Idolatry in the book of hosea

Introduction we have in the book of hosea one of the most arresting revelations of the real nature of sin, and one of the clearest interpretations of the strength of the divine love. No one can read the story of hosea without realizing the agony of his heart. This analogy sees all the indictments of israels idolatry as spiritual adultery. The book of hosea uses the imagery of adultery to describe israels continual chasing after other gods, like an unfaithful wife chases after other men. Hosea is the thirteenth chapter of the book of hosea in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. Hoseas life and marriage were used in an analogous way to demonstrate the waywardness of israel. Hoseas tragic marriage and birth of his children representing gods relationship with his people. All of these dimensions of the book come to life through. The book of hosea introduction to the book of hosea in the bible. The probable cause of the location of hosea may be the thoroughly national character of his oracles, their length, their earnest tone, and vivid representations. Throughout the book you will see that he refers to israel and ephraim.

The messages of hosea are not as clearly structured as they are in amos. And though god told them as much through the birth of hosea s third child, loammi, he also reminded them that he would ultimately restore their relationship with him, using the intimate and personal language of sons to describe his wayward people 1. The driving theme of these books is the description and indictment of israels idolatry. Hosea 814 easytoread version erv idol worship leads to destruction. Hosea 10 ceb the folly of israels idolatry bible gateway. Hoseas prophecy gave israel a tangible example of its spiritual idolatry, yet portrayed gods love for israel in spite of her spiritual infidelity. For example, hosea, using harlotry as an analogy for idolatry, pleads, though you, israel, play. Basically, it means having sexual relation before or outside the marriage. Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the old testament hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by images or otherwise, and finally the worship of yahweh through visible symbols hosea 8. Christians extend the analogy of hosea to christ and the church.

Hosea 4, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Gods unending love for an unfaithful people overviewbible. As with much prophetic literature the life of the prophet portrays the truth of god. This probably means the temple and other places of worship at bethel. The first section of the book contains three distinctive poems illustrating how gods children returned time after time to idolatry. A journey from genesis to revelations hosea disc 2. He gave instructions about who not to choose but he didnt say, here is the wife i want you to marry. On the bright side, if you get these two down a little bit, hosea is going to make enough sense to you for you to absorb some of its raw and powerful poetic punch. As ugly as israels adulterous faithlessness has been, it cannot extinguish gods resilient, redemptive love that defies human calculation or annulment. Be sure to read any other bible passages that are called out in.

And though god told them as much through the birth of hoseas third. Chapters 1 and 3 are historical narrative of the life and times of hosea, while chapter 2 is poetry. The kingdom agenda worship center senior pastorteacher prophetess felicia hamiltonparramore tuesday night fresh manna service route 66. The names of his children indicate the attitude of god toward israel. Hosea redeems his adulterous wife israel to come back to jehovah 4, 5 4. Hoseas life becomes a picture of the mercy and grace and patience of god with an unfaithful people. The book of hoseas dominant theme is israels faithlessness. Israels sin is idolatry which comes from a lack of knowledge of god. However the marital model is not the sole conception. The book of hosea, a minor prophet, is part of the book of the twelve. Indeed, hiring lovers, or allies, will backfire, bringing israel under the increasing yoke of the king of princes hosea 8. The study of the book of hosea is timely for the people of god in the last half of the twentieth century. This book stands first in order among the minor prophets. Yahweh was coming from zion to judge the nations for their rebellion against the creator of the earth.

Apr 12, 2020 the book of hosea is a picture of gods great love for his people. Hoseas book is the first of the minor prophetsthe last 12 books of the old. Prophetess felicia hamiltonparramore the book of hosea. Hosea 814 erv idol worship leads to destruction bible. Book of hosea biblical studies oxford bibliographies. Chapter 14 closes with an appeal to true repentance. The book of hosea stands first in the order of the socalled minor prophets in common english bibles, as well as in the ancient hebrew and septuagint texts.

Hosea s life and marriage were used in an analogous way to demonstrate the waywardness of israel and the steadfast, intimately personal love of yhwh. Below is a suggested outline of the book of hosea with some key passages. Throughout the book, hosea will show us that salvation is found in turning to the lord and away from our sin. This propensity for idolatry meant that the israelites lived as if they were not gods people.

