|
Hosea as a prophet was unique for two reasons. First, he was
a prophet from the north ministering to the Northern Kingdom
– the ten tribes of Israel. Second, Hosea was unique because
his personal life, especially his marital life, was
intimately linked to his message. Hosea was a walking and
living sermon on the love and grace of God for an unfaithful
and rebellious people.
The command of god & the calling of Hosea (1:1-2)
Hosea ministered under the reign of four Judean kings:
Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26), Jotham (2 Chronicles 27), Ahaz (2
Chronicles 28), and Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29-31). Hosea’s
ministry was concentrated on the Northern Kingdom when
Jeroboam II was king of Israel. Jeroboam reigned for 41
years
Hosea was called by God to be prophet at a time
when the nation of Israel was on the decline. His ministry
will be difficult, as would be his personal life. God told
Hosea to marry “a wife of whoredoms.”
It was unmistakably clear that the love of Hosea for Gomer
is a reminder to us of the treachery of sin, and the
longsuffering of God in dealing with us.
Application:
Sometimes, God calls us to do hard things and difficult
situations so that the mettle our faith may be tested, so
that the strength of our devotion for our Saviour may be
proved.
the evidence of sin (1:3-9)
Hosea took Gomer to be his wife, and she gave birth to 2
boys and a girl in between. The names of all three children
were given by God.
A. Jezreel – God Scatters
“Jezreel” means “God sows.” Jezreel was the name of a valley
between the mountains of Galilee and Samaria. It was the
name of a town near the southern edge of the valley.
Historically, Jezreel was the place of several battles
between Israel and her enemies (Judges 6; 2 Kings 9).
In 2 Kings 9, God used Jehu to destroy the house of
wicked King Ahab. Jehu killed the 70 sons of Ahab and the
prophets of Baal, and he eliminated the worship of Baal in
Israel (2 Kings 10). But Jehu did not depart from the
worship of the golden calf that was set up in Bethel and in
Dan (2 Kings 10:29).
God named Hosea’s first son “Jezreel” as a reminder of God’s
judgment against the wickedness of Jehu and His judgment
against Israel.
Application:
God does not condone sin. Man cannot spurn the love of God
and not expect His judgment.
B. Loruhamah – Not Pitied
Loruhamah and Loammi were not the children of Hosea. They
were the result of Jezreel’s adulterous relationships with
other man or men.
“Ruhamah” comes from the root word meaning “mercy,”
“compassion,” “love.” In Psalm 103:13, the word is
translated “pity.” “Lo” is a negative prefix. “Loruhamah”
means “not loved,” “not pitied.”
Every time, the name is used, the people would be
reminded of their spiritual state. They might be doing well
in all aspects of their lives, but they did not have God’s
mercy.
Application:
To reject God’s mercy is to sin against God’s love.
C. Loammi – Not My People
“Loammi” means “not my people.” This is a reflection of the
character and the conduct of the people of Israel. They
worshipped the pagan gods. They did everything that the
pagans did, and they did not do anything God told them to
do. Thus, God justly says to them – “Ye are not my people,
and I will not be your God” (Hosea 1:9)
This is not a revocation of God’s covenant with the
children of Israel; rather it is pronouncement of God’s
judgment upon them.
Application:
God’s people must take on God’s nature. Christians are to be
“the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men” (Matthew 5:13).
the covenant of hope (1:10-2:1)
The darkness of sin has been shattered by the bright light
of our Saviour. The hopelessness of rebellion is dispelled
by the certainty of the covenant. The Assyrians came down
upon Israel and destroyed Samaria in 722 BC. The Babylonians
overran Jerusalem in 586 BC. The Jews would be taken into
exile. They would return some 70 years later to Jerusalem
just as God had promised. In Hosea 1:10 to 2:1, there are
five specific blessings.
·
Blessing of increase (1:10a)
·
Promise of spiritual revival (1:10b)
·
Promise of reunion of Israel (1:11a)
·
Promise of the Messiah (1:11b)
·
Promise of full restoration of the covenant relationship
(2:1)
The reference to the children of Israel being as the sand of
the sea was the promise that God made to Abraham (Genesis
22:17-18). Despite the sin of God’s people, God remains
faithful to His covenant.
Application:
By God’s grace, we who are “not His people” are now “the
sons of the living God.” This is the hope for sinners. By
the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, you can be “born
again” when you return to God. And it will not be because
you have done any good, but it will be solely because God
loves you.
|
