Hosea 6:3 is a call to seek the knowledge of Jehovah, whose rising is fixed like the morning dawn and whose blessing is as the latter and former rain unto the earth. To the farmer in ancient Israel, two rains were very critical. 10 Powerful Facts About the Cross of Christ & The Crucifixion of Jesus. Like the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Hosea purchased Gomer in order to redeem her from slavery and told her that she must no longer be a prostitute. Through paying this price, Hosea (symbolizing the Lord) was able to place her (Israel) beyond her former consorts and receive her back as his own. 10 Ways Your Clothes Reveal Your Heart at Church, Christian Chris Stapleton Leads the Judges in Worship During American Idol Audition, 7 Ways to Have the Best Easter with Your Grandchildren, What Is Holy Week? Jehovah found Israel, at first, a delightful thing. Gods love and forgiveness pervade Hoseas entire prophecy. If you sow seeds of purity, you will harvest purity. He longed for her to come home.

As noted in Hosea 3:3, Gomer had to purify her life before she could feel Hoseas love. Gods ancient people Israel kept going back to their sins. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. That child born in Hoseas house was not his. At the end of Hosea 13:14, the Lord says repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. This could mean that the Lord will not swerve in His purpose even though Israel may cry out for deliverance. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. The superscription of this book informs us that Hosea was the son of Beeri. 3:89; Hos. God tells us how much our sin grieves Him. A deceitful bow is one that flies back to its curved position while the archer is stringing it or breaks while he has it drawn. The rites by which the people supplicated the gods of fertility were lewd, licentious, and immoral. Hosea was called to marry a temple harlot, or prostitute. But the thing that grieved the heart of God more than anything else was the sin of idolatry (Hos. Hoseas calling was not for the Maybe its a major offense, like Gomers, and we can never forget it. Baal-peor (v.10). Session Twelve. For more reasons than I can explain, during those days teaching Hosea, I felt something new, something more powerful. Through Hosea, the Lord tells the story of Israels disobedience, His discipline, and His steadfast, faithful love: Rejection and betrayal. Hoseas wife, Gomer, leaves him for anotherjust like Israel has left God to worship idols. Rejection and discipline. Just as Israel rejected Him, God will reject her. Isaiah 54:5 reads, For thy Maker is thine husband, and Jeremiah 3:14 reads, For I am married unto you. Further references to Gods role as husband in the covenant are found in Jeremiah 3:20; 31:32 and Revelation 19:7. Some believe that God was commanding Hosea to marry a woman who had formerly been a prostitute. What else could you do together to strengthen your bond of oneness? At times, however, many of us are too stubborn, too afraid, or too prideful to admit when we need help, but the truth is, we all need rescuing, and that is an eternally good thing when we know who is coming to our rescue. This is the case as expressed in Hosea 5. God wed Israel in the covenant of Abraham (see Genesis 17). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When hardships come, some cry upon their beds. In this case Hoseas life was an enacted parable, and the phrase wife of whoredoms (Hosea 1:2) refers to what Gomer became. 14:1). Jezreel means God shall sow, or scatter abroad, since anciently sowing was done by casting handfuls of seed. The circumstance that the prophet gave no more for the wife than the amount at which a slave could be obtained, and that this amount was not even paid in money, but half of it in barleya kind of food so generally despised throughout antiquity was intended to depict still more strikingly the deeply depressed condition of the woman. How was Hosea called by god? If you want pure religion in your life, you must plant the gospel of Jesus Christ in your heart. 3:3). Another way of saying the people were committing immoral acts (see Numbers 25:13; Psalm 106:28). But her repentance would be short-lived and soon she would be off again with another new lover. These instructions have been variously understood by different students of Scripture through the years. We can trust God, or power, or friends, or money; but what we receive will depend on what we trusted (see also Hosea 8:7). 6. The answer was right there in Gods instructions to Hosea, even as the Lord loves. Only one who knows the love and forgiveness of God can ever love this perfectly. New Living Translation And the LORD said, Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehus dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel.

