Hosea 1

Study Guide 68: Hosea SPIRITUAL ADULTERY Overview Hosea lived and ministered in Israel in the days of the Divided Kingdom. He preached during the later years of Jeroboam II, a time of great material prosperity (about 753-723 b.c.). Hosea’ s mission was both special and painful. He was called to experience the anguish caused by an unfaithful wife: a wife whose sexual adultery mirrored the spiritual adultery of the nation Israel, which had been unfaithful to the Lord by worshiping idols and rejecting the holiness in His Law. The names of his children were chosen by God as reminders of Israel’ s unfaithfulness. The outline of the Book of Hosea reflects the prophet’ s calling.

Outline I. Unfaithful WifeHosea 1-3 II. Unfaithful PeopleHosea 4-14 A. Sins denouncedHosea 4-8 B. Doom announcedHosea 9-10 C. Love affirmedHos_11:1-12 D. DisciplineHosea 12-13 E. BlessingHos_14:1-9GRACE. The Book of Hosea illustrates powerfully the Old Testament concept of grace. The Hebrew word hesed, often translated “ mercy” in the KJV and “ loving-kindness” or “ steadfast love” in recent translations, indicates God’ s total commitment to be faithful to those He has chosen. The people of Israel, like Hosea’ s wife, were unfaithful in their relationship with the Lord. But God would remain faithful, first disciplining Israel, but then restoring them to an intimate relationship with Himself.

Commentary Unfaithful Wife: Hosea 1-3 There are many experiences that cause us pain. But one of the most painful of all must be the unfaithfulness of a marriage partner. For Hosea, who married “ an adulterous wife,” that pain was not just something occasioned by a single fall. Hosea’ s wife Gomer practiced unfaithfulness as a lifestyle. Ultimately she left the prophet and their three children, to live with a series of other men. Yet Hosea continued to care for her. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Begin with a “ counseling case history.” Ask your group members what advice they would give to Mr. H. Mr. H.’ s wife has left him and their three children (two of them teens). She’ s moved to another town, and has been living with a series of different men. Even though Mr. H. has tried repeatedly to get her to return, and even helped her out financially when she has had money problems, she just laughs at him. Still, Mr. H. can’ t seem to accept what has happened, and dreams of getting his wife back. “ What advice would you give Mr. H.? How would you justify your advice biblically?” Let your group discuss this thoroughly. Some may believe he should get a divorce (he does have grounds). Others may call for continuing forgiveness. Don’ t express a personal opinion, but let your members explore options. While Hosea could have validly divorced his wife under the Law, this was something he simply could not do. Despite the anguish he felt, Hosea continued to love Gomer. This was admittedly unusual. Hosea had been called by God to demonstrate both the Lord’ s personal pain and His utter faithfulness. Hosea did demonstrate God’ s character and His commitment by his continuing faithfulness to his prostitute wife. Surely God must have given Hosea the grace to live through this agonizing experience! We don’ t know how many years Hosea lived this way — rejected, feeling agonizing pain, but continuing to love. Hosea 1-3 tells us that the prophet was called by God to “ take to yourself an adulterous wife” because “ the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2). It is likely that this revelation was given Hosea before his marriage, and that Gomer may have been an active prostitute before she became a bride. If so, Hosea, like Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was warned in advance of the personal cost of obedience to the Lord. Ezekiel 2:1-10 is a poem, expressing both Hosea’ s and God’ s feelings as they experienced a beloved’ s unfaithfulness. The choice of adultery to represent spiritual unfaithfulness is purposive. When God brought Israel into the Promised Land, He told His people they were to supplant a corrupt civilization. The religion of the land was essentially a fertility faith that linked the land’ s fruitfulness to the supposed sexual activity of gods and goddesses. When the male lord or owner god (Baal) and his consort (Astarte, or Asherah) engaged in sex, the land was stimulated to produce crops. The fertility of animals and people too was assumed to be linked to the sexual activity of these nature gods. As an expression of this belief, the worship of the pagan gods and goddesses at local shrines and high places was typically marked by drunkenness and orgy. Male and female prostitutes joined in erotic acts intended to sexually stimulate the gods, and make the land fertile. By the time of Hosea, many of the practices of Canaanite worship were actually integrated with the worship of the Lord. Local shrines were erected, and religious celebration often involved debauchery. So idolatry and sexual looseness were actually linked in Hosea’ s day. The imagery of Israel as the adulterous wife of the Lord was appropriate, for adultery was often an integral part of the pagan worship experience. There is another close link between adultery and idolatry. Adultery is unfaithfulness in what is intended to be a lifelong commitment. Marriage is intended to bond a man and woman together for their lifetimes. One who turns from his or her partner to others has violated that commitment. God too calls His people to a lifelong commitment. Believers are to be totally faithful to God, and not to waver in their allegiance to Him. In Old Testament times unfaithfulness to God often was seen in idolatry. But it was also expressed in injustice — in a violation of the divine Law motivated by a greed for wealth or material possessions. Whatever it may be that leads a person to turn from a commitment to a life-partner or to God, that unfaithfulness will cause great pain. Just as it caused Hosea pain. Just as it has caused unnumbered husbands and wives pain. Just as the unfaithfulness of God’ s people to Him has caused Him intense pain as well. Yet Hosea 3:1-5 tells us that finally, after years of unfaithfulness, God told the prophet, “ Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods” (Hosea 3:1). Following God’ s instructions the prophet found Gomer. She apparently had been forced finally to sell herself as a bondservant. Hosea paid the price to buy back her contract, and then took her home “ to live with me” (Hosea 3:3). In this Hosea acted as God Himself would act. There would be a terrible time of separation as Israel was torn from her land. But God would remain faithful, and finally would bring His people back to their land. “ Afterward,” the prophet is told, “ the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to His blessings in the last days” (Hosea 3:5). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT After your group has debated how to advise Mr. H., tell the story of Hosea and Gomer. Explain the link in Old Testament times between adultery and idolatry. Explain too that Hosea’ s call to remain faithful to her was a call to represent God to unfaithful Israel. Then discuss: “ Is Hosea’ s faithfulness to an unfaithful wife a model for Christians? What is the place of forgiveness in cases of unfaithfulnes in Christian marriage? Under what conditions should Hosea’ s experience not be considered normative?” NOTE: If no one else makes this observation, note that God expressly called Hosea to his wife and his life. Each Christian is to respond to Jesus’ guidance in his or her own life. Saints like Hosea can lead us to think of our personal situations in fresh ways, and to consider various options. But we must each ultimately be led by Jesus to the choices He wants us to make in our own lives, except where a clear yes or no in Scripture makes His will plain.

