Themes+of+Hosea

toc

The major theological themes of Hosea are unveiled as the book unfolds. Some readers may take a different view; however, many commentators take some form or another of the following outline of Hosea. The overarching theological theme of Hosea’s message is God’s love in judgment. In other words, God demonstrates a loyal love for His covenant people, Israel, in spite of their idolatry. God shows love through His judgment. Judgment is an act of love that God demonstrates to His children in Israel. This type of love parallels the type of love that a parent displays while disciplining his/her child. A father or mother’s discipline is out of love—a concern to protect the child from danger or harm. Hosea’s message contains much condemnation—both at a national level and individual level—but at the same time, he passionately expresses the love that God has for His people.

=**The Major Theological Theme **=

The overarching theme is clearly portrayed in the first three chapters through the illustration of Hosea and his wife, Gomer. Hosea is commanded by God to marry a harlot. They experience a domestic life together with children included. Gomer is a representation of the nation Israel; thus, Hosea and Gomer’s experiences represented the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel towards God.[i] Gomer and Israel share the same two problems. First, Gomer does not love Hosea the way she ought to; similarly, Israel does not love Yahweh the way she is call to love Him.[ii] Secondly, Gomer is an adulteress who shows love towards other men; likewise, Israel loves others more than God Himself. The marital life of Hosea and his wife provide the rich metaphor which clarifies the two major underlying themes of the book: 1) God’s response to sin, and 2) God’s faithful and forgiving love for His people.[iii] Both contribute to the overarching theme: God’s love in judgment.

=The Underlying Themes—God’s Warning Against Adultery =

There is a pattern throughout the book of Hosea which encompasses the two underlying themes—warning, hope, warning, hope, etc. The Lord is angry with Israel’s sin; therefore, He warns the nation of the deserved punishment. After every warning, however, God ends with a hopeful response. God’s first warning against adultery is evident in Hosea 2:1-5; His response immediately follows (Hosea 2:6-23). The Lord warns Gomer (ultimately Israel) that her marriage ties are broken[iv] as a result of spiritual adultery: “For she is not my wife, and I am not her husband” (Hosea 2:2). There will be no more intimacy between Hosea and Gomer; therefore, no more intimacy between God and Israel (Hosea 3:1-5). God will expose her; He will strip her naked, causing ultimate shame (Hosea 2:3).[v] He will make her exactly the way she wanted to be. The internal corruption of Israel is represented by the desert land in verse 3; she (Israel) will be made like a wilderness—desolate, dry, and ultimately dead (Hosea 2:3-4).[vi] The phrase “slay her with thirst” portrays an image of death.[vii] God can’t love Israel unless His love extends beyond the grave. In comparison, Israel must first die, be made alive again, and only then, can God love her. Immediately following in verses 6-23 of the same chapter, the Lord responds by cutting off adultery. Yahweh will “hedge up her way with thorns, and [He] will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths” (Hosea 2:6). Metaphorically and literally, God will prevent Gomer from loving her lovers. The Lord will make her poor, miserable, and hated by everyone (Hosea 2:9-10). He will “destroy her vines and fig trees” (Hosea 2:12); literally, her health and vitality will be gone! God’s first response reflects a harsh judgment; however, His second response provides hope for those who turn to Him.[viii] True love between Hosea and his wife (God and Israel) can once again be restored if she seeks forgiveness and repentance.[ix] Keep in mind the themes—God’s response to sin, His faithful and forgiving love, and His love in judgment.

