The Cheated Prophet

The Cheated Prophet

(Hosea)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

May 19^th, 2024

Something to think about:

As we continue our series on the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, we come to the longest of the 12 minor prophets (14 chapters):  Hosea.  Hosea is a prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel, more than likely from Samaria, who is called by GOD to prophesy against the northern kingdom for their continued idolatry and unfaithfulness to Him.  In the process of calling Hosea to prophesy, GOD also tells him to go and marry a woman who has been sexually promiscuous.  It must be noted here that this seems counter to the character of GOD, and at first glance it definitely is.  However, as we consider the writings of Hosea, we see that Hosea is writing this part of the narrative in the past tense.  Many scholars deduce from this that having married Gomer and gone through the difficulties of her unfaithfulness to him throughout his years married to her, he is, in hindsight, declaring GOD’s hand and guidance throughout his marriage to her. 

When Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, she became pregnant three times (to two sons and a daughter), and Hosea named them:  Jezreel (“God plants/sows”), Lo-ruhamah (“Not loved”), and Lo-ammi (“Not my people”).  We read in chapter 1 of Hosea that Gomer “bore him a son,” whereas the next two births indicate that Gomer became pregnant and “bore a daughter,” “bore a son,” thus suggesting that they were born of adulterous affairs.  This whole narrative was an expression of GOD’s heart toward Israel (His beloved), and their continued unfaithfulness to Him as their GOD.  The marriage union between Hosea and Gomer is intended to reflect the Spiritual marriage between GOD and His people Israel.  Like Gomer, they have prostituted themselves to other so-called gods and have left the GOD who loves them and has provided for them since the beginning.  But what is GOD to do with an adulterous bride? 

Well, first there will be judgment and punishment for their unfaithfulness, but overtime, GOD’s love for them will ultimately override their unfaithfulness as He woos them back with an unfailing love for them.  Consider these verses from the first chapter of Hosea:

Hosea 1:10-11 (NLT),  ^10 *“Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count!  Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’  ¹¹ Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together.  They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together.  What a day that will be—the day of Jezreel^*—when God will again plant his people in his land.

Key Point:  “GOD loves us even in our rebellion and works to draw us unto Himself.”

What are the issues that are causing GOD’s people to be at odds with Him, and what is GOD’s ultimate goal for their well-being?  Let’s take a look:

•  .

Hosea 2:2-4

Hosea 4:1-19

Hosea 5:3-7

Hosea 9:1-4

Hosea 8:11-14

Hosea 13:4-6

•  of the  of GOD.

Hosea 2:8

Hosea 4:1, 6

Hosea 5:3-7

Hosea 6:6

Hosea 11:1-4

• GOD’s  .

Hosea 2:16-23

Hosea 11:1-11

Hosea 14:1-9

Something to take home:

Having continually broken the covenant agreement with GOD, GOD’s people needed a Savior, a Messiah, to come and make things right.  So, at just the right time in human history, GOD stepped out of eternity and into time; He became a man (Jesus), and fulfilled the covenant agreement with GOD perfectly like no one else ever could.  Once He did this, Jesus issued a new covenant agreement through His body and blood at the Last Supper indicating the death that He would die for the sins of the world.  This is how much GOD loved us:  “He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but receive eternal life.”  It is by faith in Christ that we become one with GOD now.  It is by faith that we are saved.

Key Point:  “GOD loves us even in our rebellion and works to draw us unto Himself.”

^* 1:10 Verses 1:10–11 are numbered 2:1–2 in Hebrew text.

^* 1:11 Jezreel means “God plants.”