Hosea 1:1-9

Hosea, the first of what we call the “Minor Prophets,” contains a powerful message to those who consider themselves to be the people of God.  It is written primarily to the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel; so the issue of spiritual harlotry concerns Israel.  But the application for the Church in this age of lukewarm religion is no less powerful.  Let us give heed to its message.

·        1:1: Hosea means salvation.  It is similar to the name Joshua (Jesus) which means the LORD saves.  It is interesting that Moses’ assistant was named Hosea but Moses called him Joshua (Num. 13:16).  And interesting that along with this prophet, the last king of the NK of Israel had that name.  The king could not deliver (save) his people; it was in his reign that the Assyrians dispersed the ten tribes.  In the case of the prophet, his message is one of salvation; but it is a message that is, for the most part, ignored or rejected.

·        1:1: Hosea prophesied in the 41 year reign of Jeroboam II, the great grandson of Jehu whose house recorded the longest dynasty (102 years) in the 230 year history of the NK.  The reign of Jeroboam was prosperous.  But the end of the dynasty was near according to God’s word to Jehu, that his house would continue to the fourth generation.  Six months after Jeroboam died his son was assassinated.  You can imagine that not many people listened to Hosea’s predictions of judgment given the seeming stability of the times.  The four kings of Judah mentioned in this verse would have provided a lesson for the people of the NK if they would have paid attention.  The prosperity of Uzziah’s reign gave way to difficult days as Judah fell into idolatry under Jotham and Ahaz before seeing God’s miraculous salvation in the days of Hezekiah when idolatry was effectively removed from the land.

·        1:1-2a: Hosea was a true prophet because the word of the LORD came to him and the LORD began to speak by Hosea.  True prophets simply and only speak what God has given them to say.  It is My words in your mouth (Jer. 1:9).  The issue for the prophet is not how many people like his ministry; the issue is whether or not he is faithful to the word of the LORD. 

o   Each prophet has personal characteristics.  Hosea is master of the metaphor and simile.  Time and again he will say that God or the people are like something.  Pay attention to these as they speak volumes.

o   But the most amazing illustration is Hosea’s family (wife and three children) who are a picture of the relationship of God and Israel.  Hos. 1-3 is built on this and we can say that there are no other pictures of God’s love this grand in all the Bible, save for the cross of Christ.  God was a Husband to Israel.  But Israel departed from Him and sought other lovers.  This spiritual harlotry is the essence of Israel’s sin.  You might think this would cause God to abandon His wife completely.  But if you think that way, then you don’t know the love of the Lord!