The Cast of “Characters”
** Each of the “Characters” in the narrative have a spiritual significance in God’s relationship with his people.
1. Hosea – The Man – Hosea 1:1
“The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel.”
- Name from Hebrew – yesha = “Salvation” or “Deliverance”
- The “LORD” gives the “word” - establishment that God is the main character
o Uzziah king of Judah for 52 years starting in 783BC. o Jeroboam (northern king) reigned though 753BC.o This makes Hosea’s prophetic ministry about 30 years.Hosea is symbolic of the “Faithful Remnant” (See: Romans 11:1-6)
Symbol of an Unfaithful Israel
“Gomer” means, “Complete”...as in, Israel’s sin is mature, no more room to grow or decline
3. “Children of Unfaithfulness” (v. 2)
- born to Gomer before marrying Hosea
- possible symbolic foreshadowing to the inclusion of gentiles into the covenant
4. The Offspring of Unfaithfulness
- Son #1 – “Jezreel” = “God sows”
o Gateway city located in Jezreel Valley near Megiddo.
o Known as one of the bloodiest locations in the ancient land – due to its strategy importance of converging highways.
o Megiddo has eschatological significance in New Testament...as the gathering/staging place of armies of the nations before they lay siege to Jerusalem - see Revelation 16:16
o Perhaps God’s way of foretelling their future... as in, “Just as you massacred others, so will you be massacred.” In other words, “you reap what you sow.”
v. 3 - “So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.”
Point: In a real sense, this is the indictment against Israel!
- Lo-Ruhamah = “Not loved” (i.e.: “No compassion”)
- This is the fruit of unrepented unfaithfulness to God: no compassion
- Does this negate the covenant?
▪ No...Judah remains (see verse 7) and all Israel will eventually be restored... ▪ ...but, first, comes judgment.
Lo-Ammi = “Not my People”
o God gives some “time” for repentance...but none happens
o This action by God seems to contradict his previous statements/promises.▪ See Exodus 6:7 – “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”
Leviticus 26:12 – “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” o But this is the nature of the covenant...the Maker controls the conditions.
Application
Application 1 – The godly can fulfill God’s will even in the midst of the most ungodly situations.
** The keys:
1. Live by faith that God is with you.
a. ...even when he asks you to do “strange” things – like marry a prostitute
2. Let God live/speak/work “through” (verse 2) you.
a. We don’t know how old Hosea was when “the LORD began to speak through” him...
...but we know that Hosea was faithful to the calling WHEN the LORD decided it was time.
Application 2 – Rebellion has its necessary response from God.
** God responds “because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” (v. 2)
Application 3 – God’s compassion is great...but not inexhaustible.
Lamentations 3:22-24 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
...and with the realization that God’s faithfulness is new every morning, Jeremiah concludes - 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
