Hosea Summary

Hosea Summary


Vital Statistics

Purpose:
To illustrate God’s love for His sinful people.

Author:
Hosea son of Beeri (“Hosea means salvation)

To Whom Written:
Israel (the northern kingdom) and God’s people everywhere.

Date Written:
Approximately 715 B.C. recording events from about 753-715 B.C.

Setting:
Hosea begins his ministry during the end of the prosperous but morally declining reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (the upper classes were doing well, but they were oppressing the poor). He prophesied until shortly after the fall of Samaria in 723 B.C.

Key Verse:
3:1 - Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover [fn] and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans."

Key People:
Hosea, Gomer, their children

Key Places:
The northern kingdom(Israel), Samaria, Ephraim

Special Features:
Hosea employs many images from daily life – God is depicted as husband, father, lion, leopard, bear, dew, rain, moth, and others. Israel is pictured as wife, sick person, vine, grapes, early fig, olive tree, woman in childbirth, oven, morning mist, chaff, and smoke, to name a few

Megathemes:
Theme
Explanation
Importance
The nation’s sin
Just as Hosea’s wife, Gomer was unfaithful to him, so was the nation of Israel had been unfaithful to God. Israel’s idolatry was like adultery. They sought illicit relationships with Assyria and Egypt in pursuit of military might, and they mixed Baal worship with the worship of God
Like Gomer, we can chase after other loves - love of power, pleasure, money, or recognition. The temptation in this world can be very seductive. Are we loyal to God, remaining completely faithful, or have other loves Taken His rightful place?
God’s Judgment
Hosea solemnly warned Judah against following Israel’s example. Because Judah broke the covenant, turned away from God, and forgot her Maker, she experienced a devastating invasion and exile. Sin has terrible consequences
Disaster surely follows ingratitude toward God and rebellion. The Lord is our only true refuge> If we harden our hearts against him, there is no safety or security anywhere else. We cannot escape God’s judgment.
God’s Love
Just as Hosea went after his unfaithful wife to bring her back, so the lord pursues us with his love. His love is tender, loyal, unchanging, and undying. No matter what, God still loves us.
Have you forgotten God and become disloyal to Him? Don’t let prosperity diminish your love for Him or let success blind you to your need for His love.
Restoration
Although God will discipline His people for sin, He encourages and restores those who have repented. True repentance opens the way to a new beginning. God forgives and restores
There is still hope for those who turn back to God. No loyalty, achievement, or honor can be compared to loving Him. Turn to the Lord while the offer is still good. No matter how far you have strayed. God is willing to bring you back.

The Blueprint:

Hosea’s Wayward Wife (1:1 – 3:5)
Hosea was commanded by God to marry a woman who was unfaithful in marriage and would cause him many heartaches. Just as Gomer lost interest in Hosea and ran after other lovers, we too can easily lose appreciation for our special relationship with God and pursue dreams and goals that do not include Him. When we compromise our Christian lifestyles and adopt the ways of the world, we are being unfaithful.

God’s Wayward People (4:1 – 14:9))

Israel’s sinfulness
Israel’s punishment
God’s love for Israel

God wanted the people in the northern kingdom to turn from their sin and return to worshiping Him alone, but they persisted in their wickedness. Throughout the book Israel is described as ignorant of God, with no desire to please Him. Israel did not understand God at all, just as Gomer did not understand Hosea. Like a loving husband or patient father, God wants people to know Him and turn to Him daily.



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