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NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)

New Living Translation (NLT)

12 The people of Israel feed on the wind; while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt. 2 Now the LORD is bringing charges against Judah. and pay him back for all he has done. 3 Even in the womb, he even fought with God. 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. and God spoke to him— 5 the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, the LORD is his name! 6 So now, come back to your God. and always depend on him. 7 But no, the people are like crafty merchants they love to cheat. 8 Israel boasts, “I am rich! My record is spotless!” 9 “But I am the LORD your God, as you do each year at the Festival of Shelters. 10 I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.” 11 But the people of Gilead are worthless along the edges of a plowed field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep. 13 Then by a prophet they were protected. 14 But the people of Israel in payment for their sins.

Introduction to Hosea

Background of Hosea

What Is the Book of Hosea About?

Time: 4 Minutes

The book of Hosea captivates most people who open it. Although it only includes 14 chapters, Hosea is full of riveting content. You may be astonished when you read what God told the prophet Hosea to do—go marry a prostitute.

Many people, upon finding such a dramatic account, fail to press through their surprise to understand the substance of what this book illustrates. However, God intends for this book to lead us both to ponder his unimaginable kindness, and to realize the ugliness of our sin.

The man Hosea prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel, during the reign of an awful king, at the height of their rebellion against God. Israel had forsaken their God. They thanked foreign gods for their nation’s prosperity. In Hosea’s words, Israel possessed a “spirit of whoredom” (Hosea 4:12; 5:4).

Just as a wife only has one husband, bound to her by a covenant, and is devoted to him above any other relationship, so we have one God, who has made promises to us in his Word, and to him belongs a devotion that outmatches any other relationship. Our souls, our service, and our commitment belongs to the Lord in a way that it belongs to no one else.

But in Hosea’s words, Israel “exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful… They consult a wooden idol… A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God” (Hosea 4:7, 12 NIV).

In response to his people’s unfaithfulness, God communicates two seemingly polar responses. On the one hand, he promises judgment and shame for such outrageously scandalous behavior (Hosea 2:1-13).

God demonstrated to Israel the heinousness of their sin by equating it with adultery. Cheating in a relationship is reason to leave the relationship. You’ve probably heard countless songs on the radio about one lover leaving another for their unfaithfulness—as they should, we think. Adultery makes us sick, heartbroken, and angry. We understand this to be the worst kind of relational hurt.

On the other hand, God also tenderly communicates his intention to pursue his people, lead them away from their immorality, and heal their spirit so that they can love him back (Hosea 14:4).

God enhanced the impact of his message by telling the prophet Hosea to pursue an adulterous woman, who forsakes Hosea again and again, and uses Hosea’s gifts to woo other lovers. God wanted Israel to see his own love for them illustrated in Hosea’s life. What a wild charge for Hosea!

God keeps pursuing his people and does not give up on the relationship. He says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14 ESV).

Have you ever heard of a guy whose wife cheated on him and, instead of reacting in anger, tries to persuade her of his love and affection for her to win her back?

Hosea is that guy, because he was called to be a living picture of God’s love for his people (Hosea 3:1-5). Hosea reveals to us the faithfulness of God. When God’s people have taken off the wedding ring, God keeps his on and keeps his vows.

Hosea’s life is an Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate evidence of God’s pursuing, self-sacrificing love displayed through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

Hosea’s life is an Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate evidence of God’s pursuing, self-sacrificing love displayed through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. For Hosea to redeem his wife, and faithfully pursue her, he had to pay a price (Hosea 3:2). To redeem his wayward people, the Lord Jesus paid the cost of all her spiritual fornication by his own death and suffering.

God made a way for us to be faithful to him, by atoning for our sins, breaking the power of our wayward heart, and offering to put his own Spirit within us. Jesus Christ offers to buy us back, out of our spiritual prostitution and into a loving union with God.

Have you ever felt like you’ve messed up too much for God to ever accept you? The book of Hosea shows us that God’s love outmatches your worst mistakes, your ugliest sins.

Have you ever believed the lie that God isn’t good? Hosea shows us that God is unfathomably kind to those who deserve it least.

Have you ever wondered what God is like at heart? Hosea exposes to us God’s own emotions—as we hear him express his anger, compassion, and tender affection—so that you might know him better (Hosea 11).

