Bible Study Notes on Hosea

The Minor Prophets Bible Study II: Hosea

January 19, 2012

BMC- Hosea

Opening Question: “What are some of the great love stories?”

Background

Call: summoned by ‘a quite tangible life-transforming experience’ (Miller 126) & ‘I am full of strength (full of Yahweh’s spirit) of the sense of right, energy to accuse Jacob of his crime and Israel of his sin.’ (Miller 126). 1:1 says the word of the Lord came

When: 745-722 BCE. Classical (8^th Cent Prophet), Last quarter of the 8^th Century (HCSB 1379), 722-701 BCE (White 61)

Where: Hosea is also the only native prophet of Israel (the northern kingdom) to have his words preserved in book form (Harris 163). South of Jerusalem, Judah (Miller 124-125).

To Whom: Israel. Exploitative Military Officers, Uncaring Elders. ‘Loyal Israelites’ (Miller 130-131)

Characteristics: (What do you notice about the style of the book)

Hosea makes use of both first-person memoirs and third person reports. There are also oracles of hope, likely added by later Judean readers (Miller 65). However, most important by far is Hosea’s use of his family life as a metaphor for Yahweh’s relationship with Israel. Everything from the names of his children to the unfaithfulness of his wife represents some aspect of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the coming judgment (Miller 65). Hosea’s oracle also portray a God of mixed emotions, who alternates between anger and wounded love (Harris 163)

Hosea, more than any other prophet, personifies and offers insight into the internal feelings of God (Loren Johns).

Relationship with Kings & Others: ‘Three Judean Kings: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah’ primarily Hezekiah (Miller 126). No definite relationship, but spoke against powerful leaders so prob. Not too good with government. Gomer and Children.

Important Events: History ties to that of I Kings.

Outline: (Sweeney pg. 175)

I. Superscription (1:1)

II. Main Body of the Book: Appeal for Israel’s Return (1:2-14:9)

A. Narrative account of YHWH’s instructions to Hosea to marry a harlot and give their children symbolic names (1:2-2:2)

B. Hosea’s Speeches to Israel (2:3-14:9)

1. Hosea’s appeal to his children for their mother’s return (2:3-3:5)

2. YHWH’s basic charges against Israel: Abandonment of YHWH (4:1-19)

3. Specification of YHWH’s charges against Israel (5:1-14:1)

4. Appeal for Israel’s return to YHWH (14:2-9)

III. Concluding exhortation concerning YHWH’s righteousness (14:10)

OR

Judgment (1:2-2:25) / Hope (3:1-5)

Judgment (4:1-11:6) / Hope (11:7-11)

Judgment (12:1-14:1) / Hope (14:2-9)

Observations by Chapter: (Note observations make or questions you have as you read the book.)

Hosea 1: His call. The names of his children and their meanings. At least two of them were probably not his children.

Hosea 2: God’s rejection. God is the one who gave them all they have but they have forgotten this. God plans to win Israel back.

Hosea 3: God sends Hosea back to Gomer. He had to buy her back. Representative of the exile and the return?

Hosea 4: Referencing the 10 Commandments. The Priests role in the people being unfaithful.

Hosea 5: Israel acts like a prostitute. References back to OT stories of the tribe of Benjamin.

Hosea 6: Israel expects to be let off easy. We hear God wrestling with God’s self about what to do. God wants more than empty sacrifices.

Hosea 7: Israel goes back and forth in her alliances, but does not ally with God.

Hosea 8: They have brought their destruction upon themselves. Israel and Judah have forgotten God.

Hosea 9: Warnings of what is to come. God remembers what “love” with Israel was first like.

Hosea 10: Israel trusted it’s military might for protection when it should have trusted God.

Hosea 11: Metaphor shifts to father-son relationship. God is not man and shows restraint.

Hosea 12: Lawsuit. Remembering Jacob and OT story.

Hosea 13: Reminder of the rescue from Egypt.

Hosea 14: God’s love knows no bounds and God’s anger will be gone forever.

Themes/Issues: (Note the major themes and issues the prophet addresses.)

Marriage as metaphor for Israel (HCSB 1330), ‘message of hope and comfort’ (Limburg 1), Israel’s failure to uphold the laws of its covenant with Yahweh caused the covenant to be broken (Miller 80), Yahweh has become an enemy of his own people (Miller 79).

Israel to remain faithful to Yahweh. Calling for changes in lifestyle concerning fertility, promiscuity, violence, and violation of the covenant (Miller 80-81).

‘Spirit of fornication’ still exists today (Miller 87) + remembering ‘that disasters too may be redemptive’ (Miller 88). Sometimes, disasters may be redemptive rather than simply punishment (Miller 88).

So What? (Having read the prophet, what do his words have to teach us today?)

- Shows inner turmoil of God about what to do with faithless people.

1. Judge and get rid of them

2. Live with them somehow

3. Ignore them

God loves them so much that God can’t do 1 or 3.

- Lessons:

o Children teach Grace of God

o Gomer teaches holiness of God

o Hosea teaches love of God

- God is not a man and shows restraint

- Importance of seeking and searching for God

- The love of God is greater (song)

- Our sins bring destruction into our lives (sin punishes us)

- Don’t get swayed by culture around you.