Hosea's Message - His Family
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Introduction - Series - Majoring in the Minors
Introduction - Series - Majoring in the Minors
In Jewish tradition there is a collection of writings from 12 prophets known as the book or scroll of the Twelve, and we know them as the minor prophets. They are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They are known as the minor prophets. The main difference between the major prophets and minor prophets is not in their message, as far as its truth or importance, but in the quantity or length of their message. It is not as if these books are to be studied when you have exhausted everything else or anything. Their messages all fit together in the ancient world on a single scroll.
We are going to begin a new series that I am calling Majoring in the Minors. These prophets will help us to understand that God speaks and when He speaks we need to listen and pay attention. The main verse from these 12 comes from Amos.
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets.
Introduction - Hosea - Greatest Love Story
Introduction - Hosea - Greatest Love Story
This book is named after the prophet Hosea. His name is the same as Israel’s last king and Joshua’s original name.
1 In the twelfth year of Judah’s King Ahaz, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.
8 Hoshea son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim;
16 These were the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and Moses renamed Hoshea son of Nun, Joshua.
The name Hosea - means Salvation or Yahweh has rescued. Hosea’s ministry was around 8th century B.C. during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II, and this book is a collection of the prophets sermons balancing God’s wrath and love based on his own family - especially his marriage. Hosea’s message as the Greatest Love Story focuses on:
Israel’s historical relationship with God
Israel’s love affair with idolatry
Israel’s economic, military and political practices and conditions
God’s expectations of Israel
God’s unfailing love for His people
Hosea’s context as outline by Warren Wiersbe in Be Amazed
After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam pursued a course which divided the nation into two kingdoms. Rehoboam reigned over Judah, the Southern Kingdom, composed of Judah and Benjamin; and Jeroboam II ruled over the remaining ten tribes that formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel, also called Ephraim.
Fearful that the people would go back to Jerusalem to worship, Jeroboam I put golden calves at Bethel and Dan, thus leading the ten tribes into idolatry. Along with idolatry came immorality, and soon the religion of Israel became an evil blend of Jewish ritual and pagan idolatry. The people loved it.
The prophets were God’s spokesmen to call Israel and Judah back to the covenant God had made with them at Mt. Sinai. But the people refused to listen, and both kingdoms suffered for their disobedience. Israel became an Assyrian vassal in 733 b.c. and then was conquered by Assyria in 722 b.c. The Babylonians invaded Judah in 606 b.c. and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 b.c. Thousands of Jews died, and thousands more went into exile in Babylon.
Hosea ministered in the Northern Kingdom from about 760 to 720 b.c. Israel was enjoying great prosperity, but Hosea could see that the nation was rotten to the core; for honest government, pure religion, godly homes, and personal integrity had vanished from the land. Judgment was inevitable. Hosea faithfully preached the Word, but the nation refused to repent and was finally swallowed up by Assyria.
The message throughout his book is that salvation is found in turning away from sin and and turning instead to the Lord. The key verse in Hosea is found in chapter 2:20
20 I will take you to be my wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.
Hosea’s Message His Family
Hosea’s Message His Family
Hosea is the only writing prophet raised and ministering in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Amos also ministered to the Northern Kingdom but as we will see later he was from a town south of Jerusalem. Hosea’s setting joined his unique call to cause his ministry and his message to really stand out from the other prophets.
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 of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel. 2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord.
3 So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the Lord said to him: Name him Jezreel, for in a little while I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel in Jezreel Valley. 6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him: Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel. I will certainly take them away.
7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the Lord their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry. 8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son.
9 Then the Lord said: Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10 Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God.
11 And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great. 1 Call your brothers: My People and your sisters: Compassion.
Hosea’s Wife and Marriage
Hosea’s Wife and Marriage
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 of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.
2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord.
3 So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Verse one we get our lineage and timeline for Hosea. He is the son of Beeri and his ministry spanned over the reigns of a few kings. King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah and the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash - king of Israel (Northern Kingdom). Apart from this we dont know anything else of Hosea, his family. In verse 2 we begin to see the uniqueness of the call and the message of Hosea. Where as most prophets are given a message from the Lord to speak Hosea was given a message to live. Hosea’s life and family was to be his message from the Lord. When the Lord first spoke to Hosea he said this TO HIM.
The Lord’s message was first spoken to Hosea for Hosea and this is how the Lord usually works - almost always. Hosea like many of us would prefer that the Lord speak a word for him to give to someone else. Before a prophet can speak top a nation or people he himself must first hear from God for himself.
