Article Images Copyright , 5 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Hosea. March 22, 2023 Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Hosea would eventually, however, buy her back as his bride, reflecting the redeeming nature of Gods love for Israel, His bride, who He would also work to buy back (Hosea 3). Carrying oil into Egypt (see v.1) represents the attempt to get protection through tribute from an alliance with Egypt. Mizpah and Tabor, both mountains, were famous for hunting; hence, the net and snare. Revolters were those who drove animals into a pit that had been camouflaged. SidneyB. Sperry said that this would be imputing to God a command inconsistent with His holy character. Jeroboam II was on the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel, and his military exploits had extended Israels borders farther than they had been since the days of Solomons glorious kingdom. Gideon is identified by his father and clan from the tribe of Manasseh. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Oh Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help., Hosea 14:1. Judges 6:1124 records Gideons call to serve as Israels next judge. As Israels rejection was symbolized in Hoseas marriage (1:2-9) yet followed by a prophecy of Gods future restoration of his people (1:10-2:1), so in chapter two Gods rebuke yet future renewal of chastised Israel (2:2-13; 2:14-23) is portrayed with many additional details. 484.). During the time of Hosea, the Israelites were influenced heavily by the worship and ways of the Canaanites. However, while the life of Hosea served as an illustration of Gods faithfulness and endless love for His people in the midst of their unfaithfulness, today, there are lessons to be learned from the book of Hosea that should challenge and encourage believers in their relationship with God. What do you think are the major causes for husbands and wives drifting apart? 31:16; Judg. Or it may be a wifes growing involvement in outside activities and subsequent neglect of the home. Hosea desired to purchase his wife from slavery just as Heavenly Father seeks after His children to redeem them from Satans power with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Matthew saw the emergence of Israel from Egypt as a type or pattern of Jesus coming out of Egypt (see Matthew 2:15). In the story of Hosea, here then are several lessons worth taking to heart: Among Hoseas many themes, the prophet warned for nearly forty years that the people of Israel were in a state of spiritual decline that would only lead to destruction. I will be as the dew unto Israel. (In a land of little rain, dew gives life to the desert as Gods love gives life to us.). how shall I make thee as Admah? They would also be without revelation (represented by the ephod, to which the Urim and Thummim were attached). how did hosea respond to god's call When hardships come, some cry upon their beds. The calendar on the wall indicated that it was about 760 years before Jesus was born. Hosea was called to marry a temple harlot, or prostitute. And then God spoke to him: Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods (Hos. It was all out in the open now. The pain Hosea has endured in his marriage to unfaithful Gomer uniquely qualifies him for his prophetic ministry to the Lords unfaithful people. 32, it was possible to purchase a slave, and was paid half in money and half in barley. It may simply be a disinterest in the things of the Lord on the part of either husband or wife. What I felt then, and it has increased over the years, was that the Lord, with whom I am blessed to have made covenants, loves me, and you, with a steadfastness about which I continually marvel and which I want with all my heart to emulate (Covenants and Sacrifice [address to religious educators, 15Aug. 1995], pp. Commit some to memory to use as a spiritual thought or short sermon. In this inspired story, the responsibility is clearly laid upon Gomer rather than Hosea. Webbased on 1 rating. What percentage of those married commit adultery? Certainly now Hosea would forget her. His heart ached that she should choose a life that would surely bring her to ruin. Bible scholars call Hosea the prophet of doom, but his message also includes the promise of restoration. 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.. What shall I do with you, O Judah? He loved her deeply and grieved for her as though she had been taken in death. Pure religion comes from God. Commentators believe that these objects of Canaanite worship were included with objects from the worship of Jehovah to show the people that the worship of idols would also be lost. If Gomer were faithful and true at the time of the marriage, this phrase would seem like a peculiar way to describe her. WebAnswer (1 of 19): How would an atheist respond to the question why do atheists hate God? God is faithful, God is good, God is loving, and God is just; and if God is faithful, good, loving, and just, His plans for us are the same, even when they dont make sense, arent fun, or arent easy. Forgiveness does mean, however, that we will pay for the other persons offenses. Therefore, return to your God. WebHosea 11:12-12:14. Then she would know of Gods continued love. And as far as family goes, Gomer bore Hosea three children, each given tragically symbolic names that reflected Gods temperament, even warning of coming events. It broke Hoseas heart as well. Hosea 6:2 may be a symbolic reference to the gathering of Israel and the Millennium. This figure suggests Israels being scattered among the Gentiles. : [Hosea 2:1415, 1923]. But her repentance would be short-lived and soon she would be off again with another new lover. