Hidden in Plain Sight Hosea
Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets
God’s purpose often calls for acts of strange obedience. Nowhere is this truer than in the life of the prophet Hosea. God instructs the prophet to marry a prostitute and to maintain marital covenant with her despite her rampant, embarrassing unfaithfulness. His love for her is as immeasurable and consistent as her unfaithfulness to him.
Hosea is often called the “death bed” prophet because his poetic sermons and oracles are Israel’s last chance to turn back to God from their idolatry before God’s judgment is enacted. Hosea ministers during a time of peace, prosperity, and political independence. God’s people are split into 2 nations. Jeroboam II rules the
Northern Kingdom, Israel. The Southern Kingdom had 4 kings during the time of
Hosea’s public proclamation. In all, Hosea preaches for at least 40 years, diligently warning God’s people to return to faithfulness to Him because of His faithfulness to them. His prophetic passion is born out of his own experience of loving an unfaithful wife. He knows how God feels.
The book’s singular purpose is to proclaim the loyal love of God for His people. God maintains covenant independent of the actions of those He is in covenant with. His character will not allow Him to break the Sovereign vows He has made concerning His people. The themes that flow from this work are sin, judgment, and mercy. We encounter God’s absolute hatred for sin but more so, His unrelenting love for sinners.
I. The Adulterous Wife and Faithful Husband 1:1-‐3:5
a. The Introduction to the Book of Hosea 1:1
b. The Prophetic Marriage of Hosea -‐ and Gomer 1:2 2:1
i. Hosea’s Marriage to Gomer 1:2
ii. The Children of Hosea and Gomer 1:3-‐9
iii. The Application of Future Restoration -‐ 1:10 2:1
c. The Application of the Adultery of Gomer 2:2-‐23
i. Israel’s Sin of Spiritual Adultery 2:2-‐5
ii. Judgment of God 2:6-‐13
iii. Restoration of Israel 2:14-‐23
d. The Restoration of Gomer and -‐ Hosea 3:1 5
II. The Adulterous Israel and Faithful Lord 4:1-‐14:19
a. The Spiritual Adultery of Israel 4:1-‐6:3
i. The Sins of Israel -‐ 4:1 19
1. Rejection of the Knowledge -‐ of God 4:1 11
2. Idolatry of Israel 4:12-‐19
ii. Judgment on Israel 5:1-‐14
iii. Eventual Restoration of Israel 5:15-‐6:3
b. The Refusal of Israel to Repent of Her Idolatry 6:4-‐8:14
i. Willful Transgression of the Covenant 6:4-‐11
ii. Willful Refusal to Return to the Lord 7:1-‐16
iii. Willful Idolatry 8:1-‐14
c. Judgment on Israel by God 9:1-‐10:15
i. Dispersion 9:1-‐9
ii. Barrenness 9:10-‐17
iii. Destruction 10:1-‐15 d. The Restoration of Israel to 11:1 the Lord -‐14:9
i. God’s Love for Israel 11:1-‐12
ii. Israel’s Continuing Sin 12:1-‐13:16
iii. God’s Promise to Restore -‐ Israel 14:1 9