God’ s Unfaithful People: Hosea 4-14 The first ruler of the Northern Kingdom, Jeroboam I, had set up a false worship system that counterfeited the sacrifices, the priesthood, the worship center, and the annual worship festivals established in God’ s Law. Each ruler of Israel continued this evil, and some actively promoted idolatry. The kings also promoted a materialistic life. Thus Hosea was right when he charged Israel’ s rulers, saying, “ All their leaders are rebellious” (Hosea 9:15). In the days of Hosea Israel was a prosperous nation. Her aggressive ruler, Jeroboam II, multiplied his country’ s territory and defeated her enemies. Control of trade routes brought unexpected wealth. Yet the political life of Israel was marked by murders, intrigues, and many other evils. The wealthy oppressed the poor, and those in authority accepted their bribes. In every significant way, Israel was a land whose people had proven completely unfaithful to the Lord. Now the prophet moved from his own experience with Gomer to show the parallels that existed in the Lord’ s relationship with Israel. Sins denounced (Hosea 4-8). Among the violations of God’ s laws that called out for judgment were cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery (Hosea 4:1-2). The people even practiced ritual prostitution in conjunction with their adultery (Hosea 4:4-14). The arrogance of this people was so great that they could never find God (Hosea 5:1-7). Surely a terrible time of wrath would come (Hosea 5:8-12). Hosea contrasted Israel’ s words and her verbal repentance with her actions. It was what she did rather than what she said that demonstrated the nature of her heart attitude. And what marked Israel’ s lifestyle? Deceit and thievery (Hosea 7:1-2), and royal drunkenness and intrigue (Hosea 7:3-8). To such a people “ repent” was an empty word, and whatever this people said they simply had not returned to God (Hosea 7:9-16). As a result, judgment would come like a tornado and tear up God’ s people (Hosea 8:1-14). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT What constitutes spiritual adultery or unfaithfulness to the Lord? Have teams examine Hosea 4-5 and 6-7. Each is to list the sins that Hosea described. Then each group is to try to define “ spiritual unfaithfulness” for contemporary Christians. We do not worship idols. How then does a person exhibit unfaithfulness in his or her relationship with the Lord? After each team has defined spiritual unfaithfulness, come together to share and compare findings. Doom announced (Hosea 9-10). Hosea warned that judgment must come “ because of all their wickedness” (Hosea 9:15). The people of Israel (called Ephraim in this book because Jeroboam II was from the tribe of Ephraim) had rejected God. Now they would be rejected by Him and “ they will be wanderers among the nations” (Hosea 9:17). Love affirmed (Hosea 11:1-12). In one of Scripture’ s most beautiful chapters God expressed His continuing love for His people. They had hurt Him deeply. But God could not help loving them. When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. . . . How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within Me; all My compassion is aroused. I will not carry out My fierce anger, nor devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not man — the Holy One among you. Hosea 11:1-4, Hosea 11:8-9Discipline (Hosea 12-13). The judgment which Israel was about to experience was terrible. But it would not lead to final destruction. But discipline there must be. God must “ punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds” (Hosea 12:2). Again Hosea recounted some of the sins of the people which called for judgment. The merchant uses dishonest scales; he loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “ I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin [that is, wealth can be used to bribe the judges so they acquit me].” Hosea 12:7-8Only a return to God, demonstrated by a commitment to maintain love and justice, could win a reprieve. Yet, despite evidence of God’ s love, Israel would not respond. The God who once “ cared for you in the desert” (Hosea 13:5) would turn on them like a fierce beast (Hosea 13:7-8). The people of Samaria [Israel’ s capital] must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. Hosea 13:16Final blessings (Hosea 14:1-9). Even though the sins of Israel had been their downfall, they could return to the Lord. Say to Him: “ Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” Hosea 14:2That day of return will surely come. And when it does, God makes His wayward people a promise. I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them. Hosea 14:4 Teaching Guide Prepare Consider how great God’ s faithfulness is in the light of our unfaithfulness to Him.

