Hosea — Introduction & Outline

Hosea is designated the author of this book in 1:1. Here he is called the son of Beeri.

Little is known of him personally except that he was married to Gomer (1:3) and fathered two sons and a daughter (1:4,6,9). His ministry spanned the reigns of four kings in Judah (Uzziah to Hezekiah) and seven kings in the northern kingdom of Israel (Jeroboam II to Hoshea). He was a prophet to the North, which was often called "Ephraim" (1:4,6,10; 3:1; 4:1,15; 5:1,3,5,11,13; etc.). There has not been a convincing challenge to the unity of the book or to the authorship of Hosea.

Since the latest king mentioned is Hezekiah (715-686 B.C), Hosea probably recorded in final form his prophecies in that king's earlier years. Thus they are dated shortly after 715 B.C.

The 40 to 45 year ministry of Hosea came about 200 years after the kingdom of Israel had divided and stretched over the reigns of four kings of Judah and the last seven of Israel. At the beginning of his ministry both Judah and Israel were enjoying military and economic prosperity in the "golden age" made possible by the decline of Assyrian power. But under Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.) Assyria began to gain strength and soon had Israel subjected as a puppet state (734 B.C.). Israel plotted revolt, but they were defeated and deported in 722 B.C. Judah was also made a vassal state in Hosea's time. The last chapter of Israel's history was characterized by great decline and confusion under the reigns of evil kings.

Religiously and morally Israel was at its lowest point in Hosea's day. Idolatrous practices involved child sacrifice and religious prostitution. In spite of the previous ministry of Amos, Israel remained steeped in sin and unwilling to repent at the preaching of God's prophets.

Hosea's purpose is to extend a final warning to Israel of impending judgment and call her to repentance on the basis of this fate and God's love. However, no positive response is expected, so judgment is pronounced and final restoration assured. Hosea's purpose should be understood against the promises of the Mosaic covenant (Deut. 28-30) which promises curses for disobedience and blessing for obedience. Israel's breach of the covenant is exposed and compared to harlotry while consequent judgment is announced.

Hosea follows a simple pattern which involves first his personal experience (chs. 1- 3), and then a message to Israel of judgment and restoration (chs. 4-14). Hosea's experience with his wife and children is meant to illustrate and communicate the later message of love, judgment, and restoration.

Hosea's experience is a picture of God's dealings with Israel (1:1-3:5). In his marriage to Gomer (1:2-2:1) the three children are named to symbolize God's rejection of Israel (1:4-9), though restoration is also promised (1:10-2:1). Gomer's adultery is also used to illustrate the unfaithfulness of Israel (2:2-23). Because of Israel's harlotry with idols (2:2-5), they will be punished by God (2:6-13). But Israel will also be restored by God (2:14-23) because of His great love for her. This truth is conveyed through the imagery of the marital covenant involving God and the nation (2:16-20) and reflects on the next experience of Hosea. He is told to go and renew his love for Gomer and restore the marriage, which he does (3:1-5). In the same way, God, through the Davidic Messiah, will restore His relationship with Israel in the latter days (3:4-5).

The rest of the book contains Hosea's explicit message of God's judgment and restoration of Israel (4:1-14:9). The message begins with the indictment of Israel's guilt (4:1- 6:3). The nation's sin is exposed (4:1-19) in terms of breaking the covenant (4:1-3), the rejection of the knowledge of God (4:4-10), and the pursuit of idols (4:11-19). This leads to the announcement of Israel's judgment (5:1-14). Judgment is attributed directly to their rejection of God (5:1-7) and is described as devastating and inescapable (5:8-14). The indictment ends with a brief reassurance of Israel's return to God and a compassionate invitation to repent (5:15-6:3).

The next section focuses on the persistent refusal of Israel to repent in response to God's warnings and invitations (6:4-8:14). Israel willfully transgressed their covenant with God (6:4-11) and now refuses to return to God, preferring instead to turn to ungodly foreign allies (7:1-16). These alliances are futile and make God's judgment all the more certain (7:13-16).

Some specific aspects of their fate are named as punishment for persistent idolatry (8:1-14): Israel will be judged by an enemy, taken captive, and destroyed.

