You Shall Know the Lord

Two main divisions to the book - First, Hosea’s familial illustration. Second, God’s decree towards Israel.

Within the first division of the book there are 3 main parts:

God’s Call to Hosea (1:2-11)

Explanation: From time to time, God called his disciples to do strange things as signs of his work in the world. (Laying on one side for an extended amount of time; prophesying naked; wearing a yoke; baking cakes out of dung, etc…). Here, God decrees probably the most shocking decree of all the OT Prophets’ ordinances.

Gomer - “take to yourself a wife of whoredom” Hos. 1:2

Q1: What elements do you see in this divine call that would have qualified as shocking?

There are at least 8 interpretations of understanding what was meant by wife of whoredom. I believe only one has credence: Hosea had to marry a woman who was already involved in immoral behavior (possibly through the worship of Baal)

There are differences in an OT immoral woman and a modern-day red light district. Single women could not secure a living like a modern independent woman - they often resorted to sexual favors in exchange for their well-being. (Case in point from much earlier - Judah and Tamar)

“The land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” The greater culture as a whole - the people who occupied that land.

Q2: Why would God call a man of God to marry a woman of immorality?

This is not the norm. Nor is it a blanket prescription for all men - go marry prostitutes and rescue them from captivity…no. This is not an excuse for missionary dating.

This whole account reveals for us the shocking nature of God’s grace in rescuing an unfaithful bride. Our sins they are many, His Mercy is More.

This is what God has done for his people - he revisited those who rejected him. He sent his son to redeem a world that despised and rejected him. Gen. 3 could have been the end, but because of the kindness of God in the face of rejection; it is only the beginning.

Some try to say that God would never call someone to do something that is not consistent with his own moral law. While the law stands, this action was not in violation of the law, simply scandalous in its perception and reception in that time.

Children - “have children of whoredom”

Children of whoredoms means children who experience the shame of a shameful mother. They are born into her shame and must bear her shame throughout their upbringing. (c.f. Hos. 2:4-5)

When we get to this point we start to realize the depth of this illustration. I mean we are messing with kid’s names now. Maybe you stressed about your kid’s names; maybe you knew right away what to name them - but I guarantee none of you considered these names.

Jezreel - punishment to the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel. (1:4-5)

Jezreel - for Hosea’s audience Jezreel signified the town and valley of the same name located between Galilee and Samaria (the town of Jezreel was in the valley and just northwest of Mount Gilboa). This area was the scene of many significant—and violent—events in Israel’s history. There Israelite forces mustered in preparation for a disastrous battle with the Philistines (1 Sam 29:1). It was part of the abortive kingdom of Ishbaal (or Ishbosheth) according to 2 Sam 2:8. Jezreel was where Naboth had his vineyard until he was framed and murdered by the agents of Jezebel (1 Kgs 21:1). It was here also that Jehu killed Joram, Jezebel, and the rest of Ahab’s household and supporters (2 Kgs 9:24–10:11). The valley of Jezreel, moreover, was the scene of battles fought by Deborah (Judg 4–5) and Gideon (Judg 6–7). In the mind of an Israelite, Jezreel may have signified bloodshed in the same way that Chernobyl signifies nuclear disaster to a modern person.

Duane A. Garrett, Hosea, Joel, vol. 19A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 55.

Jehu - Did not walk in the ways of the Lord and strayed in his older years. His failure revealed the tendency of God’s people to forget the importance of the worship of God alone. “This is not punishment for Jehu’s zeal in the slaughter at Jezreel; rather it is punishment for not learning the lesson of Jezreel.” (NAC)

Lo-ruhamah - No Mercy

The name Lo-Ruhamah means “not loved.” It is a dreadful name to give to a little girl. It communicates rejection by her father and says that he has abandoned her to all the troubles of the world.

Lo-ammi - Not My People

Literally: “You are not mine and I am not yours.”

Q3: Why would God pick these names for Hosea’s Children? Whose daughter wants to grow up with a name like No Mercy?

These names were given, not to portray Hosea’s relationship with his children as a father, but to be words of witness to the Israelites. Upon hearing (or speaking) the names of the children they would be reminded of God’s decree against them.

Notice the instances of Mercy following the Daughter and Second Son (vv. 7, 10-11) This is indicative of the greater flow of the book. Following every major section of judgment and punishment there are prophecies of Hope.

The LORD will be the means of their salvation, not through war by which they were used to. (7)

Hope (1:10-2:1)

In the midst of God’s proclamation of judgment we find snippets of mercy pointing to the promised blessing of God for those who belong to Him.