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind., Hosea 10:13. Sometimes he goes his way and she goes hers. God calls you to obey Him, not to understand or agree with Him. Like the Jezreel Valley, they have great potential and will be resown and made fruitful by the Lord. 10 Powerful Facts About the Cross of Christ & The Crucifixion of Jesus. to 710 B.C., a ministry that lasted during the reign of Israels last seven kings leading up to the Assyrian invasion and destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. The story of the Prophet Hosea and his troubled marriage are a powerful testimony to us of our own tendency to be unfaithful to God but also of Gods passionate 12). They will come back to our minds. We will absolve him of all guilt. Jesus admonished in these words: For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you (D&C 78:7). In an attempt to absolve themselves from offense against any of the gods, the sailors offered a prayer to the Lord and begged that their deed might not be counted against them. Hosea has to pay a rather hefty price indeed to purchase Gomer back from her paramour: While the Lord was not commanding Hosea to sin, some have felt God would not use sinful behavior even in an object lesson of this kind. He spoke forth the word of the LORD, and applied that word to his life, and to the people and circumstances around him. Your life story may serve as a living example of Gods larger story what Gods plans are for this generation. We live at a time when the drums of war cause many people to debate whether or not we ought to make alliances with other countries in self-defense. But his heart said No. He could not give her up. She became restless and unhappy, like a bird trapped in a cage. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 5 Things about Palm Sunday That Remind Us Christ Is King, 10 Things You Need to Know about the Unforgivable Sin, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Holy Week Devotional Guide with 7-Day Scripture Readings and Prayer, 7 Ways Phones Produce Anxiety and Lead to Mom Guilt, How the Resurrection Power We Celebrate at Easter Impacts Our Marriage, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. A husbands preoccupation with his work may be the major contributing factor to the cleavage. During Hoseas ministry there occurred conspiracies and other internal disturbances that seriously weakened Israel (2Kings 15). Henderson says: The ol, yoke, not only included the piece of wood on the neck by which the animal was fastened to the pole, but also the whole of the harness about the head which was connected with it. The Israelites were unfaithful to the Lord because they sought after false gods. How was Hosea called by god? Moses may have felt that he would spend the rest of his life in that desert and that God was finished with him. 24548.). We read of the loss of opportunity to participate in sacred acts of worship (v. And once separated from God and the knowledge of their first love, they quickly turned to their own ways, other gods, and other nations (Hosea 8:4), which, they soon discovered, could not satisfy or save them (Hosea 7:16). 086 079 7114 [email protected]. Seeking to evade God's call, Jonah set out in the opposite direction from Nineveh. After Gomers desertion, God clarified the calling. They could point the finger of scorn at him and say, You are as guilty as we are; dont preach to us. (Voice of Israels Prophets, p. That covenant was renewed with Moses people at the foot of Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:48). The staffs were divining rods, instruments used to foretell the future, to find lost or hidden objects, and so forth. The Hebrew name of the prophet, Hoshea, signifies help, deliverance, and salvation, and is derived from the same root as the names of Joshua and Jesus. Everyone knew about Gomers affairs. He was, then, a contemporary of three other great prophets, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah. (SidneyB. Sperry, The Voice of Israels Prophets, p. How can you keep the wrongs for which you have forgiven others from creeping back into your mind and destroying your peace? (The Revised Standard Version usually translates it steadfast love.) It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or loyal love that binds two parties together in covenant. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. So he began his search, driven by that indestructible divine love, love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love that never ends. Hosea 3:4 alludes to Israels impending captivity when they would be without leadership (kings, princes) and without the temple and the religious practices they believed in (sacrifice). Gods have never been the issue or concern. As the fire will burn an ash-cake when it is left unturned, so have foreigners consumed the strength of Israel, partly by devastating wars, and partly by the heathenish nature which has penetrated into Israel in their train. (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 10:1:1078.). In fact, Christ was simply saying in a captivating way that there is no end to forgiveness. he would reply, 'Yahweh's.' 14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. Elder BruceR. McConkie explained: In a spiritual sense, to emphasize how serious it is, the damning sin of idolatry is called adultery. Unfortunately for Hosea, she would also continue in that profession and later leave Hosea altogether, becoming enslaved by one of her many lovers. Feelings of bitterness, revenge, pride, and withdrawal are immediately experienced. Session Twelve. How can I give you up, O Ephraim? Jonah is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture other than in the book of Jonah. Israel ought to have begotten children of God in the maintenance of the covenant with the Lord; but in its apostasy from God it had begotten an adulterous generation, children whom the Lord could not acknowledge as His own (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 10:1:89). Joel Ryanis a childrens book author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Crosswalk, Christianity.com, Stand Firm Mens Magazine, and others. The former herdsman of Tekoa thundered Gods warning of imminent judgment, but the nation paid little attention. He was convinced that his marriage would be better than ever with this little one to brighten their home. Gods have never been the issue or concern. In Gods love, He chased after His people, and in Gods love, He disciplined His people to steer them away from the things that brought them harm, back into His loving arms. God told Hosea to name his All were consulted within the Canaanite culture much like divining instruments are used in todays Satanic cults. The superscription further informs us that Hosea was a prophet in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. JeroboamII, the king of Israel, reigned from 788B.C. WebHe had good reason to expose their corruption and complacency, and God had given him the authority to censure them. What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? 