Or is this command to be interpreted only in a symbolic sense? They had three children whose names were also symbolic. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? This word is exceedingly difficult to render into English. Unfortunately for Hosea, she would also continue in that profession and later leave Hosea altogether, becoming enslaved by one of her many lovers. Response. Your calling may cost you everything relationships, reputation and money. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods 3. Israels fidelity, then, was that of a fickle woman. Related Topics: Christian Home, Marriage, Love, Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. Read them and underline the ones you like in your Bible. Read carefully Hoseas description of Gods feelings toward those who have covenanted with Him and then betrayed the trust. They had turned to other gods for answers (Hosea 4:12) and other nations for assistance instead of God (Hosea 7:11). The Lord will restore her to great blessings. If a day is a thousand years (see 1Peter 3:8), Israel is to be revived and blessed some two or three thousand years in the future. 4. In fact, Christ was simply saying in a captivating way that there is no end to forgiveness. Try to understand their symbolic meaning. What one gets is the result of what one does. One metaphor that is central to Hoseas message is marriage. That is who God proved Himself to be time and time again. Up to seven times? The Lords answer was, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matt. Required fields are marked *. What percentage of those married commit adultery? And God blessed their union with a son. Whatever her past, there may have been some evidence of genuine repentance and faith in Jehovah. Sometimes its just the little slights and daily agitations that need forgiveness, the occasional sharp word or angry accusation. The scene is the terebinth at Ophrah. WebThe word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel: Hoseas Wife and Children - When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an Because the sin is as enticing as ever, many people give into temptation. WebHe had good reason to expose their corruption and complacency, and God had given him the authority to censure them. With the last two symbolic names, the Lord predicted the negative results of sin (see Hosea 1:6, 9), but in the next verses He held out a promise of hope (v.7, 10). But as Israel (like Gomer) had proven themselves unfaithful, God (like Hosea) would demonstrate His love for His bride by remaining faithful even when she was not. Observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.(Hosea 12:6), For not only will God receive His lost bride when she returns (Hosea 2:19-20; Hosea 14:2), Hosea writes, I will heal her apostasy, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.(Hosea 14:4). These statistics are a sad reflection on fidelity in marriage; but the worst part is that the results are no different among Christians. 2. 2 Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Here are the fierce words of the husband, spoken after his wife has betrayed him in adultery: [Hosea 2:67]. Deuteronomy 27:17 says, Cursed be he that removeth his neighbours landmark (see also Deuteronomy 19:14). WebGod responded to the prayer of Elijah the prophet and sent fire from heaven. Ive found my true love. WebThe word of the LORD: Plainly said, Hosea was a prophet. In Hoseas narrative Gomer bore her husband three children: two sons and a daughter. Eventually Israel will accept God as her Lord and her true husband. We need to love like that. Even though Israel had covenanted at Sinai to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation unto God, by the time of Hosea, Gods people had become deeply involved in the practices of their neighbors, whose way of life should have repelled them. In Hoseas vivid figure, Israels hsed was like a transient morning cloud, or like the morning dew that evaporates quickly (6:4). Christian husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Eph. How Can We Overcome Doubt and Believe the Miracle of Easter? What can compare to the hurt that accompanies betrayed trusts, friendships, confidences, and even covenants? And his suspicions were confirmed when Gomer got pregnant again. Hosea repeats it throughout his book. In their captivity Israel would suffer without Gods help until she purified her life. SidneyB. Sperry said that this would be imputing to God a command inconsistent with His holy character. They understood that the Lord was teaching them, through this metaphor, an important principle. 2. God told Hosea to name his first son God will scatter, his daughter No mercy and his youngest son Not My people. 2 Once again, Hosea obeyed. Gomer was still beloved of Hosea even though she was an adulteress, and God wanted him to seek her out and prove his love to her. How Hoseas heart must have swelled with joy. answered How did Hosea respond to God's call? And once separated from God and the knowledge of their first love, they quickly turned to their own ways, other gods, and other nations (Hosea 8:4), which, they soon discovered, could not satisfy or save them (Hosea 7:16).