Hosea continues to pronounce God's judgment of Israel in graphic description (9:1- 10:15). He describes their exile in Assyria where they will not be able to worship (9:1-9). He also describes how their idolatry is responsible for the murder of their children at the hands of the Assyrians (9:10-17). Israel's idolatry only increased in their time of economic and military prosperity, thus their king will be deposed and Israel will be utterly destroyed (10:1-15).

In the last section of the book, the darkness of God's judgment gives way to the bright hope of Israel's future restoration (11:1-14:9). Though He will punish them soon, God declares His continual love for His people in the past and at present (11:1-11). This assures their eventual return from captivity in Assyria (11:10-11). Still, God is angry with Israel's sin (11:12-13:16).

Though He was faithful to them, they were relentless in their unfaithfulness (11:12-12:14), therefore God will be relentless in judgment (13:1-16). However, He remains their only hope of deliverance because He is their only Savior and King (13:4,10).

God's final promise to restore Israel is a strong assurance of their future (14:1-9). They are called to repentance (14:1-3), though it is implied this is something they will not do until after the Assyrian judgment. The promises of Israel's healing and prosperity and the removal of God's anger are reserved for this future time (14:4-7) when Israel will finally be cured of their idolatry (14:8).

Hosea's prophecy contains strong warnings, but also strong assurances of Israel's restoration. Yet to experience the blessings, they must be purified through judgment as

punishment for their grievous sins and unfaithfulness to the covenant. God's love always sought Israel, as Hosea sought Gomer, yet Israel never responded.

1. Hosea's Experience: A Picture of God's Dealings with Israel 1:1-3:5

   1. Introduction 1:1
   2. The marriage of Hosea to Gomer 1:2-2:1

      1. Hosea marries Gomer. 1:2-3
      2. Israel's rejection is symbolized by the children. 1:4-9

         1. Jezreel symbolizes Israel's destruction. 1:4-5
         2. Lo-Ruhamah symbolizes no mercy on Israel. 1:6-7
         3. Lo-Ammi symbolizes Israel's abandonment. 1:8-9
      3. Israel's restoration is promised. 1:10-2:1
   3. The application of Gomer's adultery 2:2-23

      1. Israel is accused of unfaithfulness. 2:2-5

         1. Israel is charged with adultery. 2:2-3
         2. Israel's children are born of harlotry. 2:4-5
      2. Israel will be punished by God. 2:6-13

         1. She will be deprived of her lovers. 2:6-8
         2. She will deprived of produce. 2:9-10
         3. She will be deprived of mirth. 2:11
         4. Her vine and fig trees will be destroyed. 2:12
         5. She will be punished for her idolatry. 2:13
      3. Israel will be restored by God. 2:14-23

         1. God will renew His love for Israel. 2:14-15
         2. God will renew His marriage with Israel. 2:16-20

            1. He will be acknowledged as husband. 2:16-17
            2. He will establish a covenant of peace. 2:18
            3. He will betroth her to Him anew. 2:19-20
         3. God will renew His blessing upon Israel. 2:21-23

            1. He will renew agricultural blessings. 2:21-22
            2. He will renew His mercy toward Israel. 2:23
   4. The restoration of Hosea's marriage 3:1-5

      1. God commands Hosea to love Gomeragain. 3:1
      2. Hosea restores Gomer as his wife. 3:2-3
      3. The illustration is applied to Israel. 3:4-5
2. Hosea's Message: God's Judgment and Restoration of Israel 4:1-14:9

   1. The indictment of Israel's guilt 4:1-6:3

      1. Israel's sin is exposed. 4:1-19

         1. They broke the covenant. 4:1-3
         2. The priests rejected the knowledge of God. 4:4-10

            1. The people's rebellion 4:4-5
            2. The priest's rejection of the Law 4:6
            3. The proliferation of priestly sin 4:7-8
            4. The punishment upon the priests 4:9-10
         3. The people sought after idols. 4:11-19

            1. Their straying through idolatry 4:11-13
            2. The participation of both sexes 4:14
            3. The warning to Judah 4:15-16
            4. The confirmation of Israel's idolatry 4:17-19
      2. Israel's judgment is announced. 5:1-14

         1. Judgment is announced because of sin. 5:1-7

            1. Their sin is openly seen by God. 5:1-3
            2. They turned away from God. 5:4-5
            3. God has withdrawn from them. 5:6-7
         2. Judgment is described. 5:8-14