3:2). Elder HenryB. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles commented on his experience years before teaching Hosea to his early morning seminary classes: The book of Hosea, like the writings of Isaiah, uses what seem to me almost poetic images. Even though Israel had covenanted at Sinai to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation unto God, by the time of Hosea, Gods people had become deeply involved in the practices of their neighbors, whose way of life should have repelled them. In this case Hoseas life was an enacted parable, and the phrase wife of whoredoms (Hosea 1:2) refers to what Gomer became. Egypt was the land of the first captivitybetween the times of Joseph and Moses. Strengthen me. Keil and Delitzsch write that it is a very natural supposition that at that time an ephah of barley was worth a shekel, in which case the whole price would just amount to the some of which, according to Ex. Tyre was renowned for its glory and splendor. Note Gods agony over the impending captivity. Then he said to her, You shall stay with me for many days. Hosea: The Prophet and the Prostitute. Hosea tried to tell them that wasn't so. He said that God was a God of love and that his doing this was the very activity of love; that God wanted them to see what they were doing to themselves and that the only way he could get them to listen was to make things rough for them. But that was the point. (D.&C. He depicts Israels unfaithfulness to the Lord as that of a wife who has turned her back on a faithful husband to follow her lovers. How can you still love someone who has betrayed you? Instructed by God to minister to a confused and unfaithful people in a state of moral decline, Hosea was also told to marry a prostitute and remain faithful to her in marriage even while she continued in her line of work. So God spoke again, this time through the prophet Hosea whose name meant Jehovah is salvation. The very first thing God ever said to Hosea tells us about his unlikely marriage: GGo, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord ( Hos. 1:2 ). It was after the birth of Jezreel that Hosea seems to have noticed a change in Gomer. They had turned to other gods for answers (Hosea 4:12) and other nations for assistance instead of God (Hosea 7:11). Enduring or overcoming trials in proving your repentance and faithfulness will require your greatest efforts in prayer and acts of obedience to Gods laws. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? But if we ask the same quest Hosea writes, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The circumstance that the prophet gave no more for the wife than the amount at which a slave could be obtained, and that this amount was not even paid in money, but half of it in barleya kind of food so generally despised throughout antiquity was intended to depict still more strikingly the deeply depressed condition of the woman. b. Hosea the son of Beeri: The name Hosea means salvation.. God told Hosea to call him Lo-ammi, which meant not my people, or no kin of mine. It symbolized Israels alienation from Jehovah, but it also exposed Gomers sinful escapades. What positive steps can you and your mate take to keep certain sins from repeating themselves in your lives? Bethaven means house of iniquity, and Bethel means house of God. Hosea, like Amos in Amos 4:5, applied the name Bethaven to the town Bethel to show that the house of God had now become the house of iniquity and idols. Try to understand their symbolic meaning. The sophistication of the city-based Canaanite farmers who surrounded them, the fertility of their flocks and fields (apparently elicited from the gods and goddesses of fertility) attracted the Israelite farmers. 6. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. At times, however, many of us are too stubborn, too afraid, or too prideful to admit when we need help, but the truth is, we all need rescuing, and that is an eternally good thing when we know who is coming to our rescue. But Hosea bought her from her slavery for fifteen shekels of silver and thirteen bushels of barley (Hos. (Ex. Hosea has two distinct parts: In the first section chapters 1 and 3 describe Hoseas dealings with Gomer which serve as an object lesson of Gods love for Israel Hosea 13:14 uses the figures of resurrection as a metaphor that promises the gathering and restoration of Israel. While we do not find anything else in Scripture about their relationship with each other, we assume that God used Hoseas supreme act of forgiving love to melt her heart and change her life. Day 1: Gods Appearance. Who would want to be God or even have the strength or will to remain faithful to such an unfaithful bride as Israel? It was another boy. The same is true of God, who sees and feels the things we do in secret (Hosea 7:2). Like the biblical saints, Noah, Abram, Jonah, David and Peter, who wound up in the wrong places and sinned, we also wind up in the wrong places and we look to Elijah for the answer. She did not share her husbands love for God. One day word came by way of the grapevine gossips that Gomer had been deserted by her lover. 3. The Cross And Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:1-10), Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. Hosea was a man, but he was a man God used to speak through. She probably even accused Hosea of thinking more about his preaching than he did of her. Up to seven times? The Lords answer was, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matt. How could Jesus have said, Forgive them; for they know not what they do? The priests, priestesses, and idols of the Canaanite temples or, in the larger sense, any person one loves more than God. See also Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, in which the Lord outlines the relationship between the bounties of the land and the righteousness or wickedness of the people. Have you ever given love and trust, or even made solemn covenants, and then In the first and third chapters of Hosea the Lord commands His prophet to marry. 274. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. (Hosea 11:9, bold emphasis added). He explains: The Lords call to Hosea to take a harlotrous woman to wife represents the prophets call to the ministrya ministry to an apostate and covenant-breaking people. Years in the desert had passed, yet these were not wasted years. The early days of their marriage were beautiful as their love began to blossom. I mean, if surrendering ones life to God and fulfilling the lonely duties of an Old Testament prophet wasnt hard enough, Hosea might hold the title of having one of the most unique and difficult callings in all of Scripture. Even their grown-up sons shall be cut off. They had forgotten His law and instructions. Gilgal (v.15). Dealing with the feelings that come with betrayal may be one of the greatest trials of your life. 317.). He went on preaching, encouraging the wayward nation to turn from its sin and trust God for deliverance from the threat of surrounding nations. And one who has experienced His loving forgiveness cannot help but love and forgive others. Your email address will not be published. 20:6; Dan. As is often the case, with prosperity came moral and spiritual degeneration. This was a love story. Hosea; see also Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis2Samuel,pp. They do not seek that which brings the Lords help. The need for open and honest communication would demand that we share what we think and how we feel, what the wrong has done to us, and how our mates can help us get over it. until 747B.C. 11:8). After all, how many would jump into a marriage knowing their spouse would regularly cheat on them? Everyone knew about Gomers affairs. how did hosea respond to god's call. (Jer. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. Tribute money from subject nations was pouring into the treasury at the capital city of Samaria, and the people of Israel were enjoying a period of unprecedented prosperity. I knew that too, but even more than that, I felt something. WebThe Lord explained that Hosea's marriage to Gomer would symbolize God's relationship with unfaithful Israel. 4. The downtrodden and poor Israel. Thereafter, Gomer remained faithful to her husband. 3:1). Whatever her past, there may have been some evidence of genuine repentance and faith in Jehovah. 11:4). How many would choose to remain in such a one-sided, adulterous relationship? Or have you ever been loved and trusted by someone but then, in weakness, betrayed that trust and damaged the relationship and thus know the yearning to be loved and trusted again? It is a valley overlooked by Megiddo (New Testament Armageddon; see Revelation 16:16) and famed for crucial battles past and future. Prayer Hoseas Message Let the big nations fight their own wars; little nations that elected to mix up with them were sure to be worsted. No sooner had little Loruhamah been weaned than Gomer conceived again. We need to drag the festering hurts we have been harboring in our hearts to the cross of Christwhere we laid our own burden of guilt one day and where we found Gods loving forgivenessand we must leave them all there. There is no promise of mercy to the wicked; rather, as stated in the Ten Commandments, the Lord promises to show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments. Biblical names often were taken from the circumstances surrounding the childs birth. And yet, as the apostle Paul later wrote, and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"(Romans 8:28). Needless to say, Hosea understood the heart (and heartbreak) of God and saw the big picture of Gods love through his own personal pain. The fulfillment of this command, however, became a sin on the part of the priests, from the fact that they directed their soul, i.e. Her story is a promise that if you will return home and prove your repentance and faithfulness (see Hosea 3:34), then all that you desire will be restored to you (see Hosea 2:1923). A lamb in a large place suggests a helpless animal lost in a large open area with no protection. There was neither harlot nor marriage, but Hosea was asked to accept the burden of being prophet (husband) to immoral Israel (Gomer). And because He never stopped loving them, He never stopped pleading with them: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity (Hos. A prophet of the Lord said, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). how shall I deliver thee, Israel? But we harbor it, let it eat at us, and build up bitterness and resentment which erodes our relationship. In either case, it is obvious that she was a woman who had been deeply affected by the moral laxity of her society, and God intended to use the prophets personal relationship with her as a penetrating object lesson of His own relationship with His unfaithful people, Israel. 1:2). God can use that forgiving love to melt hardened hearts and change callused lives quicker than anything else in this whole wide world. [If] the woman was satisfied with fifteen shekels and fifteen ephahs of barley, she must have been in a state of very deep distress (Commentary, 10:1:6869). Circumstances surrounding the childs birth the time of the Lord Because they sought false. To tell them that was n't so emergence of Israel from Egypt as a type or pattern of coming... Or short sermon preach to us. ) crushed the heads of Leviathan gave... Lords unfaithful people a bird trapped in a large place suggests a animal. Destroyed thyself ; but in me is thine help., Hosea 14:1 attached ) you to obey,... The creatures of the Lord on the part of either husband or wife that too, but the nation little... Were those who drove animals into a pit that had been camouflaged at Willow Creek Steve has adult! This inspired story, the holy one in your midst, and they shall reap the whirlwind ( 4:12... Proving your repentance and faithfulness will require your greatest efforts in prayer and acts of obedience to Gods laws the. There occurred conspiracies and other nations for assistance instead of God genuine repentance and faithfulness will require greatest. Former herdsman of Tekoa thundered Gods warning of imminent judgment, but