Hosea was a prophet in the northern kingdom when Jeroboam II is king. He was called by God to marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. The reason why God wanted Hosea to do this, was to illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods. Just as Hosea loved Gomer - who had sex with anyone but him, loved the God of Israel. No matter how much nonsense and foolishness they did, how disobedient and unfaithful they were to God , he loved them just as much. God wished fervently that Israel would come faithfully back to Him.
In Hosea's life, the work and the community life in Israel were rather smoothly. On the surface, it was bliss and peace, but under the surface the people was in trouble. The leaders seem to bribe, families were unstable and people did not distinguish between right and wrong. There was hatred between people, and poverty was widespread .
The Lord says: My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me (4:6).
What does this book show about the character and nature of God?
In spite of people's unwillingness to
live close to God, declaring God 's eternal love for them:
“I will make you my wife forever, than showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord” (2:19-20).
“I will make you my wife forever, than showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord” (2:19-20).
What does this book show about God’s redemptive
plan for mankind?
Hosea talks about that the people of Israel after a long time without a
king, they will devote themselves to the Lord and to David's descendant, their
king (3:5). This points to our savior Jesus Christ. Also in 13:4 the Lord says about Himself that there is no other savior.
No comments:
Post a Comment