Introduction to Hosea

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/28/2015 9:32 PM

Introduction to the book of Hosea

            I want to take a few minutes to write an introduction to the book of Hosea.  Perhaps many are familiar with this book, which is the first of what is called the Minor Prophets.  Now just because they are called minor does not mean that they are unimportant, but they are mentioned this way because they are shorter in length that the first four prophet books.

            Let’s us briefly take a look at the first verse in Hosea so that we can get the general time period that it was written for in that verse it gives the names of the kings of both Israel and also Judah while Hosea prophesized.   “1 ¶  The word of the LORD which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.”

            Let us take a look at some things from the John MacArthur Study Bible’s introduction so we can get some help with this introduction to Hosea.  It is the belief of John MacArthur that Hosea probably was a native of the northern kingdom of Israel because he shows some familiarity with the history, circumstances, and the topography of the north.  Let us look at Hosea 4:15 and also 5:1, and 13 but there are other verses we could look at like 6:8, 9; 10:5 12:11, 12; 14:6.  “15  Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath: "As the LORD lives!"”  “1 Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment applies to you, For you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out on Tabor.”  “13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb. But he is unable to heal you, Or to cure you of your wound.”

            MacArthur writes “Hosea had a lengthy period of ministry, prophesying ca. 755-715 BC.” 

            The time that Hosea began his ministry was under King Jeroboam II, and it was at this time that the nation was enjoying prosperity as far a material things but bankrupted as far as Spiritual things.  After Jeroboam died in 753 things went downhill in all facets of the country.  Judah was pretty much the same as Israel.  It was during this time that Uzziah usurped the priesthood and the Lord gave him leprosy.  Hezekiah was next in line to be king and although there was a revival it did not last very long.

            We now want to look at what MacArthur calls “Historical and Theological Themes” from the book of Hosea.  He writes “The theme of Hosea is God’s loyal love for His covenant people, Israel, in spite of their idolatry.”  “Hosea was instructed by God to marry a certain woman, and experience with her a domestic life which was a dramatization of the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel.  The marital life of Hosea and his wife, Gomer, provide the rich metaphor which clarifies the themes of the book:  sin, judgment, and forgiving love.”

            Warren Wiersbe writes about what Hosea is about by saying “What was this all about?  It was vivid picture of what the people of Israel had done to their God by prostitution themselves to idols and committing ‘spiritual adultery.’  Since God’s people today face the same temptation (James 4:4), we need to heed what Hosea wrote for his people.  Each of the persons in this drama—Hosea, Gomer, and the three children—teach us important spiritual lessons about the God whom Israel was disobeying and grieving.” 

            It is my belief that Hosea did exactly what God told him to do and not as some people believe that this is an allegory.  What was happening in Israel at this time was real and so what Hosea did was real too as far as I am concerned.

5/28/2015 10:04 PM