BIBLE STUDIES ARCHIVE.

HOSEA (1)
GOD'S LOVE FOR ISRAEL

A historical setting is , clearly, given in the Book of Hosea in the very first verse for the Ministry of Hosea. He names the kings of Judah and it was written about 750 B.C. The main emphasis being on "returning to God". Main words and ideas in this study are sin, judgment and Love.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS TO HELP US FOLLOW THIS STUDY.........
HOSEA: His name means "Salvation" or "Deliverance"
GOMER: Her name means "to complete"
JEZREEL: Son of Gomer and Hosea . orignal meaning of his name being "God scatters" or "God sows"
LO-RUHAMAH: daughter of Gomer and Hosea: original meaning of her name being "NO MERCY"
LO-AMMI: another son of Hosea and Gomer: original meaning of his name is "NOT MY PEOPLE".
Kings at this time of the Southern Kingdom of Judah were Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel : Jeroboam II who ruled during the period of his prophecy.

During this time in the history of Israel, to the physical eye, things looked great in Israel. It appeared that the Land was rich with peace, plenty and prosperity. The people appeared to enjoy these things at this time.

However, underneath it all was disaster lurking. The overall truth of what was happening in this country at this time was corrupt leaders, much immorality, poverty, class hatred, and very unstable family lives.

Idolatry was a huge issue as well. Even the Priests were not filling their obligations to lead the people into righteousness with the Great I Am. In just a few years there would be political collapse in this country.

Much like today, many have forgotten God. Not knowing HIM as Creator of all things or inoring HIS very existence. Family lives today are unstable, we have poverty, we have the rich who do not share, we have racism, and many worship false idols, and great sexual impurities. Widespread materialism is a huge problem. Even if it be the TV or internet, or whatever takes us away from the knowledge of God is idolatry. Sin is the only name for it.

However, our God of Salvation and Deliverance and undying LOVE for HIS people continues. He sends a man named Hosea to deliver HIS Word to the Peoples. Hosea holds out hope in those dark days to deliver the message through the Holy Spirit in obedience. His own heart bleeds for the people of his time.

As Christians, we can truly relate, as we have watched a corrupt generation. However, we are in a time, where the Lord is calling forth HIS Church HIS Love endures forever and HE loves HIS Bride and desires to come back to a Glorious Church. Ephesians 5:27 says " that HE might present her to HIMSELF a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be HOLY and without blemish".
Hosea, we find in Chapter One of this precious Book, is instructed by God to marry a harlot, a woman who was "unfaithful" to him.

Chapter 1:2 "When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: Go take yourself a wife of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord."

Once again, what was happening in the physical in this Old Testament Book had a very explicit spiritual message. The people of the land were committing adultery . They were worshipping false idols in this chosen land and they had fallen far away from their Creator. The pursuit of spiritual knowledge was lacking . Sin made way to the hearts of the people.

God looked for one who would obey HIS Word and honor it by their behavior and HE chose Hosea. Hosea's sensitivity and sadness with the adulterous spirit of this time was obvious.

So Hosea obeyed and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. "A wife of harlotry for the LAND HAS COMMITTED GREAT HARLOTRY. Thus, being the main reason God calls upon HIS prophet, Hosea for from the very beginning of this book there is spiritual signifigance between Hosea's experience with his harlot wife and that of the Lord's Bride Israel.

Chew on this manna and next month we will continue to study Chapter One as the plot thickens and we see the progressive movement of the Lord. We will see this, even through the names of Hosea's three children born to him and Gomer.
We will continue to see the Loving Heart of God as God desire to bless, not chastise HIS people.