HOSEA: Prophet of Hesed (ds,x,)

The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." (Hos 3:1 NIV)

2ai. His Name Hosea means “salvation” As God’s messenger, Hosea offers the possibility of salvation if only the nation will turn from idolatry back to God.

3b. The Date of Hosea According to the superscription in 1:1, He ministered during the reigns of the following kings of Judah: Uzziah (767-739 BC) Jotham (739-731 BC) Ahaz (731-715 BC) Hezekiah (715-686 BC) When Hosea began his ministry, Jeroboam II (782-753 BC) was still reigning in Israel. His ministry likely ended before the fall of Samaria Hosea was a younger contemporary of Amos, another prophet to the Northern Kingdom.

3b. The Date of Hosea Hosea was also a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Hosea’s long career continued after the time of Jeroboam II and spanned the reign of the last six kings of Israel from Zechariah (753-752 BC) to Hoshea (732-722 BC). Hosea evidently compiled this book during the early years of Hezekiah. His ministry stretched from about 755 BC to about 710 BC. Thus the book of Hosea represent approximately 40 years of prophetic ministry.

4. LITERARY STYLE Most of the book is written in poetry. However, the literary style is not uniform throughout. Chapters 1-3 are a special literary style between prose and poetry, a style characteristic of the prophets. 4c. Chapters 4-14 are the most “poetic” of all prophetic writings.

4biii. Literary pattern of Chapters 1-3 A (1:2-9) Hosea’s marriage and birth of children B (1:10-2:1) Renewed covenant, Judgment cancelled (Children’s names changed) C (2:2-4) Yahweh’s judgment on Israel using the imagery of harlotry D (2:5-8) Indictment and judgment because Israel does not know the Lord C’ (2:9-13) Yahweh’s judgment on Israel, using the terms of the Baal fertility cult. B’ (2:14-23) Renewed covenant, Judgment cancelled A’ (3:1-5) Reunion of Hosea and his adulterous wife The crux of the indictment is Israel’s failure to know the Lord (2:8)

NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 755-710 BC FOCUS ADULTEROUS WIFE AND FAITHFUL HUSBAND ADULTEROUS ISRAEL AND FAITHFUL LORD REFERENCE 1:1 2:2 3:1 4:1 6:4 9:1 11:1 DIVISION PRO-PHETIC MARR-IAGE APPLICA-TION OF GOMER TO ISRAEL RESTOR-ATION OF GOMER SPIRIT-UAL ADULT-ERY OF ISRAEL REFUSAL OF ISRAEL TO REPENT JUDG-MENT OF ISRAEL BY GOD RESTOR-ATION OF ISRAEL TO GOD TOPIC MARRIAGE OF HOSEA MESSAGE OF HOSEA PERSONAL NATIONAL LOCATION NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL TIME 755-710 BC

Rhetorical Pattern Based on: Jerry Hwang, Hosea & Joel, OT III Studies slides, Singapore Bible College, 2015.

5aiii. The application of the adultery of Gomer (2:2-23) Israel’s sin of spiritual adultery (2:2-5) Judgment of God (2:6-13) Restoration of Israel (2:14-23)

5b. Chapter 4 to 14 is an amplification of the illustration of Gomer to Israel. The spiritual adultery of Israel (4:1-6:3) The judgment on Israel (5:1-14) The eventual restoration of Israel (5:15-6:3) The degradation of Gomer represents the unrepentance of Israel (6:4-8). Elaboration on the judgment of Israel (9-10) Hosea’s redemption of Gomer pictures the restoration of Israel (11-14).

6. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK Key Repetitive Words in Ch 1-6: Love (1:6.7; 2:1,4,5,7,10, 12, 13, 19, 23) My People (1:9,10) Jezreel (1:4,5, 11) Adultery (2:2,4) Faithful (2:2,5,20)

6. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK Israel’s Idolatry Hosea utters about 150 statements concerning the sins of Israel and more than half deal specifically with idolatry. Roots: going after Baal-Peor in Shittim (9:10; cf. Num. 25) Polemics against Baalism (8:4-6).

6. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK Knowledge of God Israel did not know the Lord (2:5-8) The fundamental sin of Israel: there is no knowledge of God in the land. (4:1) No knowledge = forgetting the Law “In the Old Testament knowledge is living in a close relationship with something or somebody…a relationship…called communion.” The knowledge of God in the prophets similar to idea of “the fear of the Lord” in the wisdom literature & psalms. Judgment and love: God’s Dilemma God’s love and judgment are held in tension—a great paradox. 11:8-11 shows the inner turmoil of God Hosea himself has been called to live out and experience God’s agony personally.

Session # 5 MICAH

1. INTRODUCTION

2a. The Person of Micah The name Michayahu (“Who Is Like Yahweh?”) is shortened to Michaia.

2a. The Person of Micah Unlike Amos and Hosea, Micah did not relate his call as a prophet. Like Amos (Amos 7:14), Micah was probably not a professional prophet.

2a. The Person of Micah Micah’s hometown of Moresheth Gath (1:14)

2a. The Person of Micah His family and occupation are unknown. Most likely, Micah preached from Jerusalem. His addressees were the civil and religious leaders of Israel (3:1,9)

2b. The Time of Micah Israel crumbled until its collapse in 722 BC. Assyria a constant threat to Judah from then onwards.

4. LITERARY STYLE The opening lament is characterized by irony and wordplay involving the names of cities. e.g. “In Beth Ophrah [‘house of dust’] roll in the dust” (1:10)

4. LITERARY STYLE b.The closing section of Micah describes a courtroom scene.

5. SURVEY OF THE BOOK The three sections of Micah are: The prediction of judgment (1-3) The prediction of restoration (4-5) The plea for repentance (6-7) However, while the three major sections begin with condemnation (1:2-2:11; 3:6), they all end on a clear note of consolation (2:12, 13; 4; 5; 7)

6. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK

6. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK Sin is followed by punishment with the hope of restoration   What God requires: “To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8) Theme of Covenant Lawsuit (Ch. 1) Theme of Hollow Worship (6:1-8) Theme of Social Injustice (throughout the book) Theme of Future Restoration (7:8-20)

7. OT PROPHECIES IN NT There is direct fulfillment An NT event happens exactly as predicted in the OT The OT prophecy points specifically at the end times   There is indirect fulfillment The OT prophecy carries more than one fulfillment The first fulfillment (in the OT) points at bigger fulfillment(s) later on (e.g. in the NT) The writers of the New Testament use OT prophecies To highlight both types of fulfillment, direct and as “event” or “type” Their purpose is to point at Christ as the fulfillment.

8. QUOTATIONS FROM MICAH IN SCRIPTURE A. Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,        though you are small among the clans of Judah,        out of you will come for me        one who will be ruler over Israel,        whose origins are from of old,        from ancient times.” By the Sanhedrin to Herod the Great at the time of the birth of Christ (Mt. 2:5-6).

8. QUOTATIONS FROM MICAH IN SCRIPTURE A. Micah 7:6 "For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies are the members of his own household.” i. By Christ when sending forth his disciples (Mt. 10:35-36)