Grace Amid Judgment

GRACE AMID JUDGMENT.

Hosea 1:2-10.

This is ‘the word of the LORD that came to Hosea, son of Beeri’ (Hosea 1:1). The name Hosea, like Hoshea, Joshua, Jeshua and Jesus is derived from the verb ‘to save’. Hosea, like his contemporary Amos, prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel during the long reign of King Jeroboam the Second.

Hosea’s own rocky marriage stands as a metaphor for the troubled relationship between the LORD and Israel. Just as Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, so Israel had broken covenant with the LORD (Hosea 1:2). The LORD gives names to Gomer’s children that speak words of judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel.

Hosea’s firstborn son was named Jezreel (Hosea 1:4) for the place of the bloody massacre by which the present dynasty had come to power. Although the LORD had sanctioned this takeover (2 Kings 10:30), it was marred by pride and cruelty. King Jehu’s dynasty ended after four generations with the assassination of King Zedekiah (2 Kings 15:8-11).

So now, since Israel was still a place of ‘bloodshed upon bloodshed’ (cf. Hosea 4:2), the LORD would “break the bow of Israel” (Hosea 1:5) in the Valley of Jezreel. Fulfilled in 2 Kings 15:29, this was a blow from which the northern kingdom of Israel would never fully recover. However, the Hebrew readers of Hosea’s prophecy would have recognised that the name “Jezreel” means, literally, ‘God sows’ - on which, more later.

Gomer’s daughter was named “Not pitied” (Hosea 1:6) because the LORD had removed His compassion and mercy from the northern kingdom of Israel. If the LORD should ever withdraw from us, it is never His fault, but ours (cf. ‘ye would not!’ Matthew 23:37-38). The mention of the LORD’s mercy upon the southern kingdom of Judah (Hosea 1:7; cf. Isaiah 37:33-35) should have had the effect of exciting the northern kingdom of Israel to repentance: but there is no hope for the blatantly unrepentant.

Gomer’s second son was named “Not my people” because, literally, “you are not My people and I am not yours” (Hosea 1:9). This is a far cry from the ‘I will be with you’ of Exodus 3:12. The northern kingdom of Israel was at this time just as pagan as her neighbours: and they could hardly claim to be loyal to the LORD when they had a whole pantheon of other ‘gods’!

Our lection concludes with Hosea 1:10, but this cannot be read outside of its following context. We see here the beginning of the reversing of what these names mean. Grace cannot be silenced, even in the face of judgment.

The LORD has not forgotten His promise to Abraham, that his descendants would be as the sand which is on the seashore (cf. Genesis 22:17). So, those who are “not My people” shall be named “sons of the living God” (Hosea 1:10). The Apostle Peter later applies this to the Christian Church (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Hosea goes on to speak about the reunion of Judah and Israel under ‘one head’ (i.e. Jesus) in the GREAT day of Jezreel (Hosea 1:11). ‘Say to your brethren, Ammi (My people), and to your sisters, Mercy!’ (Hosea 2:1). Then the heavens and the earth will answer, ‘Jezreel’ (i.e. ‘God sows’): the LORD will be merciful to those who had not obtained mercy; He will say ‘My people’ to those who were not His people and they shall say ‘You are my God’ (Hosea 2:21-23).

In this way, what began as a message of judgment ends as a message of grace (Read Romans 9:22-26).