Hosea Reflections
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DavePersonal Reading & Reflection on Hosea (1 to 2 pages minimum)
A son of the northern kingdom, the prophet Hosea, son of Beeri, did not only proclaim
his message, he enacted it with his own life. His ministry spanned the reigns of Uzziah,
Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah and Jeroboam in Israel (1:1).
A compassion tone pervaded his writings since he himself experienced the shame and
rejection in his own personal life. The Lord instructed him to take the prostitute Gomer
daughter of Diblaim as his wife. It would be a sign against Israel’s spiritual adultery as
they forsook the Lord for idols (1:2). The marriage bore three children – Jezreel
(scattering), Lo-ruhammah (“I will no longer have compassion”) and Lo-ammi “You are
not my people”) – whose names would also be a sign of judgment to the nation (1:4-9).
Yet a message of hope can be found in the promise that the sons of Israel shall be
gathered together again under one leader (1:10-11).
The prophet Hosea likened the idolatrous Israel as an unfaithful wife who deserter her
husband in order to pursue after other lovers, thinking that her material abundance came
from them (2:1-7). Therefore the Lord (as a jealous husband) would punish her by taking
back her material blessings and allow her to be shamed in nakedness (2:8-13). Yet, in the
midst of punishment, the Lord will “allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak
kindly to her”. Like the husband relentlessly pursuing his wayward but beloved wife, the
Lord promised to bind Israel in covenant marriage forever and considered the nation as
His wife in faithfulness (2:19-20). The picture of reconciliation and restored blessings are
vividly described in 2:21-23.
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Shockingly, Hosea was instructed once again to pursue and love his adulteress wife
despite her sins (3:1). It would be analogous to the love God had for Israel. He indicted
the nation for the lack of faithfulness and kindness. The people of God were destroyed for
lack of the knowledge of God (4:6). A list of sins including violence, murder, deception
and adultery were given to explain the tragic condition of the land (4:1-3). Israel’s
idolatry was described with the vivid imagery of spiritual harlotry (4:7-19). Hosea
extended an invitation for his countrymen to return to the Lord. He knew that the “Lord
has torn us but He will us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us” (6:1). Like
Micah’s prophecies, Hosea also leveled a critique on outward religiosity that was devoid
of genuine obedience. He wrote of the Lord’s words: “For I delight in loyalty rather than
sacrifice and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (6:6). As a result of
their wickedness, the Lord’s discipline shall come upon them (7:12). They shall return to
oppression and exile as in Egypt (8:13) for they have forgotten their Maker and built
palatial dwellings which were destined for fire (8:14).
Another analogy used to describe the Lord’s relationship with His people was that of a
father and his son. “When Israel was a youth I loved him; And out of Egypt I called my
son” (11:1). Even as they were bent on rejecting God, Hosea expressed the longing in the
Lord’s heart: “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel?”
Their punishment would not be final as a remnant shall return (11:11-12). Repeatedly, the
people were called to return to the Lord. In the final chapter, there is a divine promise
that the Lord will “heal their apostasy and love them freely” (14:4). Theologically, the
main theme of Hosea centered on spiritual adultery of Israel and the everlasting