Open Hosea and consider your own devotion to God. Does it outmatch any other commitment in your life? Have you confessed your waywardness and asked for him to receive you back?

What Is the Background of Hosea?

Time: 15 Minutes

Background of Hosea

1

Author and Date

Hosea prophesied during the latter half of the eighth century BC (c. 753–722 BC). This period was an extremely difficult time in Israel’s history, just before the northern kingdom went into exile.

2

Audience and Purpose

Hosea’s primary audience was Ephraim (another name for the northern kingdom, Israel), which is mentioned 35 times in the book. Hosea wanted to see Israel turn back to God.

3

Background and Overview

Israel is the Lord’s bride, but Israel has instead joined itself to Baal, the false god worshiped in Syria-Palestine. Worshiping Baal violates the first of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3). It is also a betrayal of God’s intimate union with his people. Therefore Hosea describes it as spiritual adultery, an offense against the marriage between the Lord and Israel. He compares Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to the ingratitude of a wayward wife. Such unfaithfulness justifies the Lord’s coming judgment. But punishment is not ultimately what the Lord wants for his people. He desires that they leave their sin. He wants them to return to the One who first loved them and who can provide what is best for them.

4

Key Themes

1. Hosea frequently refers to the Pentateuch, the foundation of Israel’s relationship to God (e.g., Hosea 1:10; 6:7; 7:13; 9:6–10; 11:1–4; 12:2–5, 9–10, 12–13; 13:4–6).

2. Hosea stresses divine sovereignty. God speaks in the first person, “I,” almost a hundred times in the book.

3. Hosea’s personal life illustrates the Lord’s compassion (ch. 1–3).

4. Isolation/exile, which is coming upon Israel, is a way to restoration (Hosea 1:6–7; 2:14–23; 5:6–6:3; 11:8–11; 12:9).

5

Outline

Chapters 1–3 use Hosea’s own marriage as a parable for the relationship between God and Israel. The dominant image is of Israel as an unfaithful wife. Chapters 4–14 detail the comparison, with its series of accusations, warnings, appeals, and motivations for God’s people to return.

I. Biographical: Hosea’s Family (Hosea 1:1–3:5)
II. Accusations, Warnings, and Promises for Israel (Hosea 4:1–14:9)

6

The Near East at the Time of Hosea

Background of Hosea

The Global Message of Hosea

1

Hosea in Redemptive History

The book of Hosea depicts God’s relationship with his people through a metaphor that occurs throughout the Bible, though nowhere as strongly and pervasively as in Hosea: the metaphor of marriage. The Lord has yoked himself to Israel in the most intimate way, likened to the most profound of human relationships. Tragically, however, Israel has proven faithless—in the Lord’s stark terms, they have “played the whore” (Hosea 2:5). God’s people have committed spiritual adultery, going after other gods and forsaking their sacred relationship with the Lord.

Embedded within the book of Hosea, then, is a powerful and ever-relevant reminder for God’s people around the world and down through time. God has bound himself to his people in the most personal, self-giving way possible. He is theirs; they are his. He and they belong to one another. They have committed themselves to one another. It is nothing less than adultery when members of God’s church forsake him to flirt with the idols of this world, whatever form those idols may take in various parts of the world.

It is nothing less than adultery when members of God’s church forsake him to flirt with the idols of this world, whatever form those idols may take in various parts of the world.

Hosea’s prophecy comes in the eighth century BC, as Assyria is threatening to invade Israel and exile God’s people out of the Promised Land. After rescuing his people from Egyptian bondage and bringing them into this land (Exodus—Joshua), God had granted Israel’s wish for a human king to rule over them (1 Samuel), yet Israel’s kings have continually proved faithless (1 Samuel—2 Chronicles). God is therefore about to bring Assyria to conquer and exile Israel.

For the sake of David and the covenant made with him, however (2 Samuel 7), God will restore the kingship one day, and thus restore the people (see Hosea 3:5). This restoration ultimately comes in Jesus, the true and final Son of David (Matthew 21:9; Revelation 22:16), who restores the kingdom (Mark 1:15) and will one day cause every knee all over the world to bow to him (Philippians 2:9–11; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28).