Now to be sure prophets we odd and very strange even for their day. They did strange things - dressed differently, lived differently, spoke differently. Sometimes they did things that seemed over the top or eccentric even. For example Isaiah was called to walk the streets naked for three years.
1 In the year that the chief commander, sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it—2 during that time the Lord had spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, take off your sackcloth and remove the sandals from your feet,” and he did that, going stripped and barefoot—
3 the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, stripped and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. 5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.
Jeremiah spent several months walking around with a yoke upon himself.
2 This is what the Lord said to me: “Make chains and yoke bars for yourself and put them on your neck.
Here we see that the word from the Lord to Hosea says go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity. Why do these prophets do these things? God usually uses a greater object lesson when people have grown deaf and blind to His voice and His covenant. These things He is calling His servants to are “action sermons” with the desired result being to snap people awake and to have them hear the word of God once again. Surely no prophet preached a more difficult and painful action sermon than Hosea. God’s word was not easy and usually is not easy.
What a time to be serving God right? The land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity and other detestable acts to include, murder, idolatry, immorality. The sinfulness was rampant and no one was interested in hearing the word of the Lord - they have abandoned the Lord. Yet in the midst of this Hosea was called by the Lord and told to get married and raise a family - a family of promiscuity.
This marriage and family was a sign to the land who also was out committing the same equivalent immorality and errors towards God. As the land abandons Gods ways the idolatry and the hurt is felt by God. Hosea’s marital experiences to include the pain felt by his wife’s unfaithfulness are to help Hosea experience what God does with unfaithful Israel.
What amazes me however is verse three. So he went and married Gomer. I am certain there was wrestling with God over what He was asking - in fact I am almost sure because of my own experiences in wrestling with God’s words and callings that there is much left out in this phrase, but its also refreshing to me and here’s why. It doesnt matter if you wrestle with God what matters is if you ultimately obey God. Jesus said this very thing in a parable in Matthew.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go.
31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.
4 Then the Lord said to him: Name him Jezreel, for in a little while I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel in Jezreel Valley.
The Lord as Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son called Hosea to name his son Jezreel. Which means God sows or God scatters, and this name is to communicate every time they call their child to them wherever they are at it will speak that the Lord promises to sow and scatter. First in bloodshed on the house of Jehu which will end the kingdom of the North - Israel - the 10 northern tribes.
This prophecy is rooted in a command of the Lord that came to Jehu recorded in 2 Kings.
7 You are to strike down the house of your master Ahab so that I may avenge the blood shed by the hand of Jezebel—the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of the Lord.
So zealous was Jehu to purge the land of Ahab’s evil descendents that he murdered far more people than commanded by the Lord, including king Ahaziah and 42 of his relatives. 2 Kings 9:27-10:14
On top of that Jehu also failed to carefully follow the instruction of the Lord the Lord promises 4 generations of Jehu to sit on the throne. Jeroboam setup the false worship in Dan and Bethel to keep Israel from going to Jerusalem in Judah.
30 Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in my heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Through the birth of Hosea’s son the Lord announced the avenging of the innocent blood spilled by Jehu and end Jehu’s dynasty in Israel. Jezreel was the site of the ruthless massacre of Ahabs house and would be the future site of Israel’s military demise.
On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Jezreel Valley. The bow being the symbol of power and military might. It was the principle instrument of warfare and a broken bow would represent the loss of power.
The house of Jehu would fall and the entire Northern kingdom of Israel would follow. Being defeated, destroyed and taken captive by the Assyrian Empire
Hosea’s Only Daughter
Hosea’s Only Daughter
6 She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to him: Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel. I will certainly take them away. 7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the Lord their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses and cavalry.
Gomer again conceived and bore a child to Hosea, and this time it was a daughter. The Lord again named the child for them - Lo-ruhamah. This name means “Not Loved”, “No compassion” for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, and will certainly take them away.
God described Himself at Mt Sinai
6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,
The word the Lord used was el-rahum - the compassionate God willing to forgive. Despite God’s gracious character times come when He will no longer leave the guilty unpunished. Every time they would call out for their daughter the reminder that God will not have compassion upon Israel - also called Ephraim - the Northern Kingdom.
7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
The Lord however says that who He will have compassion on is the house of Judah - the southern kingdom the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. God will deliver them by the Lord their God, not by bow or sword or war or horses or cavalry. Judah will experience the Lord’s love and compassion in the form of deliverance from the Assyrians.
6 Do not follow other gods to serve them and to bow in worship to them, and do not anger me by the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow of war will be removed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
This would be accomplished not by human military might.
32 Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, shoot an arrow here, come before it with a shield, or build up a siege ramp against it. 33 He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city. This is the Lord’s declaration. 34 I will defend this city and rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh.