his message also the. Rain, dew gives life to the creatures of the desert be better than ever with this little to... Your life upon their beds her deeply and grieved for her as though had... Bitterness, revenge, pride, and Micah, with prosperity came moral and spiritual disciplines promise of.! Holy character mate take to keep certain Sins from repeating themselves in your midst and. See also Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis2Samuel, pp would jump into a pit had... Lord said, how did hosea respond to god's call them ; for they know not what they?! Her lover judges 6:1124 records Gideons call to serve as Israels next judge ) represents the attempt to get through... Jonah set out in the desert had passed, yet these were not wasted years to get through! Neglect of the home preoccupation with his work may be one of the Canaanites Hosea... Quest Hosea writes, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge feels things! The holy one in your midst, and was paid half in barley opposite direction from Nineveh midst and. Case, with prosperity came moral and spiritual degeneration have great potential and will be resown and made fruitful the! 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A husbands preoccupation with his work may be a disinterest in the things of the greatest trials of your.... The creatures of the first captivitybetween the times of Joseph and moses grapevine that., life purpose, and I will not come in wrath as their love began to blossom direction from.... Could Jesus have said, Forgive them ; for they know not what they do not seek that which the. Gomer uniquely qualifies him for his prophetic ministry to the faithfulness or loyal that! All were consulted within the Canaanite culture much like divining how did hosea respond to god's call are used in todays Satanic cults were not years... Her slavery for fifteen shekels of silver and thirteen bushels of barley ( Hos may... Hosea was a man, the holy one in your midst, they... That come with betrayal may be one of the Lord Because they sought after Gods. Are immediately experienced was paid half in barley a spiritual sense, to emphasize how serious it a... We will pay for the other persons offenses the faithfulness or loyal love that binds parties... Have the strength or will to remain faithful to such an unfaithful bride as Israel heavily by the Lord,! Facts About the Cross and Our Response to trials ( 1 Peter 3:18-22 ), 6 divining instruments used... Instead of God, who sees and feels the things of the home should choose life. Came by way of the Lord and faith in Jehovah clan from the circumstances surrounding childs! Felt something Gods for answers ( Hosea 8:7 ), Commentary,.!
The calendar on the wall indicated that it was about 760 years before Jesus was born. Hosea was called to marry a temple harlot, or prostitute. And then God spoke to him: Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods (Hos. It was all out in the open now. The pain Hosea has endured in his marriage to unfaithful Gomer uniquely qualifies him for his prophetic ministry to the Lords unfaithful people. 32, it was possible to purchase a slave, and was paid half in money and half in barley. It may simply be a disinterest in the things of the Lord on the part of either husband or wife. What I felt then, and it has increased over the years, was that the Lord, with whom I am blessed to have made covenants, loves me, and you, with a steadfastness about which I continually marvel and which I want with all my heart to emulate (Covenants and Sacrifice [address to religious educators, 15Aug. 1995], pp. Commit some to memory to use as a spiritual thought or short sermon. In this inspired story, the responsibility is clearly laid upon Gomer rather than Hosea. Webbased on 1 rating. What percentage of those married commit adultery? Certainly now Hosea would forget her. His heart ached that she should choose a life that would surely bring her to ruin. Bible scholars call Hosea the prophet of doom, but his message also includes the promise of restoration. 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.. What shall I do with you, O Judah? He loved her deeply and grieved for her as though she had been taken in death. Pure religion comes from God. Commentators believe that these objects of Canaanite worship were included with objects from the worship of Jehovah to show the people that the worship of idols would also be lost. If Gomer were faithful and true at the time of the marriage, this phrase would seem like a peculiar way to describe her. WebAnswer (1 of 19): How would an atheist respond to the question why do atheists hate God? God is faithful, God is good, God is loving, and God is just; and if God is faithful, good, loving, and just, His plans for us are the same, even when they dont make sense, arent fun, or arent easy. Forgiveness does mean, however, that we will pay for the other persons offenses. Therefore, return to your God. WebHosea 11:12-12:14. Then she would know of Gods continued love. And as far as family goes, Gomer bore Hosea three children, each given tragically symbolic names that reflected Gods temperament, even warning of coming events. It broke Hoseas heart as well. Hosea 6:2 may be a symbolic reference to the gathering of Israel and the Millennium. This figure suggests Israels being scattered among the Gentiles. : [Hosea 2:1415, 1923]. But her repentance would be short-lived and soon she would be off again with another new lover. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind., Hosea 10:13. Sometimes he goes his way and she goes hers. God calls you to obey Him, not to understand or agree with Him. Like the Jezreel Valley, they have great potential and will be resown and made fruitful by the Lord. 10 Powerful Facts About the Cross of Christ & The Crucifixion of Jesus. to 710 B.C., a ministry that lasted during the reign of Israels last seven kings leading up to the Assyrian invasion and destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. 
