Hosea 1

Resources:

• Hosea Reading Guide
• Hosea Teaching Notes
• Hosea Video

Overview:

• Key Points of Hosea 1-4:
  • Divine Command to Marry an Unfaithful Woman (Hosea 1:2):
  • God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, described as a “woman of promiscuity.” This is not presented as a personal choice for Hosea but as a direct and symbolic instruction from God.
  • The reason given for this unusual command is to illustrate the spiritual adultery of the land, which has committed “blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord.” This immediately establishes the central metaphor of the book: the relationship between Hosea and Gomer mirroring God’s relationship with Israel.
  • Birth and Symbolic Naming of Children (Hosea 1:3-9):
  • Hosea and Gomer have three children, each given a name with profound symbolic significance related to God’s judgment and the broken covenant:
  • Jezreel (1:4-5): This name signifies God’s judgment and the scattering of Israel. Jezreel was a place of significant historical bloodshed and foreshadows the impending destruction of the house of Jehu and the kingdom of Israel.
  • Lo-Ruhamah (“No Mercy”) (1:6): This name indicates God’s withdrawal of compassion and favor from Israel. It highlights the consequences of their persistent sin and the suspension of divine mercy.
  • Lo-Ammi (“Not My People”) (1:9): This name signifies the broken covenant relationship between God and Israel. It declares that Israel has acted in such a way that they are no longer recognized as God’s chosen people.
  • Prophecy of Future Restoration (Hosea 1:10-11):
  • Despite the strong message of judgment conveyed through the names of the children, the chapter concludes with a powerful prophecy of future restoration and reunification.
  • The imagery of the “number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea” signifies an immense multitude and a reversal of the scattering implied by Jezreel.
  • The prophecy that “in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘Children of the living God'” directly contradicts the meaning of Lo-Ammi, promising a renewed covenant relationship and recognition.
  • The vision of Judah and Israel being “gathered together” and appointing “one leader” speaks to the future reunification of the divided kingdom under God’s rule.
• Hosea 1 uses the powerful and personal narrative of the prophet’s marriage and the symbolic naming of his children to vividly illustrate the core themes of the book: God’s unwavering love in the face of Israel’s unfaithfulness, the consequences of their idolatry in the form of judgment, and the underlying hope for future repentance and restoration. This chapter serves as a potent and concise introduction to the complex and emotionally charged relationship between God and His people as portrayed throughout the prophecy of Hosea.

Notes on the video:

• Hosea is a minor prophet. “Minor” refers to the length of the prophecy.
  • Hosea means “salvation” and is a foreshadow of Joshua and Jesus.
• The Northern Kingdom consists of 10 tribes (now known as Israel).
• Hosea identifies the king of Israel
• 1 The Lord gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
• 2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, ‘Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.’
• 3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son. 
• 4 And the Lord said, ‘Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence. 
• 5 I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.’
  • This is a prophetic word about the invasion of Israel.
• 6 Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah — ‘Not loved’ — for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them. 
  • God told Hosea to marry Gomer to create prophetic warnings for Israel.
  • The daughter’s name also means “unpity” – God will have no pity for them.
• 7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies — not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the Lord their God.’
• 8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. 
• 9 And the Lord said, ‘Name him Lo-ammi — ‘Not my people’ — for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.
  • This feels like God is breaking a relational covenant but it is consequences for what they have done.
• 10 Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore — too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’ 
• 11 Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together. They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. What a day that will be — the day of Jezreel — when God will again plant his people in his land.

Group Discussion:

• There are many things in this chapter that are difficult to process but it’s also showing us how dire things are to God when we disobey Him.
• The Jews didn’t really care about how they are disobeying God until Lamentations.