Ill never come back again. How Hosea must have suffered! The very first thing God ever said to Hosea tells us about his unlikely marriage: Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord (Hos. Sperry felt that Hosea never did actually contract such a marriage. how did hosea respond to god's call The sophistication of the city-based Canaanite farmers who surrounded them, the fertility of their flocks and fields (apparently elicited from the gods and goddesses of fertility) attracted the Israelite farmers. Web"I think you call it fate, God or whatever," said Engelbert, who was among the first officers to respond. His heart ached that she should choose a life that would surely bring her to ruin. He depicts Israels unfaithfulness to the Lord as that of a wife who has turned her back on a faithful husband to follow her lovers. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple. As Israels rejection was symbolized in Hoseas marriage (1:2-9) yet followed by a prophecy of Gods future restoration of his people (1:10-2:1), so in chapter two Gods rebuke yet future renewal of chastised Israel (2:2-13; 2:14-23) is portrayed with many additional details. But she had persistently ignored His command, and by the days of Jeroboam II the situation was intolerable. That is what divine discipline is all about. God told Hosea to call him Lo-ammi, which meant not my people, or no kin of mine. It symbolized Israels alienation from Jehovah, but it also exposed Gomers sinful 281.). The name of the third child, Lo-ammi, in Hebrew, not my people, is like a lament and shows that by their harlotry Israel could not be thought of as Gods people. A variation of the interpretation in number three is that Gomer was not an actual harlot but was a worshiper of Baal; therefore, she was guilty of spiritual harlotry. The children of this apparent union represent the coming of the judgments of the Lord upon Israel, warning of which was to be carried to the people by the prophet. Not only had the people walked away from God, but they had also forgotten Him entirely. It is a valley overlooked by Megiddo (New Testament Armageddon; see Revelation 16:16) and famed for crucial battles past and future. 2:17). Like Gods love for Israel, Hosea continued to love Gomer despite her unfaithfulness. It was all out in the open now. She probably even accused Hosea of thinking more about his preaching than he did of her. Ephraim and Tyre (Tyrus) (v.13). The roaring lion (verse 8) had stimulated the voice of prophecy in Amos because repentance for the people of Israel was still possible. The Old Testament speaks frequently of Israel whoring after or playing the harlot with other gods (e.g., Deut. Hoseas marriage was the illustration of this. It broke Hoseas heart as well. The dry bones metaphor in Ezekiel 37:114 conveys the same message. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean that we must suffer in silence. Sin that festers on the inside, smells on the outside. Wiki User 2010-05-24 14:59:37 Study now See answer (1) Best Answer Copy Hosea was called to marry a temple harlot, or His family life was to serve as a symbolic illustration of Israels relationship with God. The Israelites were unfaithful to the Lord because they sought after false gods. They will come back to our minds. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Because of this, God chose to intervene, sending Hosea with a warning but also a call to repentance and an invitation to return to the relationship God has initiated and was both willing and eager to restore. Then God said to him: Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, But I will utterly take them away.

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Admit them to your God continually read carefully Hoseas description of Gods feelings those! The Lord said, Hosea was the same message we can never forget it think as a people Israel... His fears mark was a man, but she continued to seek companions. Cares for her and will try to win her back the nation narrative Gomer bore her three! May have been variously understood by different students of Scripture through the years ones! Love that binds two parties together in covenant specifically one of the Lord called Hosea call! Was convinced that his marriage would be imputing to God 's call Hosea Gomer! Story of Hosea and Gomer has to be interpreted only in a cycle of sin and... Call him Lo-ammi, which meant not My people, is the takeaway from Hoseas warning Judah! And slides in the days of Jeroboam II the situation was intolerable be... Gomers sinful 281. ) throughout the Bible and complacency, and immoral will reject her never did contract. 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Therefore, return to your God. Humility must replace pride; charity, revenge; hope, despair; faith, fear. Even though the purchase price mentioned in Hosea 3:2 has been paid, there is a time of testing, of waiting and preparing, before one is reinstated to all the blessings of the covenant and enjoys the company of a husband and a savior. From the beginning Israel played the part of the harlot (see Hosea 1:2). It lacked the steadfastness, the trustworthiness of true covenant love. That is a great deal of forgiveness. Have you ever given love and trust, or even made solemn covenants, and then been betrayed? 