2

Universal Themes in Hosea

The Horror of Faithlessness to God

The importance of remaining steadfastly loyal to the Lord is not a regional concern; all God’s people in all parts of the world are constantly tempted to compromise or even abandon faithfulness to God. The specific forms of temptation vary—what tempts a French believer living in downtown Paris will differ from what entices a Chilean believer living in the rural Andes mountains. Wherever we live, however, the core battle remains: will we be faithful to God, or will we commit spiritual adultery, trusting in the gods of the age in our particular corner of the world?

God’s Deep Compassion for His People

Despite his people’s utter faithlessness over many generations, God cannot forsake them once and for all. “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? . . . My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender” (Hosea 11:8). God speaks to his wayward people in terms of deep affection. He has bound himself to them, and while he must discipline them, even the pain of discipline will serve to restore them (Hosea 1:6–7; 2:14–23; 3:1–5; 11:8–11; 14:4–5). Believers today can be confident that as they trust him wholeheartedly, they cannot finally be separated from the Lord’s love for them, even amid suffering, persecution, sickness, and economic hardship.

Divine sovereignty and Rule

Almost one hundred times throughout Hosea, God speaks in the first person: “I . . .” It is the Lord who will judge his people; it is the Lord who will bring punishments on his people; and yet it is the Lord who will have mercy on his people. The affairs of his covenant people, and the affairs of the nations of the world, are in God’s hand. This is great encouragement for believers around the world today.

3

The Global Message of Hosea for Today

The book of Hosea is rich in relevance for the church today. Because Hosea describes God’s relationship with his people in terms of marriage, we learn of the significance God attaches both to the institution of marriage as well as to the church’s relationship to God.

Human Marriage

The divine institution of marriage (see Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3–6) is foundational to the flourishing of human society. Around the world today, however, various cultural pressures threaten to weaken this institution. Polygamy, homosexuality, adultery, fatherlessness, and gender confusion are rampant in different parts of the world. Through the prophecy of Hosea believers are strengthened as we see the significance of the covenant bond formed when one man and one woman become one flesh. We also see that when a spouse is unfaithful, God can restore the marriage—for God, supremely in Christ, has restored us to himself despite our faithlessness. He refuses to divorce his people.

Divine Marriage

Hosea sobers us with the realization that the human marriage relationship is instituted by God to portray an even more profound relationship: that of God to his people. Wherever human beings call on God’s name through Jesus Christ, regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, God enters into a covenant relationship with them. God pledges never to leave or forsake his people in this relationship. They will be his people, and he will be their God (Jeremiah 24:7; 31:33; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 8:8). Ultimately, God secures this relationship through sending his own Son to redeem a people for himself. The worldwide church is therefore the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:32; Revelation 21:9).

12:1 alliance with Assyria: In order to save his land, Hoshea became a vassal of King Shalmaneser of Assyria (2 Kgs 17:3). Hoshea soon rebelled against Shalmaneser by withholding tribute and turned to King So of Egypt for support (2 Kgs 17:4). • east wind: See study note on Job 38:24-27.

12:3 Jacob struggled with his brother (literally he supplanted his brother): This verb (Hebrew ‘aqab) forms the root of Jacob’s name. Even before he was born, Jacob acted out the meaning of his name by supplanting his brother Esau (Gen 25:26). • As an adult, Jacob even fought with God (see Gen 32:22-30) and was renamed “Israel,” meaning “God fights.”

12:4 at Bethel he met God: See Gen 28:11-22.

12:6 The Lord admonished Israel to live no longer as Jacob did, but to return to God and act with love and justice.

12:7-12:8 During the reign of Jeroboam II (793–753 bc), Israelite merchants became fabulously wealthy, often by using deceitful business practices like dishonest scales (see Amos 8:5-6). • The Hebrew term translated merchants is kena‘an (“Canaan”). Canaanite traders were notorious in the ancient world for their crafty dealings. The Israelites had imitated their pagan neighbors not only in religion but also in commerce.

12:9 I will make you live in tents again: God’s judgment on the wealthy Israelite merchants was for them to return to the humble dwellings of the Exodus. There is also a word of hope here: God’s plan of salvation for Israel would begin anew in the wilderness (see 2:14-15).

12:11 Gilead and Gilgal were Israelite cities in which Baal was worshiped instead of the Lord (see 4:15; 6:8; 9:15).

12:13 by a prophet: Moses’ faithful obedience to God contrasts with Israel’s disobedience.

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