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Book of Hosea |
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| Written in Palestine 781-711 B.C. The book is one on repentance, backsliders being invited to return to God or suffer the consequences of being cut off. The Lord speaks to Israel through the domestic troubles of the prophet. Hosea was commanded to take a "wife of whoredoms" (Hosea 1:1) to picture the condition of Israel when God called and married her, bringing her into covenant relationship as His people. After having children by him, Hosea's wife, Gomer, left him to go after old lovers. He was then commanded to buy her back as his wife again, and to make a contract that she would never again go after former lovers. The experience was used to teach Israel that she must now return to God, after forsaking His covenant and going after other gods. He would then marry her again and enter into an eternal covenant relationship with her. The theme of Hosea could be summed up by two words: Lo-ammi, meaning "not My people," and Ammi, meaning "My people" (Hosea 1:9; Hosea 2:1). The message in Hosea 2:14-23 concerns the restoration of Israel to God after the many days of Hosea 3:4-5, at which time they will be His eternal people. The message in Hosea 6:1-3 concerns the return of Israel to God by repentance, and that in Hosea 13:14; Hosea 14:3-9, God redeeming them eternally. The book records and predicts Israel's backslidings from God for many days, during which time they were to be scattered among the nations, and be without a king, prince, sacrifice, image, ephod, and teraphim (Hosea 1:9; Hosea 3:4-5); to reveal the final and eternal restoration of Israel; and to assure them of God's forgiveness and eternal blessing (Hosea 6:1-3; Hosea 14:3-9). | ||
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Prophecies: |
OT Scripture |
NT Fulfillment |
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God would call His Son (Messiah) out of Egypt. |
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The Messiah would defeat sin and death. |
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