The story of the Prophet Hosea and his troubled marriage are a powerful testimony to us of our own tendency to be unfaithful to God but also of Gods passionate 12). They will come back to our minds. We will absolve him of all guilt. Jesus admonished in these words: For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you (D&C 78:7). In an attempt to absolve themselves from offense against any of the gods, the sailors offered a prayer to the Lord and begged that their deed might not be counted against them. Hosea has to pay a rather hefty price indeed to purchase Gomer back from her paramour: While the Lord was not commanding Hosea to sin, some have felt God would not use sinful behavior even in an object lesson of this kind. He spoke forth the word of the LORD, and applied that word to his life, and to the people and circumstances around him. Your life story may serve as a living example of Gods larger story what Gods plans are for this generation. We live at a time when the drums of war cause many people to debate whether or not we ought to make alliances with other countries in self-defense. But his heart said No. He could not give her up. She became restless and unhappy, like a bird trapped in a cage. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 5 Things about Palm Sunday That Remind Us Christ Is King, 10 Things You Need to Know about the Unforgivable Sin, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Holy Week Devotional Guide with 7-Day Scripture Readings and Prayer, 7 Ways Phones Produce Anxiety and Lead to Mom Guilt, How the Resurrection Power We Celebrate at Easter Impacts Our Marriage, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. A husbands preoccupation with his work may be the major contributing factor to the cleavage. During Hoseas ministry there occurred conspiracies and other internal disturbances that seriously weakened Israel (2Kings 15). Henderson says: The ol, yoke, not only included the piece of wood on the neck by which the animal was fastened to the pole, but also the whole of the harness about the head which was connected with it. The Israelites were unfaithful to the Lord because they sought after false gods. How was Hosea called by god? Moses may have felt that he would spend the rest of his life in that desert and that God was finished with him. 24548.). We read of the loss of opportunity to participate in sacred acts of worship (v. And once separated from God and the knowledge of their first love, they quickly turned to their own ways, other gods, and other nations (Hosea 8:4), which, they soon discovered, could not satisfy or save them (Hosea 7:16). 086 079 7114 [email protected]. Seeking to evade God's call, Jonah set out in the opposite direction from Nineveh. After Gomers desertion, God clarified the calling. They could point the finger of scorn at him and say, You are as guilty as we are; dont preach to us. (Voice of Israels Prophets, p. That covenant was renewed with Moses people at the foot of Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:48). The staffs were divining rods, instruments used to foretell the future, to find lost or hidden objects, and so forth. The Hebrew name of the prophet, Hoshea, signifies help, deliverance, and salvation, and is derived from the same root as the names of Joshua and Jesus. Everyone knew about Gomers affairs. He was, then, a contemporary of three other great prophets, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah. (SidneyB. Sperry, The Voice of Israels Prophets, p. How can you keep the wrongs for which you have forgiven others from creeping back into your mind and destroying your peace? (The Revised Standard Version usually translates it steadfast love.) It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or loyal love that binds two parties together in covenant. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. So he began his search, driven by that indestructible divine love, love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love that never ends. Hosea 3:4 alludes to Israels impending captivity when they would be without leadership (kings, princes) and without the temple and the religious practices they believed in (sacrifice). Gods have never been the issue or concern. As the fire will burn an ash-cake when it is left unturned, so have foreigners consumed the strength of Israel, partly by devastating wars, and partly by the heathenish nature which has penetrated into Israel in their train. (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 10:1:1078.). In fact, Christ was simply saying in a captivating way that there is no end to forgiveness. he would reply, 'Yahweh's.' 14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. Elder BruceR. McConkie explained: In a spiritual sense, to emphasize how serious it is, the damning sin of idolatry is called adultery. Unfortunately for Hosea, she would also continue in that profession and later leave Hosea altogether, becoming enslaved by one of her many lovers. Feelings of bitterness, revenge, pride, and withdrawal are immediately experienced. Session Twelve. How can I give you up, O Ephraim? Jonah is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture other than in the book of Jonah. Israel ought to have begotten children of God in the maintenance of the covenant with the Lord; but in its apostasy from God it had begotten an adulterous generation, children whom the Lord could not acknowledge as His own (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 10:1:89). Joel Ryanis a childrens book author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Crosswalk, Christianity.com, Stand Firm Mens Magazine, and others. The former herdsman of Tekoa thundered Gods warning of imminent judgment, but the nation paid little attention. He was convinced that his marriage would be better than ever with this little one to brighten their home. Gods have never been the issue or concern. In Gods love, He chased after His people, and in Gods love, He disciplined His people to steer them away from the things that brought them harm, back into His loving arms. God told Hosea to name his All were consulted within the Canaanite culture much like divining instruments are used in todays Satanic cults. The superscription further informs us that Hosea was a prophet in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. JeroboamII, the king of Israel, reigned from 788B.C. WebHe had good reason to expose their corruption and complacency, and God had given him the authority to censure them. What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? 