“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.1
Hosea was the last to prophesy before the northern kingdom fell to Assyria (about 722 B.C.). During his ministry there was peace and prosperity not seen since the days of Solomon. Unfortunately, with this prosperity came moral decay, and Israel forsook God to worship idols. So God instructed Hosea to marry a “wife of whoredom,” whose unfaithfulness to her husband would serve as an example of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Hosea warned of the punishment that would come unless the people returned to the Lord and remained faithful to him. The book shows the depth of God’s love for his people, a love that tolerates no rivals.2
The LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” So he went and took Gomer . . . she conceived and bore him a son. . . “Call his name Jezreel3 (which means God scatters). She conceived again and bore a daughter. . . “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. . . .”4 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”5
Through the prophet Hosea God was showing his disgust. Earlier through Solomon God already emphasized his displeasure against the wicked. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,6. . . The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,7. . . The LORD is far from the wicked,8 . . . Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.9 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.10 (An abomination is a thing that causes disgust or hatred).
In contrast, the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.11. . . he loves him who pursues righteousness.12 . . . he hears the prayer of the righteous.13 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.14
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.15 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.16 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.17 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.18
Notes:
1. Hosea 2:14-15
2. ESV Bible, Share the Good News Outreach Edition, 2011, p 637, Introduction to Hosea
3. Hosea 1:2-4
4. Hosea 1:6-7
5. Hosea 1:8-9
6. Proverbs 15:8
7. Proverbs 15:9
8. Proverbs 15:29
9. Proverbs 16:5
10. Proverbs 17:15
11. Proverbs 15:8
12. Proverbs 15:9
13. Proverbs 15:29
14. Proverbs 8:17
15. Proverbs 15:3
16. Proverbs 16:20
17. Proverbs 1:32-33
18. Hosea 4:6
