The Prophet Hosea Overview: Israel's Idolatry, Immorality, Unfaithfulness And Jehovah's Response

Hosea was a prophet of Jehovah for 65 years. He was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel. Judah was the southern kingdom. 

Israel, as a unified nation, split into two parts after Solomon's son Rehoboam, became king. 

The capital of Israel was Samaria and they built their own temple so that they did not have to travel to Jerusalem to worship, as God commanded. 

Israel at that time had their own ideas about worship, that did not align with the revealed will of God. They worshiped Baal instead of Jehovah, and fell into idolatry and immorality. 

It is worth noting that out of all Israel's kings in the historical narratives (Kings and  Chronicles) that there was not one good king. The Bible records that all the northern kings were evil ones.

Politically, Israel was stable with no pressing enemies and the economy was fairly prosperous. 

Historically, such conditions lead a people to spiritual complacency and living independently of God, as the case is in our culture. 

Jehovah always takes aim at our hearts. Israel was offering appropriate sacrifices and the people attended worship services, but their hearts were far from the One True God of heaven. 

Thus, they violated the second commandment to worship Jehovah in the way that He demands. 

Hosea chapters 1 to 3 are personal, while chapters 4-14 have a national orientation. 

Hosea was a prophet for Jehovah. 

Hosea 1:1  The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 

Here is the list of the kings of Israel during Hosea's ministry. In addition, the various kings of Judah during that same timeframe are listed. 

The name Hosea, means deliverer or salvation. 

Hosea told to marry an adulterous woman. 

Hosea 1:2-11  The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. 3)  So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. 4)  And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5)  And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. 6)  And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. 7)  But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. 8)  Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 9)  Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. 10)  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. 11)  Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. 

Hosea is given a hard task to do from Jehovah. He was to take a harlot for his wife. Since Hosea was a prophet, he knew that this meant he was unclean under the law of Moses. 

God's purpose was to use this as an object lesson concerning the sins of Israel. Jehovah redeemed Israel for His own peculiar people, and they were in a marriage covenant relationship. 

Israel was the wife of Jehovah, but they committed adultery by their idolatry. 

Hosea took a woman named Gomer for his wife. Each of the children she gave birth to symbolized some aspect of God's judgment upon the nation.

Her son Jezreel was going to end the ten northern tribes kingdom. 

Her daughter Loruhamah symbolized that Jehovah would no longer extend mercy to Israel and He would cast them out of His sight.

Her son Loammi symbolized that Israel, the 10 northern tribes, were no longer God's people. He rejected them because they repeatedly rejected Him. 

Hosea 2 explains the symbols of chapter 1. Gomer is a picture of an adulterous, unfaithful wife, just as Israel was unfaithful to Jehovah.

Gomer was sold into slavery, which is a picture of God's judgment and captivity in Assyria that the northern kingdom would experience. 

Jehovah gave promises and future hope after their judgment. 

Hosea 2:14-17  Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 15)  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. 16)  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. 17)  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 

This is always the way that things happen with God's prophets. God has a message inviting them to repentance and restoration. 

In this case, Israel would endure 70 years captivity in Assyria, but then Jehovah would make a way for them to return to the promised land. 

Hosea 3:1-5  Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2)  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3)  And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 4)  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5)  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. 

This text looks forward to the future restoration of Israel. Hosea bought back or redeemed his unfaithful wife. This is a picture of God redeeming His people through the work of Jesus Christ, their Messiah. 

Hosea 4:1  Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 

This verse is an outline for the remainder of Hosea. Jehovah has a controversy with the people because there is nor truth, no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.

How this mirrors our modern depraved culture! 

The truth of God's word is no longer faithfully and clearly proclaimed. Those who profess to be Christians lack a general understanding of the Bible. Ignorance and darkness fills the pulpits of many churches. 

Because absolute truth from God is no longer permeating the land, sin spreads like wildfire, consuming and has ruined countless lives in the process. 

Instead of the love and compassion of God acting as a holy restraint upon society, there is no mercy. 

People become apoplectic with rage if they cannot have the right to kill unborn babies.

God's truth calls infanticide murder and His commandments forbid it.  

People demand the right to promote sexual perversion and to target young children in the process. God's truth defines sexual purity and sexual perversion. 

Do not be deceived. What people sow is what they will reap. God will hold all sinners to account for their sins, and He will judge them with eternal damnation. 

Hosea 5:15  I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. 

God allows each sinner to harvest the consequences of their sins. They will endure guilt, shame and ruined lives because that is the only fruit sin can produce. 

Hosea makes this clear in this text. Jehovah will hide His face from their transgressions and they will suffer the misery of sin. 

Yet, God is also the loving father of the prodigal son. He allowed his son to go his way and the young man wasted all his inheritance living in sin. He ended up feeding pigs and was ready to eat the husks that the pigs were fed.

Luke 15:18-24  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19)  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. :20)  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21)  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22)  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23)  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 

Then he came to his senses and returned home, ready to be a servant to his father, and feeling unworthy to be called his son.

The father's reception of his wayward son, displays the heart of the heavenly Father toward repentant sinners. He is ready to receive us when we repent and return to Him. 

The Bible tells us that the way of transgressors is hard, full of heartache, sorrow and many regrets. 

Knowledge of God and the things of God, has sharply diminished among professing Christians. Check out Pew Research and Barna Research Group polls. 

Most professing Christians in America do not believe the gospel!

The point is, that when the truth of God no longer permeates the land, spiritual ignorance takes over the hearts and minds of people. God's love and mercy is replaced by a vicious, self centered hedonism.

Any nation that remains on this track is doomed to self destruction. 

Israel was an idolatrous, immoral people and the leadership was evil. God gave them up to their own ways in order to teach them a hard lesson. Obeying God is always the path to blessing. 

Hosea's unfaithful wife is a heartbreaking picture of Israel's unfaithfulness to Jehovah. Hosea was a faithful husband but Gomer was unfaithful. 

What do we learn from Hosea?

Compromised worship leads to being unfaithful to God. 

Inescapable judgment is always the consequence of idolatry. 

Restorative repentance and worship is always God's posture toward us. 

Idolatry in modern times is not like ancient times. An idol is anything or anyone who commands a higher priority than what we have for Jehovah God. 

May the Lord bless His word as it goes out, and may we take heed to what Hosea teaches us. 

Bob