” meaning to save...

He was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, specifically between 750–722 B.C.

He ministered during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Judah) and Jeroboam II (Israel) (Hosea 1:1).

B. Spiritual Climate of the Day

Israel was enjoying economic prosperity but spiritually bankrupt.

Baal worship had infected the land.

People worshiped Yahweh with their lips but lived like pagans.

There was violence, injustice, adultery, and most tragically—idolatry.

Hosea 4:1–2 says, “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land… They break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”

C. Archaeological Evidence

Excavations at Tel Dan and Samaria show idol altars, inscriptions referencing Baal, and household idols—confirming Hosea’s accusations. These weren’t abstract sins—they were visible and cultural.

II. THE STORY OF HOSEA: A LIVING PARABLE

Hosea’s ministry begins with a shocking command:

Hosea 1:2 – “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

A. Hosea Marries Gomer

Gomer becomes a symbol of Israel’s unfaithfulness.

Their children are given symbolic names:

Jezreel (Judgment)

Lo-Ruhamah – “Not Loved”

Lo-Ammi – “Not My People”

Yet—despite betrayal—Hosea is told in chapter 3 to go again and redeem her.

Hosea 3:1 – “Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods…”

B. God Uses Hosea’s Marriage to Preach His Message

Israel had prostituted itself spiritually.

But God wasn't done.

He didn’t walk away.

He pursued. He bought back. He restored.

** How does this relate to our current christian climate?

III. KEY THEMES AND ORIGINAL LANGUAGE INSIGHTS

Let’s look at three main truths in Hosea’s message.

A. God’s Love Is Relentless (חֶסֶד – ḥesed)

Hesed means steadfast, covenant love—love that sticks even when it hurts.

Though Israel broke the covenant, God’s heart remained faithful.

Hosea 11:8 – “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.”

Illustration: Like a parent whose child runs away, again and again—you still leave the porch light on.

B. Sin Is Spiritual Adultery (נָאַף – na’aph)

This isn’t just idolatry—it’s covenant betrayal.

Na’aph is the same Hebrew word used for marital infidelity.

God isn’t just offended—He’s wounded.

Hosea 6:6 – “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

** Keith Green sang in the 70’s “to obey is better than sacrifice, I don’t need your money, I want your life...

C. Repentance Is Always the Way Home (שׁוּב – shuv)

Shuv is used throughout Hosea—it means to turn, to return, to repent.

God never stops calling out: “Come home.”

Hosea 14:1 – “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down!”

IV. LIFE APPLICATIONS

Now, what do we take from this?

1. No One Is Too Far Gone for God’s Love

Gomer wasn’t beyond grace. Israel wasn’t. You aren’t either.

No matter how far you’ve run—God still wants you back.

Romans 5:8 – “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

“His lover never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.”

2. Compromise with Sin Always Has Consequences

Israel didn’t fall overnight. It was small compromises, little idols, silent drift.

Spiritual adultery doesn’t start in public—it starts in the heart.

James 4:4 – “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

3. God Invites You to Come Home

He doesn’t say, “Fix yourself, then come.”

He says, “Return to Me… I will heal your apostasy” (Hos. 14:4).

Luke 15 – The Father ran to the prodigal while he was still a long way off.

CONCLUSION: THE GOSPEL IN HOSEA

Church, Hosea isn’t just about an ancient prophet and his heartbreak.

It’s a mirror held up to us.

We are the Gomer. We are the unfaithful ones.

But praise God—we have a Hosea.

We have One who came to redeem us, love us, forgive us, and bring us home.

Hosea 2:23 – “I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

INVITATION

Are you running from God today? Are you trying to live on your own terms?

Come home. His love is relentless. And He still calls you His.

-Pray