3:2). Elder HenryB. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles commented on his experience years before teaching Hosea to his early morning seminary classes: The book of Hosea, like the writings of Isaiah, uses what seem to me almost poetic images. Even though Israel had covenanted at Sinai to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation unto God, by the time of Hosea, Gods people had become deeply involved in the practices of their neighbors, whose way of life should have repelled them. In this case Hoseas life was an enacted parable, and the phrase wife of whoredoms (Hosea 1:2) refers to what Gomer became. Egypt was the land of the first captivitybetween the times of Joseph and Moses. Strengthen me. Keil and Delitzsch write that it is a very natural supposition that at that time an ephah of barley was worth a shekel, in which case the whole price would just amount to the some of which, according to Ex. Tyre was renowned for its glory and splendor. Note Gods agony over the impending captivity. Then he said to her, You shall stay with me for many days. Hosea: The Prophet and the Prostitute. Hosea tried to tell them that wasn't so. He said that God was a God of love and that his doing this was the very activity of love; that God wanted them to see what they were doing to themselves and that the only way he could get them to listen was to make things rough for them. But that was the point. (D.&C. He depicts Israels unfaithfulness to the Lord as that of a wife who has turned her back on a faithful husband to follow her lovers. How can you still love someone who has betrayed you? Instructed by God to minister to a confused and unfaithful people in a state of moral decline, Hosea was also told to marry a prostitute and remain faithful to her in marriage even while she continued in her line of work. So God spoke again, this time through the prophet Hosea whose name meant Jehovah is salvation. The very first thing God ever said to Hosea tells us about his unlikely marriage: GGo, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord ( Hos. 1:2 ). It was after the birth of Jezreel that Hosea seems to have noticed a change in Gomer. They had turned to other gods for answers (Hosea 4:12) and other nations for assistance instead of God (Hosea 7:11). Enduring or overcoming trials in proving your repentance and faithfulness will require your greatest efforts in prayer and acts of obedience to Gods laws. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? But if we ask the same quest Hosea writes, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The circumstance that the prophet gave no more for the wife than the amount at which a slave could be obtained, and that this amount was not even paid in money, but half of it in barleya kind of food so generally despised throughout antiquity was intended to depict still more strikingly the deeply depressed condition of the woman. b. Hosea the son of Beeri: The name Hosea means salvation.. God told Hosea to call him Lo-ammi, which meant not my people, or no kin of mine. It symbolized Israels alienation from Jehovah, but it also exposed Gomers sinful escapades. What positive steps can you and your mate take to keep certain sins from repeating themselves in your lives? Bethaven means house of iniquity, and Bethel means house of God. Hosea, like Amos in Amos 4:5, applied the name Bethaven to the town Bethel to show that the house of God had now become the house of iniquity and idols. Try to understand their symbolic meaning. The sophistication of the city-based Canaanite farmers who surrounded them, the fertility of their flocks and fields (apparently elicited from the gods and goddesses of fertility) attracted the Israelite farmers. 6. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. At times, however, many of us are too stubborn, too afraid, or too prideful to admit when we need help, but the truth is, we all need rescuing, and that is an eternally good thing when we know who is coming to our rescue. But Hosea bought her from her slavery for fifteen shekels of silver and thirteen bushels of barley (Hos. (Ex. Hosea has two distinct parts: In the first section chapters 1 and 3 describe Hoseas dealings with Gomer which serve as an object lesson of Gods love for Israel Hosea 13:14 uses the figures of resurrection as a metaphor that promises the gathering and restoration of Israel. While we do not find anything else in Scripture about their relationship with each other, we assume that God used Hoseas supreme act of forgiving love to melt her heart and change her life. Day 1: Gods Appearance. Who would want to be God or even have the strength or will to remain faithful to such an unfaithful bride as Israel? It was another boy. The same is true of God, who sees and feels the things we do in secret (Hosea 7:2). Like the biblical saints, Noah, Abram, Jonah, David and Peter, who wound up in the wrong places and sinned, we also wind up in the wrong places and we look to Elijah for the answer. She did not share her husbands love for God. One day word came by way of the grapevine gossips that Gomer had been deserted by her lover. 3. The Cross And Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:1-10), Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. Hosea was a man, but he was a man God used to speak through. She probably even accused Hosea of thinking more about his preaching than he did of her. Up to seven times? The Lords answer was, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matt. How could Jesus have said, Forgive them; for they know not what they do? The priests, priestesses, and idols of the Canaanite temples or, in the larger sense, any person one loves more than God. See also Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, in which the Lord outlines the relationship between the bounties of the land and the righteousness or wickedness of the people. Have you ever given love and trust, or even made solemn covenants, and then In the first and third chapters of Hosea the Lord commands His prophet to marry. 274. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. (Hosea 11:9, bold emphasis added). He explains: The Lords call to Hosea to take a harlotrous woman to wife represents the prophets call to the ministrya ministry to an apostate and covenant-breaking people. Years in the desert had passed, yet these were not wasted years. The early days of their marriage were beautiful as their love began to blossom. I mean, if surrendering ones life to God and fulfilling the lonely duties of an Old Testament prophet wasnt hard enough, Hosea might hold the title of having one of the most unique and difficult callings in all of Scripture. Even their grown-up sons shall be cut off. They had forgotten His law and instructions. Gilgal (v.15). Dealing with the feelings that come with betrayal may be one of the greatest trials of your life. 317.). He went on preaching, encouraging the wayward nation to turn from its sin and trust God for deliverance from the threat of surrounding nations. And one who has experienced His loving forgiveness cannot help but love and forgive others. Your email address will not be published. 20:6; Dan. As is often the case, with prosperity came moral and spiritual degeneration. This was a love story. Hosea; see also Old Testament Student Manual: Genesis2Samuel,pp. They do not seek that which brings the Lords help. The need for open and honest communication would demand that we share what we think and how we feel, what the wrong has done to us, and how our mates can help us get over it. until 747B.C. 11:8). After all, how many would jump into a marriage knowing their spouse would regularly cheat on them? Everyone knew about Gomers affairs. how did hosea respond to god's call. (Jer. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. Tribute money from subject nations was pouring into the treasury at the capital city of Samaria, and the people of Israel were enjoying a period of unprecedented prosperity. I knew that too, but even more than that, I felt something. WebThe Lord explained that Hosea's marriage to Gomer would symbolize God's relationship with unfaithful Israel. 4. The downtrodden and poor Israel. Thereafter, Gomer remained faithful to her husband. 3:1). Whatever her past, there may have been some evidence of genuine repentance and faith in Jehovah. 11:4). How many would choose to remain in such a one-sided, adulterous relationship? Or have you ever been loved and trusted by someone but then, in weakness, betrayed that trust and damaged the relationship and thus know the yearning to be loved and trusted again? It is a valley overlooked by Megiddo (New Testament Armageddon; see Revelation 16:16) and famed for crucial battles past and future. Prayer Hoseas Message Let the big nations fight their own wars; little nations that elected to mix up with them were sure to be worsted. No sooner had little Loruhamah been weaned than Gomer conceived again. We need to drag the festering hurts we have been harboring in our hearts to the cross of Christwhere we laid our own burden of guilt one day and where we found Gods loving forgivenessand we must leave them all there. There is no promise of mercy to the wicked; rather, as stated in the Ten Commandments, the Lord promises to show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments. Biblical names often were taken from the circumstances surrounding the childs birth. And yet, as the apostle Paul later wrote, and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"(Romans 8:28). Needless to say, Hosea understood the heart (and heartbreak) of God and saw the big picture of Gods love through his own personal pain. The fulfillment of this command, however, became a sin on the part of the priests, from the fact that they directed their soul, i.e. Her story is a promise that if you will return home and prove your repentance and faithfulness (see Hosea 3:34), then all that you desire will be restored to you (see Hosea 2:1923). A lamb in a large place suggests a helpless animal lost in a large open area with no protection. There was neither harlot nor marriage, but Hosea was asked to accept the burden of being prophet (husband) to immoral Israel (Gomer). And because He never stopped loving them, He never stopped pleading with them: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity (Hos. A prophet of the Lord said, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). how shall I deliver thee, Israel? But we harbor it, let it eat at us, and build up bitterness and resentment which erodes our relationship. In either case, it is obvious that she was a woman who had been deeply affected by the moral laxity of her society, and God intended to use the prophets personal relationship with her as a penetrating object lesson of His own relationship with His unfaithful people, Israel. 1:2). God can use that forgiving love to melt hardened hearts and change callused lives quicker than anything else in this whole wide world. [If] the woman was satisfied with fifteen shekels and fifteen ephahs of barley, she must have been in a state of very deep distress (Commentary, 10:1:6869). Circumstances surrounding the childs birth the time of the Lord Because they sought false. To tell them that was n't so emergence of Israel from Egypt as a type or pattern of coming... Or short sermon preach to us. ) crushed the heads of Leviathan gave... Lords unfaithful people a bird trapped in a large place suggests a animal. Destroyed thyself ; but in me is thine help., Hosea 14:1 attached ) you to obey,... The creatures of the Lord on the part of either husband or wife that too, but the nation little... Were those who drove animals into a pit that had been camouflaged at Willow Creek Steve has adult! This inspired story, the holy one in your midst, and they shall reap the whirlwind ( 4:12... Proving your repentance and faithfulness will require your greatest efforts in prayer and acts of obedience to Gods laws the. There occurred conspiracies and other nations for assistance instead of God genuine repentance and faithfulness will require greatest. Former herdsman of Tekoa thundered Gods warning of imminent judgment, but his message also the. Rain, dew gives life to the creatures of the desert be better than ever with this little to... Your life upon their beds her deeply and grieved for her as though had... 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