Hosea Series

July 31, 2021

Why are the “minor” prophets of the Old Testament called “minor”? Were their messages less important than Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel? Not at all.

The “Majors” are longer – with an average of 36.5 chapters – and their content has broad global implications, while the “Minors” are shorter – with an average of 5.5 chapters – and their content is more narrowly focused.

That brings us to HOSEA the first of the “minors”. My Favorite Thing About HOSEA is the concept of AND/BOTH.

Under Jeroboam II, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was prosperous and successful. However, after he died in 753 BC, the nation sank into near anarchy, going through 6 kings in about 30 years.

Syria and Egypt were constant threats, but it was Assyria who would seal her fate.

The Spiritual Situation in Israel was far worse than their political situation. The people were spiritually and morally bankrupt. They were self-satisfied and proud. The religious leaders were wholly devoted to idolatry and all forms of idolatrous worship flourished. Dishonesty, distrust, deception, injustice, violence, bloodshed and the oppression of the defenseless were common in all levels of society.

It was into this that God called Hosea to reveal BOTH His hatred of sin AND His desperate and unchanging love for the people who did not love Him back.

We are going to approach this a little backwards by looking first at the 2 sermons Hosea preached.

Sermon #1 {Ch. 4 -11}

The LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land:

There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God. There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery; you stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge.

You are stubborn like a young cow. Ephraim loves his idols, so I’m going to leave him to it. Even when they are no longer drunk, they continue to prostitute themselves and even their leaders love to participate in these shameful practices. They will be swept away by the whirlwind and they will be brought to shame by their sacrifices.

Israel prostituted itself in every possible way: Physically. Politically. Spiritually. ONLY when they began to experience the consequences of their choices did they even pause:

When you realized you were sick and wounded, did you come back to me? NO! You went to Assyria, but he cannot help you…. I am going to go away until you recognize your guilt and seek me. The consequences of your choices will cause you to seek my face and you will say, “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Notice that there is no mention of their sin. No mention of repentance. No acknowledgement of guilt.

Are they REALLY Sorry? No. Are they REALLY repentant? No. Are their hearts broken for the sins they have committed? No. Do they desire a different way of life? No.

They were sorry for one reason and one reason only…. They were experiencing consequences.

God was completely aware of the reality of their “repentance” …. What am I going to do with the both of you? Your love is like the morning mist that disappears when it gets hot. Therefore, I am going to tear you to pieces through my prophets and kill you with the words of my mouth. My judgments will flash like lightning.

I desire mercy NOT sacrifice and an acknowledgment of Me NOT burnt offerings!

You never consider the fact that I know all about your wickedness because you do it right in front of my face!

You are so arrogant that even the painful consequences of your choices do not cause you to return to me!! You’re like a silly dove, fluttering first to Egypt than to Assyria. Destruction is coming because you have rebelled against me. I LONG to heal you, but you tell people lies about me. Your heart does not long for transformation, you just lie on your beds and cry because of the consequences. You continue to go to pagan festival and turn away from me. It was I who trained you and gave you strength, but you have turned against Me. You say, “We know you”, but you reject what is good. You have set up kings that I did not choose….. Sow righteousness and reap the fruit of unfailing love. It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you, but instead, you have planted wickedness and reap evil. You eat the fruit of deception. You depend on your own strength and your many warriors, but the roar of battle will rise against you and your fortresses will be destroyed.