            1. Ephraim will be desolate. 5:8-9
            2. Judah will be judged with Ephraim. 5:10-12
            3. They can not be rescued. 5:13-14
      3. Israel's return is envisioned. 5:15-6:3

         1. All Israel will seek God. 5:15
         2. Israel is called to repentance. 6:1-3
   2. The refusal of Israel to repent 6:4-8:14

      1. They willfully transgressed the covenant. 6:4-11

         1. God laments Israel's faithlessness. 6:4-5
         2. Israel transgressed the covenant. 6:6-7
         3. Israel's violence defiles them. 6:8-9
         4. Israel's breach of covenant is horrible. 6:10-11
      2. They refuse to return to God. 7:1-16

         1. Israel's sins are too blatant to heal. 7:1-3
         2. Israel is compared to an oven. 7:4-7
         3. Israel's alliances are rebuked. 7:8-12

            1. The weakening effect of the alliances 7:8-9
            2. Their refusal to return to God 7:10
            3. Their vacillation between allies 7:11
            4. Their punishment 7:12
         4. Israel's destruction is announced. 7:13-16

            1. The announcement 7:13
            2. Their refusal to return to God 7:14-16
      3. They are punished for persistent idolatry. 8:1-14

         1. Israel will be judged by an enemy. 8:1-3
         2. Israel honored idols instead of God. 8:4-6
         3. Israel will be taken captive. 8:7-10
         4. Israel's idolatry will lead to captivity. 8:11-13
         5. Israel and Judah will be destroyed. 8:14
   3. The judgment of Israel by God 9:1-10:15

      1. Israel's sin results in exile. 9:1-9

         1. She played the harlot against God. 9:1-2
         2. She will be deprived of worship in exile. 9:3-6

            1. The fact of exile 9:3
            2. The cessation of offerings 9:4
            3. The cessation of feast days 9:5-6
         3. Her punishment is come. 9:7-9
      2. Israel's idolatry results in barrenness. 9:10-17

         1. She corrupted herself through idolatry. 9:10
         2. Her children will be killed. 9:11-13
         3. There will be no fruit of the womb. 9:14-16
         4. She will be cast among the nations. 9:17
      3. Israel's sin brings her destruction. 10:1-15

         1. She multiplied her idolatry in prosperity. 10:1-2
         2. Her king will be removed. 10:3-8

            1. Their failure to revere God 10:3-4
            2. The removal of their calf idol 10:5-6
            3. The removal of their king 10:7-8
         3. She is punished for her history of sin. 10:9-11
         4. She is called to covenant faithfulness. 10:12
         5. She will be utterly destroyed. 10:13-15
   4. The restoration of Israel to God 11:1-14:9

      1. God's love for Israel continues. 11:1-11

         1. God loved Israel in the past. 11:1-4

            1. He brought them out of Egypt. 11:1-2
            2. He cared for them with love. 11:3-4
         2. God will punish Israel with captivity. 11:5-7
         3. God loves Israel in the present. 11:8-11

            1. His love witholds total destruction. 11:8-9
            2. Israel will follow God. 11:10-11
      2. God is angry with Israel's sin. 11:12-13:16

         1. Israel was relentless in unfaithfulness. 11:12-12:14

            1. They practiced deceit. 11:12-12:2
            2. They need to repent as Jacob did. 12:3-6
            3. They practiced oppression. 12:7-8
            4. Their idols will be destroyed. 12:9-11
            5. They will be repaid for their evil. 12:12-14
         2. God will be relentless in judgment. 13:1-16

            1. He will do away with idolators. 13:1-3
            2. He reminds that He is their Savior. 13:4-6
            3. He promises their destruction. 13:7-9
            4. He reminds that He is their King. 13:10-11
            5. He will have no pity on their sin. 13:12-14
            6. He will bring them great destruction. 13:15-16
      3. God promises to restore Israel. 14:1-9

         1. Israel is called to repentance. 14:1-3

            1. They should ask for pardon. 14:1-2
            2. Israel will no longer trust in Assyria. 14:3
         2. Israel will be healed. 14:4-7

            1. God's anger will be removed. 14:4
            2. God will make Israel grow like a tree. 14:5-6
            3. People will flourish in Israel. 14:7
         3. Israel will have nothing to do with idols. 14:8
         4. God's covenant demands are declared to the wise. 14:9