"The Prophet's Picture: The Kids"

Hosea 1:1 CSB

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 of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

INTRO—

Hosea says, “hey there! I’m Hosea, and I have a word from the Lord. Let me tell you my story...”

MINOR PROPHETS, MAJOR PROFITS — “THE Love that Does Not Let Go” (Hosea): “The Prophet’s Picture: The Kids” (Hosea 1.1-2.1)

The Prophet—The son of Beeri to whom the word of the Lord came.

His Times—During the reigns of Uzziah through Hezekiah in Judah (767-686BC) AND Jeroboam in Israel (782-753BC)—so…750-710BC; before the Exile; contemporaries = Amos (N/Israel); Isaiah & Micah (S/Judah)

His Call—Marry a promiscuous woman and have children. Show my people their situation through your family.

When telling your story, especially when it comes to introducing and/or welcoming a new little one into the family, is to share your kid’s (kids’) name(s). So, let’s have Hosea introduce his three children to us today...

JEZREEL (Hosea 1.3-5)

Lit: “God Sows,” “God Scatters”

However…this one’s name is more about association with a location than with the meaning of the word

A town & valley located between Galilee and Samaria…where numerous violent, bloody events happened (1 Sam. 29.1; 1 Kings 21.1)

…especially, 2 Kings 9.24-10.11—where Jehu (righteously) killed Joram, Ahaziah, Jezebel, & the rest of Ahab’s house.

God will…God must bring forth his judgment on the Northern Kingdom for their sin.

Consistency in the nature of God demands that in the place where Jehu acted as an agent of God’s judgment on an ungodly king, that kind of judgment was coming to Jehu’s descendents leading Israel ‘now’ in ungodliness.

LO-RUHAMAH (Hosea 1.6-7)

Lit: “No Compassion”

Think about this possibility, Hosea is out doing a little work in the yard. A (new) neighbor comes up and says, “Hey there, neighbor! Say, you’ve got a cute little girl there. What’s her name?” [The children certainly were the prophet’s message!]

v. 6…no longer have compassion on Israel—I will certainly take them away.

Prophecy (promise) that removal, exile was coming.

v. 7…But I will have compassion on the house of Judah

a little, momentary good news for Judah—they would be spared exile in the wake of the Assyrians military advances. [2 Kings 19.32-36]

Truly our Lord determines when he shows compassion and when he withholds or withdraws compassion…and whatever he does is right and good.

LO-AMMI (Hosea 1.8-11)

Lit: “No People,” “Not My People”

Does NOT have to mean that this child was not Hosea & Gomer’s together (It might. We simply cannot say with certainty.)

This name shows the severity of the severance of the ties between God and Israel at this point.

V. 9…you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

last phrase = “and I am not I AM to you” [a drastic, attention-grabbing parallel to God’s establishment of his relationship with Israel (Exodus 3.14; 6.7; Leviticus 26.12)].

VV. 10-11…Yet!

The Exile will not…the Exile did not…negate God’s promise to Abraham in his covenant with him.

God is faithful to his word…to his promises.

Sin must be judged. Righteousness will bring blessing. Repentance leads to restoration...

CONCL—

Hosea 2:1 CSB

Call your brothers: My People and your sisters: Compassion.

The kids show Israel’s condition as much as Gomer does. In fact, we see the spread/transfer of unrighteousness among God’s people. Next week we’ll see The Wife & The Husband…and…

THE LOVE THAT DOES NOT LET GO.

Hosea 2:1 CSB

Call your brothers: My People and your sisters: Compassion.