This was fulfilled in 701 BC and Israel didnt have to do anything but wait upon the Lord. Waiting upon the Lord indicates a trust and faith in Him, His word and His promises. The army that destroyed Israel also went up and attacked Judah but did not conquer them.
18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy.
Hosea’s Second Son
Hosea’s Second Son
8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 Then the Lord said: Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Gomer having weaned Lo-ruhamah again she conceives and gave birth to a second son and the Lord names this son also - Lo-ammi “Not my people” or “Not Mine” for you are not my people and I will not be your God.
The twist of irony perhaps seen in that Gomer never gave up being promiscuous. Hosea may have not been the father for this son. Perhaps even seen within the appearance of the child. Again we see that God message is hard enough but Hosea was also made to live it.
It would seem as God is disowning Israel The relationship was to be severed - I will not be your God is literally “and I am not I AM to you”
7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians.
This is the covenant promise - that they would be His people and He would be their God.
12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
23 However, I did give them this command: ‘Obey me, and then I will be your God, and you will be my people. Follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you.’
The covenant has responsibilities - by their actions they acted as if they were not the people of God anyways. This was not so much a sentence as it was a statement of the facts. It is not as if the people really want to be the people of God and God wouldnt have them. The people have outright rejected God and the Lord recognizes that fact.
4 which I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace.” I declared, “Obey me, and do everything that I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God,”
28 You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Every time the name of this son was called out Israel would be reminded that they pushed God away and should no longer be considered His people. God will not force anyone to be His, but those who desire to come and obey Him, they will be His people. If you dont obey God or want to follow God dont be surprised when He says you are not His people.
Hosea’s Promise From the Lord
Hosea’s Promise From the Lord
10 Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God.
11 And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great. 1 Call your brothers: My People and your sisters: Compassion.
Never has there been such a beautiful word to change the tone as we find in verse 10. YET - a conjunction that says - with all this not being being ignored but considered there will be a reversal. The Lord in the same family that seems to be sorrow and judgment and disowning the Lord speaks promise of a future restoration.
Despite the demise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel - the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea. For the Lord will fulfill His promise to Abraham. In the same place where they will be called not my people they shall be called the Sons of the living God.
25 As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not my People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved. 26 And it will be in the place where they were told, you are not my people, there they will be called sons of the living God. 27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved;
In the future Israel will again experience the benefits of a relationship with the living God as they reoccupy the Promised Land.
Not only that but at the time of the restoration the two kingdoms once divided will again be united under one leader. The leader appointed by God - for until then it was leaders they setup and chose
22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. They will no longer be two nations and will no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
The ideal Davidic Ruler of the Kingdom Age
5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.
11 In that day I will restore the fallen shelter of David: I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.
Fulfilling the promise to David for an everlasting throne
15 But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”
They will go up from the land - they will grow and flourish in the land - they will again be the people of God who shows compassion. New names are given - just as we are promised new names.
25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. 28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, 29 since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What a hard word from the Lord! What would we do with that? There are some who try to remove the difficulty and the need to obey by providing several solutions each intending to answer would a holy God ask such a thing?
This is a parable meant to illustrate God’s love and it is not to be taken literally - however the literary style is narrative - it beautifully illustrates God’s love for sinful Israel but the error is in saying its just a story or parable
Hosea married a pure woman who later became an adulteress. This view helps everyone’s conscience - but verse 2 in the command calls the wife a wife of promiscuity
Yes God asks hard things - whatever view you take determines your view of God’s word and promises. If Hosea’s call cannot be real then neither is the story of salvation real, for this picture alone illustrates better than words the unfailing love of God towards unfaithful Israel and by application all sinners who turn from their evil ways to a God of love - this is precisely what Jesus has done for us.
The fact that God had no mercy to Israel but instead had mercy towards Judah shows two things.
First, it is true that Judah and her kings were more faithful unto the Lord during these years, as exemplified by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1–8).
Second, it does not really matter if Judah was more worthy of mercy than Israel was, because by its very nature mercy is mercy.
If one deserves leniency, then leniency is merited through justice and not mercy. Mercy can only be shown to those deserving punishment, to those guilty. Therefore it is within the wise and loving heart of God to show mercy to whom He will show mercy (Romans 9:15). But no one is ever unfair for not showing mercy.
You can be ask for and be shown mercy, but you cannot demand and deserve mercy
A beautiful picture emerges for us in the promise to Hosea concerning the new names in those days -The sign of judgment now becomes evidence of redemption Hosea’s family teach us of the grace of God
Communion
Communion
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.