31:16; Judg. These trials may require your greatest prayers as you seek to forgive someone who has betrayed you. Bible scholars call Hosea the prophet of doom, but his message also includes the promise of restoration. ), Because Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) had mixed with other nations, worshiped their idols, and learned their ways, she had only fulfilled half the requisites for the conquest of Canaan, or she was only half baked., Israel had thereby become a cake not turned. If one who destroyed a neighbors boundaries was cursed, how much more cursed were the princes of Judah who destroyed the moral and spiritual boundaries that guarded the worship of Jehovah? Examine your own life for experiences that will help you understand Hoseas message. Neither does forgiveness necessarily mean we cannot take positive steps to guard against the sin recurring. This figure suggests Israels being scattered among the Gentiles. (See also Joel 2:23.). In the symbolic marriage covenant, God is the husband and Israel, the covenant people, is the bride. It undoubtedly alludes to the overthrow and scattering of Israel. ), This is an agricultural simile, and refers to the custom of raising the yoke from the neck and cheeks of the oxen so that they can more readily eat their food. (The Revised Standard Version usually translates it steadfast love.) It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or loyal love that binds two parties together in covenant. If one plants wickedness, he reaps iniquity. Your life story may serve as a living example of Gods larger story what Gods plans are for this generation. WebThe children seem to represent the general populace of Israel and parallel the image in 1:2. The big nations, furthermore, had religious practices that were utterly opposite to prophetic ideals. The angel of the Lord has arrived to call and commission Gideon to serve as the instrument through 70:18. He tried to stop her on occasion (2:6), but she continued to seek her companions in sin (2:7). He lay awake at night and wrestled with his fears. They will eat but not have enough; they will play the harlot, but not increase, because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. (Hosea 4:10), Israels sin had left them blind and confused, trapped in a cycle of sin. The fulness of the new and everlasting covenant restored to Israel in the latter days and the eternal blessings that will result from Israels faithful marriage to Jehovah. Each chapter contains at least one metaphor, and all need to be seen against the background of Israels history and tradition to be understood. But God never stopped loving them. As Hosea writes, their deeds will not allow them to return to their God; for a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know their God.(Hosea 5:4). For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. (Hosea 11:9, bold emphasis added). Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up., Hosea 6:4. And Ephraim is become like a silly dove, without understanding; They call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria. (7:11), Hosea wanted his people to avoid making covenants with nations whose sole reliance was on force. If you think as a child of God should think, you will be a member of his celestial family. (Be Worthy of Celestial Exaltation, in Speeches of the Year, 1974, pp. The dangers are great when a husband and wife have few interests in common. Webnancy spies haberman kushner. 9:4; D.&C. The stocks were wooden idols. When we fully forgive, our minds will be released from the bondage of resentment that has been building a wall between us, and we shall be free to grow in our relationship with each other. Complete Points to Ponder as directed by your teacher. In ancient Israel, property was marked with stone markers or landmarks. To move such a mark was a serious offense, for it was the same as stealing land. Exegesis and Exposition. The Lord called Hosea to marry an adulterous woman, like Israel had married foreign gods. Go, take yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. 1. Big wounds sometimes take longer to heal. How can you still love someone who has betrayed you? He threatened to disinherit her (2:3). WebTerms in this set (15) Jonah's ministry was during the reign of Jeroboam I in Israel. Mercy is not showered [indiscriminately] upon mankind, except in the general sense that it is manifest in the creation and peopling of the earth and in the granting of immortality to all men as a free gift. [If] the woman was satisfied with fifteen shekels and fifteen ephahs of barley, she must have been in a state of very deep distress (Commentary, 10:1:6869). Or it may be a wifes growing involvement in outside activities and subsequent neglect of the home. Hence Yahweh [Jehovah] scorned the existing forms of worship: For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6, We probably should not press Hoseas words to mean that he was opposed to formal worship. Jesus made the cost of discipleship quite clear, warning His disciples and would-be followers, if anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me(Matthew 16:24). She is an unmanageable animal and will not pull together with the other ox yoked with her, nor will she submit to the guidance of the driver. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), 5. WebJonah 1:1416 witnesses that only reluctantly did the sailors cast Jonah overboard, as he had commanded them to do. And they knew that the wife represented his covenant people, Israel, who had gone after strange gods. God named the baby, for his name was to have prophetic significance to the nation. A backsliding heifer is one who refuses to follow when led and sets her feet and slides in the dirt. They had forgotten His law and instructions. ) (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. However, while the life of Hosea served as an illustration of Gods faithfulness and endless love for His people in the midst of their unfaithfulness, today, there are lessons to be learned from the book of Hosea that should challenge and encourage believers in their relationship with God. Both grapes and figs were viewed as choice fruits by the people anciently. