Introduction to the Book of Hosea

“The Book of Hosea is the first of what are called ‘The Minor Prophets.’  They aren’t called minor because they are less important than the Major Prophets, but because they are generally shorter in length.  Hosea prophesied during the eighth century BC, beginning during the reign of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel.  His career spanned the reigns of several different kings in the north and south [the northern House of Israel and the southern House of Judah] ending in the reign of Hezekiah.  The prophecies of Hosea were directed primarily toward the northern kingdom of Israel.  He was a contemporary of Amos, who also prophesied in the northern kingdom, as well as Isaiah and Micah, who prophesied in the southern kingdom of Judah.  Hosea lived long enough to see the northern kingdom collapse and fall to the Assyrians.  In this respect he had a role and ministry similar to the one Jeremiah would later have in Judah.  The name “Hosea” means “Salvation.”  The story of Hosea was a tragic personal story.  God called him to marry a prostitute named Gomer.  After they had several children, she left her family and sold herself into the slavery of prostitution again.  God called Hosea to buy her back out of her slavery and to forgive her and love her.  This provided the people [of Israel] with a graphic illustration of God’s love for Israel.  Israel had fallen deeply into idolatry, which is spiritual adultery.  She was worshipping Baal and other abominable gods, despite the faithfulness of God and His love for her.  God was still reaching out to Israel through the prophet Hosea and offering restoration, healing, and forgiveness.  Hosea could uniquely express the heart of God because he knew exactly how God felt.  The hurt, the betrayal, the humiliation, the disappointment, and yet the persistent extension of mercy and grace and forgiveness.  The people of Israel rejected the offer of grace and forgiveness, which makes it an even greater tragedy, and yet, as the book ends, we see the promise of yet future restoration, and God will once again bring them back into fellowship with Him.  [i.e. God will bring this ten-tribed northern kingdom called the House of Israel back into fellowship with him, regathering and restoring them to the Promised Land in the Middle East.]  We see in this story, not just the grace of God toward Israel, but his grace toward each of us.  He made us and loved us, even while we rejected Him and were unfaithful to Him.  We became slaves of sin.  And like Gomer, we were purchased out of our slavery, not because we were worth it, or because we deserved it, but because of the love of our Husband.”  [Word For Today NKJV Study Bible, p. 1128]  On the next page is an excellent time-chart of the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah, created by the United Church of God.  Hope they don’t mind my displaying it here.  Full credit goes to them for it.