An Unusual Prophet of Love

O. T. #2026  "An Unusual Prophet of Love"

Sept. 16, 2021

Introduction to Hosea

Are you one who needs unconditional love, acceptance not based on  good deeds outweighing the bad deeds, like me? Are you in search of encouragement to stay faithful to whatever/whoever? Then join me as we walk down this book less traveled (studied), on a road of faith, love,  and forgiveness.

Here we are studying the first of the 12 Minor Prophets, located at the back of the Old Testament. (Their books are not the length of the Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.) Before getting into the details, let's take a look at the surroundings of Hosea.

Author and Date

Hosea means salvation; just as Joshua and Jesus. God wanted to bring salvation to His people, Israel and Judah. Israel had split into two nations, the Northern Kingdom was made up of 10 sons of Jacob called Israel, and the Southern Kingdom was made up of 2 sons of Jacob (Judah and Benjamin) called Judah.

We jump back in time to the king Jeroboam II in Israel of the north. Hosea's ministry lasted somewhere in the ballpark of 50 years, (755 BC-722 BC) during the last 7 kings of Israel before they were conquered by the Assyrians. We studied about them in 2 Kings 13-20. (Hint: All of Israel's kings were bad and idolaters after the split from Judah.)

Background

King Jeroboam II reigned and enjoyed political peace and material prosperity, yet moral corruption and spiritual bankruptcy was present. Israel's anarchy declined rapidly. Some 30 years later 4 of the 6 last kings were assassinated by their successors. then Assyria overthrew Israel.

Themes

The themes of this book include sin, judgment, forgiving love.We learn of God's loyal love for His covenant people, Israel, in spite of their idolatry. The Lord's true love for His people is unending and will tolerate no rival, nationally and individually.

The personal life of Hosea, his marriage to an unfaithful wife, is a rich metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness to God, and perhaps ours, too.

How is our relationship with God?

Will others fall in love with Jesus and His Word by following our example? Is Jesus your living hope today?

Is our love for the unlovely unconditional?

If you are feeling unloved, dear one, Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross to take away your sins. Have you trusted Him as your Savior?