The poet also deals with the injustices and poverty of his day. The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. Hosea was a man, but he was a man god used to speak through. Hosea utters approximately 150 statements concerning the sins of israel. The book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet hosea son of beeri. The lord will break down their altars and destroy their standing stones. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. One particularly poignant way in which these salvation themes are seen in hosea involves the covenant between god and israel initiated at sinai being treated as a marriage. Gods love for israel, a nation of people more interested in themselves than in gods direction for their lives, shines through clearly against the darkness of their idolatry and injustice hosea 14. The books proclamations describe a world fraught with idolatry, apostasy, and other transgressions. Aug, 2019 as with much prophetic literature the life of the prophet portrays the truth of god.

The nelsons illustrated bible dictionary gives the following outline of the book. Besides these explicit references, the worship of such gods is a prominent theme in hosea, and it would be well for anyone reading the book to. See how god describes his view of what israel did to him. Hosea offers the possibility of salvation, but only if the people turn from idolatry. God commands hosea to marry gomer, but after bearing him three children, she walks away from hosea to her lovers. The great consummation will be celebrated at the marriage feast of the lamb, in fulfillment of all the prophets, not least hosea.

Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries. Jerome specified that one of the divisions of the jews sacred books was the book of the twelve prophets, which evidently included the book of hosea to fill out the number 12. Jehovahs legal case against israel 18 no knowledge of god in the land 1 israels idolatry and promiscuity 919 an immoral spirit leads astray 12 5. Historical background of hoseaassyria steven hovater. Constables notes on hosea 2020 edition interpreters that if hosea had come from the southern kingdom, he too would have been identified as coming from the southern kingdom. It is interesting that idolatry and sabbathbreaking are linked, because the breaking of either leads directly to the breaking of the other. Hoseas prophecies elaborate on this metaphor, calling israel to account for idolatry and foretelling judgment but also promising gods faithfulness despite israels mistakes.

Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, considered as one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. It comes from the same hebrew root hoshea as the names joshua and jesus. Nov 01, 20 hosea brings his wife back, like god will do for israel hos 3 hosea explains gods plan for israel hos 4 israels idolatry against god 47 israels impending punishment 810 gods loving discipline 11 gods promise of restoration 14 more pages related to hosea. The condition in the churches today is similar to that in israel in the middle of the eighth century b. If hosea describes idolatry as prostitution, even more daring is ezekiel for whom it is outright nymphomania. Before the inspiring conclusion of the book, hosea foreca. Hosea parallels his own tragic marriage to his unfaithful wife gomer chapters to that of the covenant between god and israel chapters 414. This book is all about relationship gods relationship with his people which is falling apart owing to their adulterous behaviour. Its name is taken from the prophet hosea, who lived in the northern kingdom between 755 and 725 bc. Hosea s prophecy gave israel a tangible example of its spiritual idolatry, yet portrayed gods love for israel in spite of her spiritual infidelity. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built.

This prophetic book sobers us and fills us with renewed hope. Two looks at israels covenant failure bibleproject. Kjv bible verses from hosea offer free, online access, for those of the christian faith, to study scriptural passages for biblical studies, contained in the words. The lords loyal love for the idolatrous, northern kingdom of israel is demonstrated through hoseas marriage to gomer 1. They are full of poetry, symbolism, analogies and graphic descriptions of israels hypocrisy. Amos, like hosea, accuses israel of idolatry, but the main burden of his accusation is about the results of social injustice connected to their idolatry. Throughout the book, hosea will show us that salvation is found in turning to. A catholic defense of idolatry in israel the book of hosea. The subject is the idolatry of ephraim, notwithstanding gods. In hosea, the faithless actions of israel toward god are illustrated by the relationship between hosea and his adultress wife, gomer. The israelites have broken my agreementthey have not obeyed my law. More than half of them deal with the sin of idolatry. Introduction hosea the prophet hosea was a prophet who lived and prophesied just before the destruction of israel in 722 bc. The book is a mixture of prose and poetry mostly poetry.

The history of israel is a sad chronicle of idol worship, punishment, restoration and forgiveness, followed by a return to idolatry. At the same time he shows the future ways of god with his people. Lessons from hoseas women 31 days of women from scripture volume 2 day 27 hoseas women day twentyseven. The folly of israels idolatry israel is a growing vine that yields its fruit.