Explore

1. Open class with a discussion of the case of “ Mr. H.,” whose wife has deserted him and their three children. See the “ link-to-life” idea at the beginning of this guide.
2. Tell the story of Hosea, and his years-long suffering before a reconciliation with Gomer. Go back then and reevaluate the earlier discussion. Especially explore whether or not Hosea’ s commitment (like God’ s) to an unfaithful partner is to be considered normative for believers today whose spouses might prove unfaithful.

Expand

1. Work in teams to define spiritual unfaithfulness. What do we learn from Hosea 4-8 that helps us understand how moderns might be unfaithful to God? How moderns might be more faithful to God? See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or, raise the question: “ How does God feel about us when we have failed Him?” Ask your group members to find one verse in Hosea 11:1-12 which expresses God’ s feelings when we are unfaithful, and one verse there which expresses His attitude toward us. Compare verses, asking each person to explain why he or she made a particular choice. How good to know that God has a deep and tender love for us, and that when we turn to Him He forgives us freely.

Apply Place the last verse of Hosea on the chalkboard: Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14:9Go around the circle and ask each person to make one observation on what this verse says to him or her after your study of Hosea.

AdulteryProstitution (Fornication) O.T.na4)apza4na=h N.T.moicheiaporneia D IUsually refers to menUsually refers to women F FRelations with a married Relations outside of Eperson not spousemarriage R ENot a professional Often a professional Nprostituteprostitute C EDeath penalty Death penalty not Sappropriateappropriate S I M I L A R I T I E S Both are forbidden by God

Both are used figuratively to represent spiritual and moral unfaithfulness

Both merit and will receive divine punishment