Q4: What ironies do you see in these three verses from what we have already seen tonight and the greater context of Scripture? (10-2:1)

Restatement of the Abrahamic covenant

Reunification of Israel

Children

“You have received Mercy” (2:1)

God’s Punishment to Israel (2:2-15)

In large, Ch. 2 is dedicated to the punishment of Israel for their unfaithfulness.

This recurring theme reveals to us a wrathful God.

“At a glance, the biblical teaching on the wrath of God seems inconsistent with the doctrine of God’s love. Unfortunately, ignorance of the OT and a misunderstanding of the NT have resulted in a heretical view of the biblical canon (Marcionism), in which the OT reveals the God of wrath and the NT reveals the God of love. Contrary to popular misconception the NT, like the OT, also teaches the wrath of God in connection with his love. The biblical teaching on God’s love cannot be appreciated unless it is seen in contrast with the biblical teaching on his wrath. The word “wrath” is a concept represented by many different words and idioms in the original languages of the Bible. The references to God’s wrath are the most frequent—nearly three times as many as any other subject.”

Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Wrath of God,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 2166–2167.

God punishes sin - this is good.

God condemns those who break his law - again, this is good.

Hell is the mechanism by which God punishes sinners for all eternity.

God is in hell

Hell is the expression of the wrath of God

We must know the wrath of God in order to appreciate the love of God and we must affirm both as equally good.

Both OT and NT display for us God as a wrathful God and God as a loving God.

American Gospel: Christ Crucified

Hosea displays both for us in almost a toggle switch format. And really, this is so helpful, because this is the way life feels.

A call to separate from her unfaithfulness (2:2)

To the Children

Rebuke: CSB; Contend: NASB; Plea would be in a legal sense: KJV, ESV

A warning for failing to put away her unfaithfulness (2:3-7, 9-13)

The truth will be laid bare (3)

The consequences will surpass just the sinner (4-5)

The pursuit of happiness will return empty and enslaving (5-7)

The realization of her sin will overcome her (7)

Reminiscent of the Prodigal Son.

The bill will come due (8-13)

This is a terrifying documentary of what the life of the sinner looks like as God begins to judge them.

This is the creation of a “wilderness”

This progression is true both, personally and nationally

We must remember to content for faithfulness in the community of God’s people.

Q5: What is the main problem that evokes judgment according to verses 12-13?

She forgot the Lord.

V. 12 Gomer (Israel) made the mistake of ascribing God’s blessings to man-made idols. Gomer’s wages did not come from her false lovers, but from the hand of a husband who provided her a way out of her former life and called her to something holy.

V.13 Gomer allowed the temporal happiness of things and lovers to replace the lasting joy of a relationship with a loving husband.

We must not forget the Lord.

Forgetting the Lord leads to the wilderness and then it is in the wilderness that God provides for his people. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” This truth is played out in reverse.

Q6: What are some wildernesses through which God redeemed his people?

Exodus wanderings

Moses and the Bush

Adam and Eve in exile

Jacob wrestling with the Lord

Hagar

Jesus

Job

David fleeing from Saul

2. God’s Mercy on Israel - switch to national focus

God as a husband will romance his bride (14)

God will turn trouble into hope (15)

Sin of Achan context

God leads us into trouble to redeem us and reveal our need for him.

The theme of the wilderness applies to the current context, our context, and a future context as well - the day of the Lord.

God will covenant with His people (18)

God will remove the idolatry and war and replace them with safety and peace.

God will betroth his people

In justice and righteousness

In love and mercy

In faithfulness

THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE LORD

Gomer had forgotten the Lord

the wilderness had to come first

We need to know the Lord

If you have forgotten the Lord, you must return to Him.

21-23 is Hosea’s poetic response which is quoted in Rom 9.

The wilderness is made fertile

The deserters return

The cursed names are reversed

The relationship is restored

3. God’s Call for Hosea to Redeem Gomer (3:1-5)

Explanation: Even as God will redeem his people, Hosea is now called to redeem his wife from the entrapment of her sin - possibly even slavery as a result of the decline of her life.

“Go Again” These two words are the nature of redemption and forgiveness. God came again to man. We must come again to our spouses, parents, kids, church family, etc…

We are able to “Go Again” because God has gone again. His mercy and forgiveness enable us to do the same.

God calls his people to faithfulness

V.5 David the King - points us to Jesus