Hosea, whose names means "The Lord (Yahweh) has saved," is the first among those who are called "lesser prophets", because their prophecies are short. Hosea prophesied in Israel at the same time as Isaiah prophesied in Judah.
1. God instructs Hosea to marry an adulterous woman. He marries
Gomer and they have three children. Gomers unfaithfulness to Hosea compares to
Israels unfaithfulness to God. Hosea 1:1-11.
2. Hoseas voice becomes as one with God addressing Israel. The people worship Baal,
the Canaanite fertility god, thinking that he is the one who gives good crops and
plentiful harvest; when all the time it is God. Hosea 2:1-23.
3. Gomer, now seemingly the slave of another man, is brought back and put on probation.
Again Hoseas action, and his continuing love, provide an object- lesson. For a
while, Israel will be deprived of the things she counted on her king and religious
emblems - but in time she will turn back to God. Hosea 3:1-5.
4. Gods judgement against Israel. The chapter details obedience to Gods
standards; the prostitution of Israels religion; paganism bringing in its wake
sexual degredation; the breakdown of law and order. Hosea 4:1-19.
5. A generation has grown up to whom God is a stranger. Judah shares the sin to which
Israel has become addicted. Hosea 5:1-14.
6. Suffering turns the people to God. But their love evaporates as quickly as
dew in the hot sun. It is lasting love that God looks for. Hosea 5:15 & 6:1-6.
7. The total corruption of Israel. Priests have turned butcher; there is intrigue and
murder. Israel turns to foreign peoples, foreign powers; foreign gods; but never to the
Lord. Hosea 6:7-11 & 7:1-16.
8. God is forgotten. Israel will be caught up in the whirlwind of Gods judgement.
They have made their own gods, made their own laws; set up kings to suit themselves - as
if Gods laws did not exist. Hosea 8:1-14.
9. Distress and captivity of Israel. It was probably at the height of the festival to mark
the grape-harvest when Hosea spoke out. The people may call him a fool, but he knows he is
Gods watchman, and he will not hold his tongue. Sin has become habitual, ingrained,
to the point where God finally withdraws his love. Hosea 9:1-17.
10. Under the yoke. Outwardly, affluent Israel made a great show of religion, but inwardly
the people moved further and further away from God. Now they are reaping what they have
long sown. Hoses 10:1-15.
11. Gods love for Israel. We see the infinitely loving heart of God. The nation
deserves no mercy, yet God shrinks from destroying them. He is torn between love and
justice, neither of which can be denied. This pain he took to himself on the cross of
Christ. Hosea 11:1-12.
12. Sinners are urged to do penance. Israel must forget her proud independence and
reliance on foreign powers. The people deride their contemporary prophets. They need
reminding that it was through the prophet Moses that God brought the nation into being.
Hosea 12:1-14.
13. The just punishment. Israel may turn to Baal and other idols, but there is in fact no
God but God. Men may forget him, or discount him, but he exists: and he has power to carry
out all that he has warned of. Hosea 13:1-16. 14. An exhortation to repentance. This last
chapter is full of love and pleading. The way is open. Men have only to give God their
loyalty to find his love and forgiveness, and embark on a new, transformed life. This is
the truly wise course. Hosea 14:1-9.