The Written Prophecy of Hosea

Quote:
By H. A. "Buster" Dobbs
I. Introduction.
A. The man.
1. Hosea was apparently a native of the northern kingdom.
2. The word of Jehovah came to Hosea (1:1)
a. His message was directed primarily to Israel.
b. He had a deep understanding of the political and social
conditions of his time.
c. He taught during the days of Jeroboam II (circa 745 B C.).
3. His marriage.
a. He married a woman, Gomer, who was very immoral.
b. She was not sexually promiscuous before the marriage.
c. She caused the prophet much agony and grief, but he
continued to love her by seeking her highest good.
B. The background.
1. The reign of Jeroboam II in Israel was a time of peace and
prosperity.
a. The people were idle and wealthy.
b. This caused wastefulness and tyranny.
c. Plenty of money and lots of time also produced gross
immorality.
2. The people did not know the law of God.
a. Ignorance of God and his word was the chief cause of
their infidelity (4:1; 4:6; 6:6).
b. A knowledge of God and his word is the strongest guard
against immorality and destruction.
II. The Book.
A. The personal history of Hosea (1:1 to 3:5).
1. Hosea commanded to take a wife (1:1-3).
a. The prophet married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim (1:3).
b. First child named Jezreel (1:4-5).
c. Second child named Loruhamah (no mercy) (1:6-7).
d. Third child named Loammi (not my people) 1:8-9).
2. A promise to restore Israel and Judah (1:10-11).
3. Gomer's children witnessed her adultery (2:1-7).
a. Gomer's children born of fornication (2:1-4).
b. Their mother played the harlot (2:5).
c. Gomer found no satisfaction in waywardness (2:6-7).
4. Gomer's infidelity symbolized Israel's faithlessness (2:8-13).
a. Israel did not know the source of her blessings (2:8) .
b. Israel to suffer the loss of everything (2:9-13).
5. Israel to be restored (2:14-23).
6. Hosea's bringing Gomer back to him is symbolic of Israel's
opportunity to return to Jehovah (3:1-5).
B. Israel charged with sin (4:1-18) .
1. Sins of Israel multiplied and progressive (4:1-5).
2. Lack of knowledge of Jehovah's law (4:6-10).
3. Idolatry rampant in the land (4:11-14).
4. Swift destruction is sure to come (4:15-18) .
C. Priests and leaders charged with sin (5:1 to 6:3).
1. An indictment of both priest and king (5:1-7).
2. There is no deliverance for the sinful (5:8-15).
a. The idols of Gilgal and Bethaven cannot save (5:8) .
b. Assyria will not deliver the people (5:13).
3. National disaster calls for repentance (6:1-3).
D. The love of God pleads with a rebellious and hardhearted
people (6:4 to 7:16).
1. God's unrequited love (6:5-11).
2. Israel's moral rottenness (7:1-16).
a. Jehovah sees and knows their behavior (7:2).
b. They are ever ready to flame up in unbridled passions and
unrestrained evil (7:3-7).
c. Ephraim fellowships evil and is half-baked (7:8) .
d. Sinners not aware of deplorable condition (7:9).
e. The judgment of God is inescapable (7:10-16).
E. Destruction because of obscene conduct (8:1 to 9:9).
1. An outline of Israel's sins (8:1-7).
2. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (8:8-14).
3. Punishment for infidelity (9:1-9).
F. Disrespect and idolatry reproved; strong warnings of coming
doom (9:10 to 11:12).
1. A brief summary of the Jews (9:11-17).
2. Prosperity brought sin and shame (10:1-3).
3. Punishment cannot be escaped (10:4-8) .
4. From the beginning of the kingdom, the ungrateful nation
has sinned (10:9-11).
5. The bitter fruit of war will come upon the sinful people
(10:12-15).
6. God's tender love rejected (11:1-4).
7. God's love, when trampled under foot, expressed in
destructive judgment (11:5-7).
8. Harsh punishment is reluctantly inflicted; God takes no
delight in chastising the wicked (11:8-11).
9. Israel and Judah contrasted (11:12).
III. Promises and Hope.
A. Jehovah, Judah and Israel (12:1-14).
1. Israel appealed to foreign powers (12:1-2).
2. They are reminded of their great ancestor, Jacob, and urged
to follow his example (12:3-6).
3. Another description of Israel's apostasy (12:7-14).
a. Gained wealth by trickery (12:7).
b. Trusted in riches (12:8) .
c. God's prophecies have never failed (12:9-13).
d. Israel's destruction is sure (12:14).
B. Ephraim entreated (13:1-16).
1. Ephraim exalted and abased (13:1-3).
2. Jehovah is their only hope (13:4-8) .
a. Jehovah is either a savior of life unto life or of death unto
death (13:4-6).
b. Rejecting God's law causes destruction (13:7-8) .
3. The day of reckoning is at hand (13:9-16).
a. No earthly king shall save (13:9-14).
b. Debauchery brings pitiless judgment (13:10-16).
C. Promises of pardon (14:1-9).
1. Return unto Jehovah (14:1-3).
2. The beauty of holiness (14:4-8) .
a. It looks good (14:4).
b. It smells good (14:5-6).
c. It tastes good (14:7-8) .
3. The wise find victory in Jehovah; the foolish front deathless
ruin (14:9).
Shain1611

"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH
(John 17:17)

And Jesus Speaking; " He that rejecteth me, receiveth not my words, hath one that, judgeth him:the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
( John12:48 KJV)