The title is derived from the main character and author of the book. Summary of the book of hosea the story of the bible. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The short book of powerful prophetic poetry accompanied by two brief narrative sections, cannot be read in strict isolation. This was the longest of the prophetic books written before the captivity hosea prophesied in a dark and melancholy period of israels.

The book of hosea is a picture of gods great love for his people. The assyrian emperor of the end time, who seems to be the primary reference here, will apparently be a dictator over a united europe. Hosea was a contemporary of two southern kingdom prophets. Knowledge of god 9 hosea in canonical context 11 conclusion.

The book begins with a lions roar that withers fertile pastures amos 1. Hosea means salvation and this is what the lord offered to israel if they would turn from their idolatry or adultery. In the bible, harlotry means idolatry, and it is the same offense as forn. Hosea refers to israel under the names of ephraim, its largest tribe, and samaria, its capital. We hope that you find the hosea summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a guide to further reference to the book of hosea. Israels sin is idolatry which comes from a lack of knowledge of god and results in inane acts such as seeking direction from a stick. Hosea 1 niv the word of the lord that came to hosea. Israel has been unfaithful to god through idolatry and oppression of the poor.

Hosea 5 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The book of hosea was a severe warning to the northern kingdom against the growing idolatry being practiced there. It is a short book, and reading it many times will help you understand the story much better. A catholic defense of idolatry in israel the book of. The meaning of his name, salvation, is the same as that of joshua compare num. A highly complex and rhetorically rich text, the books backdrop is the rise of the assyrian empire in the mid8th century bce. Lessons from hoseas women spiritual adultery idolatry. The meaning of his name, salvation, is the same as that of joshua. Study the hosea passage for this lesson, by reading the verses and studying the notes. This survey of hosea gives the history and background to the book as.

Throughout the book, hosea pictured the people turning away from the lord and turning toward other gods 4. Israel has broken gods covenant as gomer broke her marriage covenant with hosea. Pdf a theology of the book of hosea tyler patty academia. Hosea the man lived in israel, not judah, which is seen in hosea 7. Since god gave eve to adam, i cannot think of anyone for whom god picked a mate. The book of hosea on idolatry and teraphim what follows is a discussion taken from the tnn. Israels alternative to destruction was to forsake her idols and return to the lord chs. Ephraim was the largest tribe in israel and sometimes the whole nation was referred to as ephraim.

Martin collins, reminding us that hosea has sometimes been referred to as the deathbed prophet of israel, nevertheless assures us that the end of the book is filled with hope and a happy conclusion. What the bible says about israels idolatry bible tools. By them hosea expresses his deep woe over israels condition. May 06, 2017 amos, like hosea, accuses israel of idolatry, but the main burden of his accusation is about the results of social injustice connected to their idolatry. The subject is the idolatry of ephraim, notwithstanding gods past benefits, destined to be his ruin. Jeroboam thought it a profound piece of policy to set up golden calves to represent god in dan and bethel, in order to prevent israels heart from turning again to davids line by going up to jerusalem to worship. Israel had become conformed to her cultural environment and had adulterated yahwism with the cultic practices of the religion of the canaanites, hoping to secure the.

We can see ezekiels general accusation against israels idolatry in the specific example of judah in the writings of his contemporary, jeremiah. The book of hosea is one of the books of the minor prophets in the old testament of the bible. Historical background of hoseabaal and idolatry steven hovater. Like other prophetic books, hosea issued a call to repentance. Over the next month ill be working through hosea in sermons and some blog posts. The second part of the book contains longish lamentations of hosea. Best resources on hosea the prophet hosea intentionally marries an unfaithful woman to symbolically portray gods relationship with unfaithful israel. This chapter and the next one may belong to the troubled times that followed pekahs murder by hoshea cf. Though israel was unfaithful to god, god still loved them but israels failure to heed the prophetic warnings of hosea and continue in their idolatry and disobedience to god, led to consequences. May 30, 2011 while other historical and cultural factors certainly add color to our reading of hosea, these two simply cannot be ignored if we are to grasp the essence of the books message.