01 Just Grace

Hosea: A Story of Purifying Love

Just Grace

Hosea

Overview of Hosea

1A.    Author

1B.    Hosea the son of Beeri

2B.    No other information is known about Hosea

3B.    Pre-exilic prophet

2A.    Date of Writing

1B.    738-720 b.c. (determined by the names of the kings)

3A.    Recipients

1B.    The nation of Israel

1C.    Some references to the Judah

2B.    The divided kingdoms

1C.    The kingdom split in 933 b.c.

1D.    Israel formed in the north with ten tribes

2D.    Judah formed in the south with two tribes

3D.    Samaria became the capitol of Israel and Jerusalem remained the capitol of Judah.

2C.    The nation of Assyria took over Israel in 721 b.c.

3C.    Judah, the Southern kingdom, was overtaken in 586 b.c. by the nation of Babylon

4A.    Setting

1B.    Times were good. Israel was a nation of security and prosperity.

2B.    But times were too good. They forgot God. (4:1)

1C.    How they forgot about God

1D.    Priests and people alike were not following the law. (4:6)

2D.    Worshipped the false god Baal, the god of fertility. (2:8)

3D.    Formed relationships with foreign nations, Egypt and Assyria, for protection. (7:11)

4D.    Believed their wealth and security came from Baal and alliances with other nations. (2:8)

2C.    In the midst of all this, they still offered sacrifices to God. (8:13)

1D.    They thought God would not notice. (12:8)

3B.    The nation of Israel committed adultery against God by prostituting itself with foreign nations and gods. (1:2; 9:1)

5A.    Outline

1B.    Illustration (1-3)

1C.    Rebellion (1:2-9)

2C.    Retribution (1:10-2:13)

3C.    Restoration (2:14-3:5)

2B.    Point #1 (4:1-6:3)

1C.    Rebellion (4:1-19)

2C.    Retribution (5:1-15)

3C.    Restoration (6:1-3)

3B.    Point #2 (6:4-11:11)

1C.    Rebellion (6:4-7:16)

2C.    Retribution (8:1-11:7)

3C.    Restoration (11:8-11)

4B.    Point #3 (11:12-14:8)

1C.    Rebellion (11:12-13:3)

2C.    Retribution (13:4-16)

3C.    Restoration (14:1-8)

5B.    Conclusion (14:9)

6A.    Message

1B.    Because of Israel’s rebellion, God will bring retribution upon the nation but he will once again restore them back to fellowship with himself.

7A.    Major Themes

1B.    God’s Holiness

2B.    Our Sinfulness

3B.    God’s Grace

4B.    Our Repentance

8A.