A Study of Hosea
Hosea is one of those obscure prophets of old, who are seldom the topic of most bible studies. Those who do read this book come away with the understanding that Hosea was prophesying to the Northern Kingdom of Israel warning them that they were displeasing the Lord and what would happen to them as a result of this “turning away” from the true path. That, and what a strange life this man had. What most do not realize is this book also speaks a warning to those of us who are alive in the end times.Hosea’s life is used by the Lord to be an object lesson to the divided kingdom of Israel. First he is told to marry a prostitute (”because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” Hosea 1:2) At God’s direction, Hosea named his three children in a way that symbolized God’s anger. Their names show God’s increasing judgment against Israel’s adultery: first comes punishment, then a loss of love, finally total divorce.
The first name, Jezreel, refers to a historical incident from 2 Kings 9-10. Jezreel was the place where King Jehu slaughtered a wicked king and all his associates (2 Kings 10:11). The name also means “God sows” which was a warning that what was to come would be coming from God.
The second child, a girl, was named Lo-Ruhamah which means “not loved.” This child was to show the people of Israel that the Lord would no longer show them love. The third child, also a boy, was named Lo-Ammi which means “not my people.” These two children were not Hosea’s children, but children of harlotry. In chapter 1 verse 3 it reads, “and she bore him a son.” When the other two children are born, it does not say this. (Verse 6: she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter; verse 8: she conceived and gave birth to a son.) This was to show the Israelites that because of their harlotry in going after strange gods, they would no longer be loved by the Lord and that He would no longer consider them His people.
Yet the very next thing He does is He gives them hope for the future.
“Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, `You are not my people,’ they will be called `sons of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:10-11
These particular verses are quoted two times in the New Testament (Ro 9:26; 1Pe 2:10.) Because they are applied to the Gentiles many believe that the Gentiles replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. This is an understandable mistake made by those who are not acquainted with Hosea, the destiny of the Israelites, or why God was so mad at them to begin with.
Shortly after the reign of Solomon the kingdom became divided. The Southern Kingdom, made up of Judah, Benjamin and part of Levi, remained under the leadership of the house of David. They are collectively referred to as “Judah.” The Northern Kingdom, made up of the rest of the tribes of Israel, chose another leader outside of the tribe of Judah. They are collectively referred to as “Israel.” Because the tribe of Ephraim became the leader of these tribes, they are also referred to as “Ephraim.”
1 Kings 12 tells the story of Jeroboam, the king of Israel. He saw that his people were continuing to go down to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, and fear of the loss of power took hold of him.
Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.” After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.
Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings. 1 Kings 12:26-33
What is so wrong with what King Jeroboam did? Some would say that he was just making it easier for the people to get to a place of worship. They might even say, “what does it matter how he worshipped God, as long as he worshipped him?” To answer that, we need to take a look at the first commandment.
Most sources will quote the first commandment as “you shall have no other gods before me.” This is actually part of the second commandment, “you shall make no graven images.” If that is not the first commandment, what is? Ask a Jew, and he will tell you, “Hear O Israel, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2) First we must know who our God is before we can turn our backs on Him and worship another. This is the first mistake Jeroboam made. The second has to do with “walking in the stubbornness of our own hearts.”