Hosea “Salvation” 1:1 – 2:1

Introduction Similarities to Amos –Prophesied about the same time as Amos –Both prophets were sent to Israel Differences with Amos –Amos was from Judah Hosea is from Israel –Amos was blunt, harsh, condemning Hosea is patient, compassionate, understanding Both were sent to get Israel to repent –But sometimes a different approach works

Background His family –His father: Beeri, but nothing else known No knowledge of his tribe –His wife: Gomer –His children: Jezreel (son) Lo-Ruhamah (daughter) Lo-Ammi (son) The family will be important to the message of Hosea

Background The Date (Hos 1:1) –During the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (kings of Judah) In Israel, this is the time of Jeroboam II, same king as during the service of Jonah and Amos Hosea probably starts about the time Amos finishes prophesying near the end of Jeroboam’s reign and continuing to near the end of the nation Isaiah and Micah are his contemporaries who are prophesying in Judah

Background The condition of the nation –For a back ground you could read 2 Kings and 2 Chr –Israel is nearing its end Sin was rampant (as Amos warned) Corruption (religious, moral, and political) increased more and more –“Harlotry” (“whoredom” KJV) is the word that sums up the nation; used 13 times in Hosea to describe the nation

Understanding Hosea God makes an analogy for His relationship with Israel out of Hosea’s relationship with Gomer –The analogy will be explained in chapters 1-3 –The analogy will be the basis for the rest of the teachings in the book

The marriage Hos 1:2-3 –Hosea commanded to marry “a wife of harlotry” Does not say ‘marry a harlot’ The phrase would refer to one who was brought up in harlotry –Could mean she was the child of a harlot –Could simply mean she was an ordinary Israelite since the entire nation is called a harlot –The parallel is to Israel’s spiritual harlotry Israel had been “brought up” among idolaters –In Ur, Canaan, and Egypt Israel wasn’t a harlot at first, but soon became one

The children Jezreel (Hos 1:4-5) –God says to name the son “Jezreel” “Jezreel” mean “Jehovah scatters” –Is prophetic of God’s coming judgment Jezreel was also the royal city of Israel during the reign of Ahab –Jehu brought an and to Ahab’s descendants –Murdered all Ahab’s relatives in the Valley of Jezreel (2 Kings 9 – 10) God says the destruction of Jehu’s family was about to occur (penalty for Jehu’s and his descendants’ sins) –Jeroboam II was great-grandson of Jehu

The children Lo-Ruhamah (Hosea 1:6-7) –“Lo-Ruhamah” means “no mercy” –Served as an announcement that God was no longer going to be merciful to Israel Didn’t destroy them when Jeroboam I sinned Didn’t destroy them during Ahab’s reign Didn’t let Assyria destroy them at the beginning of Jeroboam II’s reign –No more delays –But Israel’s punishment did not mean Judah would not receive mercy God says mercy for Judah would come from Him, not any army

The children Lo-Ammi (Hosea 1:8-9) –“Lo-Ammi” means “not my people” [Notice in verses 6 & 8 it does not say these children were Hosea’s; verse 3 clearly says the first was his] –In Chapter 2 Gomer is charged with harlotry Prophecy of the coming complete rejection of the Israelite nation It would be hard to imagine a more frightening pair of announcements –God will have no mercy and rejects them as His people

Hope A brighter future (Hosea 1:10 – 2:1) –A future when there will be a large number accepted as children of God Not a future of earthly Israel –They had been rejected with no mercy The fulfillment in Rom 9:22-26 –Jews and Gentiles in God’s kingdom –1 Peter 2:9-10 »All those who have now received mercy

Lessons One’s upbringing is no excuse for sinful behavior It may explain the behavior, but does not excuse Everyone has a choice on how to live –Israel had grown up around idolatry, yet God expected her to be faithful to Him –Gomer grew up around harlotry and she should have been faithful to him –When we become God’s people, we are to be faithful to Him

Lessons God does not forget sins that haven’t been forgiven –Jehu went beyond God’s instructions in killing all Ahab’s relatives –Jehu fell short of God’s instructions by allowing idolatry (golden calves) to continue –Jehu may have thought he ‘had gotten away with it’ His children continued in the same sins –But God still brought about His judgment in His own time

Lessons God is patient and merciful, but He will not remain so for all people for all time –Those who disobey have no claim on His mercy –God may be patient hoping for a change of heart But judgment will come and then there will be no mercy Even those who were once Christians will be rejected if they continue in sin –No “once saved, always saved” –Heb 10:26-31

Conclusion One final lesson... There remains hope –God has always had a plan to save man –If not a Christian, become one – be baptized - and be forgiven of sins (Acts 2:38) –If a Christian who has sinned, repent and confess (1 John 1:9) Why not act now while God remains patient and merciful?