=God’s 1st Charge =

Yahweh’s first charge against the internal and external corruption of Israel is depicted in chapters 4 and 5, yet He offers hope and healing in chapter 6 for those who repent. Hosea proclaims, “Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). Israel doesn’t even know God; how, then, can she properly love Him? The fact is that she cannot love Him the way she ought to. Corruption has infected the nation. In verse 2, the Lord declares the Israelites guilty of deception, stealing, murder, adultery, violence etc. The Lord has had enough and He declares that He will reject His people. The Israelites do not know God and they have “forgotten the law” (Hosea 4:6); therefore, they cannot genuinely love Yahweh because He is foreign to them.[x] For example, a wife cannot genuinely love her husband (and vice versa), if she does not know her spouse. One must understand what the other person likes and dislikes, what he/she cherishes, how he/she spends one’s free time, how he/she is best encouraged, etc.; yet, if the spouse does not learn these things, then he/she will never learn how to wholeheartedly love one’s spouse. The Israelites must desire to love their Lord, but first, they must know their Lord.[xi] Verse 10 of chapter 4 portrays the outcome of Israel’s sin: “They [Israel] will eat, but not have enough; they will play the harlot, but not increase, because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD” (Hosea 4:10). After admonishing the Israelites for their sin, the Lord (underneath all judgment) demonstrated love towards His people. Hosea declares, “He [the Lord] has wounded us, but He will bandage us” (Hosea 6:2). God offers a solution to the problem. He will forgive Israel of their wrongdoings and accept them once again, as long as they repent. God hates sin, but He is faithful to forgive and love His children.

=**The Lord’s 2nd Charge **=

Hosea continues in chapters 6-11 with another accusation by Yahweh. Not only do the Israelites fail to genuinely love Yahweh, but they love and place their trust in others. Their love is misplaced. Hosea writes, “For your loyalty is like a morning cloud and like the dew which goes away early” (Hosea 6:4). Israel has no covenantal love towards God; therefore, Yahweh will judge the nation. Israel is forming political alliances with other nations, instead of trusting God.[xii] Distrusting God is no different from harlotry. The nation of Israel started out “like grapes in the wilderness…[but] they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved” (Hosea 9:10). In the beginning, Israel was something to cherish; the people were like luscious, plump, cool, juicy grapes. Overtime, they turned from God and became disgusting in the eyes of the Lord. However, the Lord once again provides another chance for Israel to repent and turn back to Him. In chapter 11, the Lord offers a redeeming love that no one else can: “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled” (Hosea 11:8). God’s heart is like an oven because it desires Israel. Hosea pleads to the nation, “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God” (Hosea 14:1).

=Overview =

Throughout the book of Hosea, readers witness the sinful and unrepentant hearts of the Israelites. God, time and time again, warns His people about the consequences of their sins. By the end of the book, Gomer is in labor, but she cannot give birth (Hosea 13). The mother and child will eventually die, just like Israel must die. This does not mean, however, that God does not love His people. God’s love goes beyond the grave. Hosea closes with some encouraging thoughts. He reminds his readers that God’s love is the only love that can bring about true satisfaction. Knowledge of God’s loving nature develops an understanding of how to properly love Him back.

[i] K. L. Barker and D. W. Burdick, //The NIV study Bible, New International Version// (Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985), http://books.google.com/books?id=RHcQAQAAIAAJ. [ii] D. A. Garrett, //Hosea, Joel// (Broadman & Holman, 1997), http://books.google.com/books?id=5hk7PQAACAAJ. [iii] J. MacArthur, //MacArthur Study Bible-NASB// (Thomas Nelson, 2006), http://books.google.com/books?id=N4wmGwAACAAJ. [iv] Garrett, //Hosea, Joel//. [v] A. A. MacIntosh et al., //A critical and exegetical commentary on Hosea// (T&T Clark, 1997), []. [vi] J. L. Mays, //Hosea, a commentary// (Westminster Press, 1969), http://books.google.com/books?id=V1uRQgAACAAJ. [vii] MacIntosh et al., //A critical and exegetical commentary on Hosea//. [viii] E. B. Pusey, //The Minor prophets: with a commentary, explanatory and practical, and introductions to the several books// (Funk & Wagnalls, 1885), http://books.google.com/books?id=P-Q2AAAAMAAJ. [ix] Ibid. [x] Garrett, //Hosea, Joel//. [xi] Ibid. [xii] Ibid.

media type="custom" key="7863319"

media type="custom" key="7863321"