Hosea 1:1~14:9
Hosea , Sarah Barry
ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
Passage: Hosea 1:1~2:1
Key verse: 1:2
INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA
Hosea was a prophet sent to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was commonly called 'Ephraim' after the dominant tribe. During the time of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, ten tribes of Israel had broken away and established a separate nation, whose capital was Samaria. Hosea prophesied for almost 40 years, during the reigns of seven different kings, in a very unstable and difficult time for the nation. Ephraim had fallen deep into idolatry since their first king, Jeroboam I, had set up two calf idols, and the nation was now facing God's judgment. This book consists of Hosea's prophetic statements in poetic form. Hosea was told to preach not only with his mouth, but to demonstrate God's faithful love with his life as well. He was told to marry a prostitute and love her and be faithful to her to the end, as a model of God's love for unfaithful Israel. The book of Hosea be an impressionistic painting of the gospel. Through Hosea's proclamations, we can see all the ins and outs of God's relationship with sinful and difficult people. Hosea shows how difficult it is to bear with sinful people until they are changed. But through God's faithfulness, the result is repentance, salvation and fruit-bearing.
ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
Prayer: Lord, help me guard my heart against spiritual adultery. Make me and my family a sign of your presence among people who have forgotten you.
One Word: Make my life the message
Hosea was a prophet sent to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was commonly called 'Ephraim' after the dominant tribe. During the time of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, ten tribes of Israel had broken away and established a separate nation, whose capital was Samaria. Hosea prophesied for almost 40 years, during the reigns of seven different kings, in a very unstable and difficult time for the nation. Ephraim had fallen deep into idolatry since their first king, Jeroboam I, had set up two calf idols, and the nation was now facing God's judgment. This book consists of Hosea's prophetic statements in poetic form. Hosea was told to preach not only with his mouth, but to demonstrate God's faithful love with his life as well. He was told to marry a prostitute and love her and be faithful to her to the end, as a model of God's love for unfaithful Israel. The book of Hosea be an impressionistic painting of the gospel. Through Hosea's proclamations, we can see all the ins and outs of God's relationship with sinful and difficult people. Hosea shows how difficult it is to bear with sinful people until they are changed. But through God's faithfulness, the result is repentance, salvation and fruit-bearing.
ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
1. A very personal message (1:1-5)
The word of the Lord came to Hosea in order to make his whole life a message for the unfaithful people of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). God told Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman as a sign of Israel's spiritual adultery in abandoning the Lord and giving themselves to idol worship. God warned of his coming judgment against the line of King Jehu, who had massacred the entire house of King Ahab at Jezreel.
2. Gomer's children (1:6-2:1)
The Lord told Hosea to name his children "Jezreel" and "not loved" as further signs of God's judgment. To discipline Israel, God would treat his people as if they were not his people. Yet there was also a message of hope. The Lord would reunite Israel and Judah and make them like the sand on the seashore. They would again be called "my people" and "my loved one." The Lord may not ask us to do what he told Hosea to do. But he does expect our message and our life to work together as a testimony in sinful times.
Prayer: Lord, help me guard my heart against spiritual adultery. Make me and my family a sign of your presence among people who have forgotten you.
One Word: Make my life the message
