Synopsis: Hosea
"In spiritual departure from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan will work out his program in gradual steps. Typically, he will imbue thoughts that certain portions of the scriptures are not important. Those that follow the scriptures are deemed to be ‘legalists’ or 'conservatives'. Sadly, the final outcome of the satanic program will be a departure from the faith."
The Writer
In verse 1 of this book, it was recorded that Hosea ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam 2 in the northern kingdom and Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah. We can therefore infer that Hosea’s ministry is quite long. The fall of the northern kingdom happened in 722 BC, and it is likely Hosea witnessed it. Hosea (the meaning of his name is salvation) is a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Micah.
Key Verse
Hosea 2:16
And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
Ishi means my husband and Baali means ‘my lord or master’. This verse clearly teaches us two things. The first is the tender love of God. When He restored the Israelites, he wanted to be known as ‘her husband’ who will protect and cherish her as a wife. Secondly, it reminds us of the clear teaching to avoid all forms of association, even remotely, with idolatry. The word Baali is quite close in meaning to ‘my husband’. In the past, some wives addressed their husbands as ‘lord’ too.
God wanted to avoid this word altogether because of its close similarity to the idol Baal, the principal idol worshipped in Israel during that period. This similarity tends to facilitate syncretism in the worship of God. Satan wants to be like God and he does not conceal this desire as he openly covets it (recorded in Isaiah 14:14). Christians need to take heed of this deception of Satan as he will camouflage himself and deceive people into thinking that they are worshipping God, but instead they may worship amiss.
Main Theme
God uses the common imagery of marriage to illustrate Israel’s relationship with God. Hosea literarily took a wife called Gomer and after they had 3 children, Gomer was unfaithful and she left Hosea. The consequence of it was calamitous as Gomer (the wife) was later disposed of by her lovers.
In Hosea 3:1-3, God asked Hosea to purchase her back from her master. The marriage relationship with its expectation of faithfulness is easily understood by us. God wants his relationship with us to be like a marriage. In the New Testament, he mentioned it again in Ephesians 5: 25-32. We can understand how Hosea felt when Gomer was unfaithful and became a harlot. This is exactly how God feels when His creatures abandon Him and embrace idolatry.
Historically, Israel as a ‘wife’ has been unfaithful. During Hosea’s ministry, they chose to worship idols instead of God. The rot was so bad that God allowed the nation to be conquered and its citizen exiled to Babylon. After God’s period of punishment was meted out, the returning Jews although ridden with idolatry continues to depart from God’s teachings. They replace idolatry with the hypocritical teachings of the Pharisees and Scribes. The clear teaching of the scriptures was ignored and the Lord Jesus rebuke them as in John 5:37-40. The Scribes and Pharisees later led the people to commit the ultimate sin of putting the Lord, their Saviour to death on the cross (Matt 27:23).
The book Hosea ends with a happy expectation as Israel will eventually repent of their unfaithfulness and will be restored.
Spiritual and Life teachings
1) Be careful of Satan’s deception
Satan and his angels can transform themselves into ‘angels of light’ as Paul warned the believers in Corinth. It is quite an impossibility for someone to suddenly turn to idolatry from God. Similarly, no one gets into an illicit relationship overnight. It involves a gradual persuasion and downward progression to sins.
In spiritual departure from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan will work out his program in gradual steps. Typically, he will imbue thoughts that certain portions of the scriptures are not important. Those that follow the scriptures are deemed to be ‘legalists’ or 'conservatives'. Sadly, the final outcome of the satanic program will be a departure from the faith. The Apostle Paul warned us as follows:
2 Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Christians should carefully consider the teachings in the church, the doctrines and character of the leaders before committing themselves to follow them. The safest method to avoid being deceived is to check the doctrines with the scriptures (Acts 17:11).
2) Be courageous to change when you are on the wrong track
I believe Gomer knew her sins and repented of her harlotry. Similarly, if you have invested a large sum of money in a diamond and later found that it is fake, what should you do? Some may be so embarrassed to admit such a foolish mistake and decide to keep quiet and do nothing. This scenario also happens in large corporations. When an employee makes a colossal mistake, they quietly dismiss the staff.
The founding fathers in the Plymouth brethren have much to teach those who found that they are on the wrong path. When they know of the scriptural truths in the Bible, they depart from their denominational churches and gather with like-minded Christians to worship God as the Bible teaches. Man’s institutions are burdensome, but not God's.
Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matt 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
3) Be careful of what you sow
Hos 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Idolatry can also be benignly practised when a person departs from the clear teaching in God’s words. The Lord mentioned it in John 5 as noted above. Heaven and earth can pass away but not His words. John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Hosea 8:7 is worthy of our meditations. As Christians, we have to consider how we sow or live our lives before our God. Any foundation that is not scripturally grounded in the word of God is like the wind, an unstable ground. Therefore, if you have sown the wind, do not expect to reap any goodness. Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
With God’s blessings,
CL
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