Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets Amos  Hosea  Zephaniah  Zechariah

Theme of Hosea God’s relentless love for Israel is unrequited by the faithless and adulterous nation.   When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.“ Hosea 1:2

Outline of Hosea I. God’s love and Israel's adultery, illustrated by Hosea's experience with a wife of harlotry (1-3) A. Hosea's adulterous wife Gomer (chapter 1). B. God's adulterous wife Israel (chapter 2). C. Hosea's "tough love" restores his wife, as God's love would restore Israel (chapter 3). II. Prophetic discourses on adulterous Israel and her faithful God (4-13) A. Israel's sins detailed (chapters 4-8). B. Israel's punishment determined (chapters 9-11). C. Israel's continuing sin provokes a jealous and loving God (chapters 12-13). III. Israel's restoration decreed (14)

Hosea’s Adulterous Wife and Prophetic Progeny Hosea’s marriage and children (1:2—2:1) Hosea marries Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Their firstborn is named “Jezreel” The name means “God will scatter.” It is also the name of the place to which Jehu came to slay Joram, Ahaziah, and Jezebel (2 Kings 9:14-37) God would avenge the blood shed by Jehu and bring an end to Israel.

Hosea’s Adulterous Wife and Prophetic Progeny Hosea’s marriage and children (1:2—2:1) The second-born is a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah (no-mercy) The Lord said, “For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away.” But Judah would be saved. The third-born is a son named Lo-Ammi (not my people) The Lord said, “For you are not My people, and I will not be your God.” Yet the true children of Israel would be “the sons of the living God” (Romans 9:22-26; 1 Peter 2:10; Galatians 3:26-29)

God’s Adulterous Wife Israel Israel’s idolatry estranged her from God (2:2-13) Israel had broken her marriage covenant and deserved to be dealt with harshly (Ex. 34:13-17) She had credited false gods for her provisions and used her blessings in the service of idols. The Lord would take back her blessings, leaving her with nothing with which to pursue other suitors, compelling her to turn back to Him. “ ‘I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She…went after her lovers; but Me she forgot,’ says the LORD.” (Hosea 2:13)

God’s Adulterous Wife Israel God would lure Israel back to Himself (2:14-23) He will bless her as in the beginning – the valley of Achor would become a door of hope She would call the Lord “My Husband” and no longer call Him “My Master” (lit. “My Baal) Israel would forget the Baals, and the Lord would provide for her and keep her safe. The Lord would betroth her in righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness. “And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’” (Hosea 2:23, ESV) 

Hosea buys Gomer back The analogy is continued (3:1-5) Hosea is commanded to buy Gomer back He pays fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley – roughly the price of a slave (3:2) Both husband and wife would live many days without a conjugal relationship – she would not “have a man”* (3:3) Even so, the children of Israel would go many days without enjoying the privileges of a covenant relationship with God. (3:4) Afterward, Israel would seek the Lord and David their king. They would fear the Lord and his goodness in the “latter days.” (3:5) These are clear references to the time of Christ. Literally, “and thou shalt not be to a man,” i. e., not even to thine own man or husband. She was to remain without following sin, yet without restoration to conjugal rights. Her husband would be her guardian; but as yet, no more. So will “I also be for thee or toward thee.” He does not say “to thee,” so as to belong to her, but “toward thee;” i. e., he would have regard, respect to her; he would watch over her, be kindly disposed toward her; he, his affections, interests, thoughts, would be directed “toward” her. The word toward expresses regard, yet distance also. – Albert Barnes

The Lord’s Charges Against Israel There is no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God (4:1-19) Immorality and violence are rampant (4:1-5) The land and its creatures will feel the affects (4:3). No one had the moral high ground; no one could rebuke another for all were at odds with God-ordained justice (Like those who contend with the priest, Deut. 17:8-12). “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (4:6-10) The priests and the people were ignorant of God’s law and had set their hearts on iniquity. God would “reward them for their deeds” (4:9).

The Lord’s Charges Against Israel There is no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God (4:1-19) A spirit of harlotry prevailed throughout the land (4:11-14) People were enslaved by it as by alcohol (4:11, 18) They sought idols instead of God (4:12; Isa. 44:14-18) They enjoyed a religion of sensual pleasure; women and men were equally guilty (4:13-14) Judah is warned not to offend like Israel (4:15-19) The name of the LORD must not be invoked in the places of idol worship [Note: Beth Aven = house of vanity] The glory of the rulers was their shame (cf. Phil. 3:18-19) Isaiah 44:14-18  He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.  15  Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.  16  He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire."  17  And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"  18  They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. *“Beth aven” = “house of vanity” – This had become the character of “Bethel” = “house of God” Philippians 3:18-19  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  19  whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

The Lord’s Charges Against Israel Priests & Kings would be judged for ensnaring souls and insolent pride (5:1-15) The Lord is fully aware of the harlotry of Israel, Ephraim, and Judah (5:1-5) They will seek the Lord, but not find Him (5:6) Sudden destruction is upon them (5:7-9) The rulers of Judah are like those who remove a landmark, and Ephraim has “walked by human precept” (5:10-11) When they saw they were decaying, they reached out to foreign nations instead of God (5:12-13) Like a Lion, God would rip them to shreds till they acknowledged their offense (5:14-15)