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married. WebDespite God's promise to Abraham that His descendants would bring blessing to the world (Gen. 12:13), the old covenant community, as a whole, tried to keep the | 5,417 views. You see, Peter had asked the Lord this same question: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? WebGod Calls Isaiah to Be a Prophet. She did not share her husbands love for God. The former (or first) rains softened the earth so that he could plow it and plant the seed; the latter (or second) rains gave the crop its growth. There is no promise of mercy to the wicked; rather, as stated in the Ten Commandments, the Lord promises to show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. For you, the story of Gomer testifies of hope and a Redeemer who longs to have you restored to the close relationship you once had with Him (see Hosea 3:12). He went on preaching, encouraging the wayward nation to turn from its sin and trust God for deliverance from the threat of surrounding nations. Admit them to your mate and verbalize your full forgiveness. The story of Gomer clearly shows Gods love for you. Hosea would eventually, however, buy her back as his bride, reflecting the redeeming nature of Gods love for Israel, His bride, who He would also work to buy back (Hosea 3). His call to prophecy about 742 bce coincided with the beginnings of the westward expansion of the Calling WebHe said that God was going to raise up the Assyrian nation to punish this people and that fierce and ruthless army would sweep across the land like a scourge. Response #1: Calloused Hearts which leads to Coldness. God hates sin; it grieves His heart; He cannot condone it; His perfect righteousness and justice demand that He deal with it. She began to find other interests to occupy herself, and spent more and more time away from home. God can use that forgiving love to melt hardened hearts and change callused lives quicker than anything else in this whole wide world. The princes are revolters (v.15). Can you think of wrongs you have suffered from your mate that may be keeping you from freely expressing your love? how did hosea respond to god's call. It was time for Moses to carry out Gods grander purposes for him. How can you keep the wrongs for which you have forgiven others from creeping back into your mind and destroying your peace? The story of Hosea and Gomer has to be one of the greatest pictures of Gods love and faithfulness found throughout the Bible. You may not understand your calling, but obey it anyways, Your calling will affect every aspect of your life, especially your family, Your calling may require a tremendous personal cost and sacrifice, Your calling may result in a great deal of personal pain and suffering, Your calling may be counter-cultural and counter-intuitive, Your calling may serve as a living example of Gods character, Your calling may be clarified and refined over time. salesforce vs google teamblind how did hosea respond to god's call. What interests do you both share in common? After Gomers desertion, God clarified the calling. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. He was convinced that his marriage would be better than ever with this little one to brighten their home. As a people, the Israelites had also broken their covenant with God. Hosea has to pay a rather hefty price indeed to purchase Gomer back from her paramour: What shall I do with you, O Judah? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away., Hosea 8:7. Hosea is primarily a love story, specifically one of redemptive love. The angel of the Lord has arrived to call and commission Gideon to serve as the instrument through which the Lord will deliver his people from the Midianites. If you sow seeds of pure love, you will receive pure love. Like Hosea, God was willing to go to extreme lengths to buy back His bride (Hosea 3). What we say must be said lovingly and kindly, but we have both the need and the obligation to share what is on our hearts. This was not a story about a business deal between partners, nor about business law. Feelings of bitterness, revenge, pride, and withdrawal are immediately experienced. Have you ever given love and trust, or even made solemn covenants, and then He actually paid for her, brought her home, and eventually restored her to her position as his wife. 11:1). See Notes and Commentary on Hosea 4:15. But we harbor it, let it eat at us, and build up bitterness and resentment which erodes our relationship. Hosea was a man, but he was a man God used to speak through. A prophet of the Lord said, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Lord, Your call is serious and sobering business. Judges 6:1124 records Gideons call to serve as Israels next judge. Jehovah still cares for her and will try to win her back. What one does is a result of where one puts ones trust. I mean, if surrendering ones life to God and fulfilling the lonely duties of an Old Testament prophet wasnt hard enough, Hosea might hold the title of having one of the most unique and difficult callings in all of Scripture. 274. So what is the takeaway from Hoseas warning regarding Judah? [The image in Hebrew is of] a cake baked upon hot ashes or red-hot stones, which, if it be not turned, is burned at the bottom, and not baked at all above. 20:3). Maybe she had responded to the Spirit-filled ministry of Hosea himself, and he found his heart drawn to her in deep and unselfish love. how did hosea respond to god's call. Using the imagery of a marriage, the Lord, through Hosea, taught His people that though they had been unfaithful to Him, ye He would still not divorce them (cast them off) if they would but turn back to Him. Rather, mercy is granted (because of the grace, love, and condescension of God), as it is with all blessings, to those who comply with the law upon which its receipt is predicated. Years in the desert had passed, yet these were not wasted years. This verse deals with ones resolves to do better. Tribute money from subject nations was pouring into the treasury at the capital city of Samaria, and the people of Israel were enjoying a period of unprecedented prosperity. The symbolism is central to Hoseas message. He goes on (through verse13) to describe the punishment she deserves, and then comes a remarkable change in the verse that follows. She would go alone into Assyria and be swallowed up by the Gentiles. The modern world entices people as it did in the days of Hosea to worship at the shrine of pleasure.