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The Book of Hosea
John A. Hubbard, D. D.
L AST MONTH we began the study of some of the prophetic 4 books of the Old Testament, month we study the writing of a con temporary of his, namely, Hosea. This book gives us a vivid illustration of the twofold mission of the prophet: First, the ministry to the people of his own day: rebuking, warning, ex horting in view of their unfaithfulness to God; and, second, the predictive message: pointing ahead to the res toration of Israel as a nation, and to her place of fellowship with God and a walk of obedience. Since Hosea was a contemporary of Amos, the condi tions were similar: there was great material prosperity, at least in the be ginning of Hosea’s ministry, and a de plorable inward condition of sin and corruption. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan suggests the following broad outline of Hosea: 1. Chs. 1-3—The training of the prophet. 2. Chs. 4-14—The teaching of the prophet. The training of the prophet Hosea was of v e r y unusual character be cause it involved a heartbreaking ex perience in connection with his home life. The first three chapters are ac tual history. He married Gomer, who proved unfaithful to him. However, we believe that this marriage took place before Gomer had fallen. God used this means of teaching Hosea how terribly Israel had sinned in her relation to Him. “The land hath com mitted g r e a t whoredom, departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2). Just as Hosea cast off Gomer for her unfaith fulness to him, so God repudiated Israel. This is indicated by the names given to two of the children bom to Hosea and Gomer. The first was called Lo-ruhamah, w h i c h means, “That
hath not obtained mercy” ; the second was named Lo-ammi, signifying, “Not my people.” The repudiation of Israel i emphasized in chapter 2:2-13. (The student should read these verses be fore proceeding with this article.)
tribes of Israel are to be reunited, and will be r u l e d over by “one head,” namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Luke 1:31-33.) Many years later, God revealed the same truth to Ezekiel. (Read Ezekiel 37:15-28.) This prediction concerning-the res toration of Israel is .also vividly set before us in chapter 2:14-23. No t e the words of 2:16: “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi,” meaning “my hus band.” The truth of the restoration is also clearly taught in Hosea 3. The one whom Hosea was told to take to him self was undoubtedly the unfaithful Gomer. From verse two we see some thing of the terrible depths to which she had sunk, for Hosea bought her out of slavery. However, verse three indicates that for many days t h e y lived apart. The meaning of this is very clearly brought out in verses four and five. Israel is no longer guilty of spiritual harlotry, as seen in idolatry, and the prediction of verse four is being literally fulfilled: “ For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim.” As these words are being literally ful filled now, so will the wonderful pre diction of ver^e- five be literally ful filled: “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” The second part of the book (chap ters 4-14) is an elaboration of chap ters 1 to 3. Thé student can quite readily discover the passages in these chapters which deal with Israel’s un faithfulness, and the p a s s a g e s in which they are rebuked for it.
covering the book of Amo s . This
Dr. Hubbard As a nation, Israel stands today dis owned by the Lord. (This does not ex clude the possibility of the salvation of individuals of that nation during this present dispensation.) But the story of Gomer does not end with her repudiation. There was also a restora tion. This is taught very definitely in Hosea 1:10, 11, and 2:1. Then, in stead of the name Lo-ammi, “Not my people,” it will be Ammi, “My people,” and, instead of Lo-ruhamah, “Un pitied,” it will be Ruhamah, “Having obtained pity.” Note the prediction in 1:11. “Then shall the children of Judah [the south ern kingdom] and the children of I s r a e l [the northern kingdom] be gathered together, and appoint them selves one head.” Thus the twelve
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