HOSEA THE PROPHET

The book of Hosea is a significant book

Hosea in Hebrew means “salvation”. ‘he saves’ or ‘he helps’

Interesting Verbs and nouns connected to this name are

The verb ישע (yasha’) means to be unrestricted and thus to be free and thus to be saved (from restriction, from oppression and thus from ultimate demise).

A doer of this verb is a saviour. Nouns (yeshua), י(yeshaה (teshua) means salvation.

The verb (shawa’) means to cry out (for salvation).

Nouns שוע (shua’) (shoa’) and (shawa) mean a cry (for salvation)

HOSEA Lives in the Northern Kingdom 200 years after the breaking of Southern Judah.

He was a prophet called to speak in the reign of one of Israel’s worst Kings Jeroboam

Nations were descending into chaos and the Assyria Empire came and caused much carnage

Who were the Assyrians They were ancient Sumerian people. Under a God called ASHUR. They were renowned Archers.. sending arrows the way Of Israel. They were a formidable foe on Israel’s side.

One of the most famous Assyrian King was SENNA CHERIB who was known for his threats intimidations and word curses sent to King Hezekiah.

The Assyrians came first and after they were defeated a Greater King .. King of Babylon heard of that Victory and came to see all of Hezekiah’s treasure. Thus to STEAL IT and that he did.

Never show your full armourer to anyone!

The book of Hosea was written almost in all poetry and has 3 main sections

The opening tells of Hosea’s broken marriage with “Gomer” his wife who commits adultery.

He was in the canon of the minor prophets although he was not a minor prophet but the same calbre as the others!

Father God instructed him to marry a Harlot as a symbol of Israel’s adultery

A true Prophet will live the message!

Hosea had 3 children, and Father God tells Hosea despite his wife’s unfaithfulness to go find her and pay off debts and commit to her regardless

This is a picture of God to Israel and later Us as re-born believers in Christ.

Hoseas meaning “salvation” is a faithful husband when Israel is not faithful to God.

Father God had asked Israel to be faithful to him alone but they did not do this.

Hoseas 12 we see “And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.”

Israel was taken out of slavery and bondage to the promised land and all its fruitfulness and blessing.

How much love does God have for his people!

Israel sadly under this evil King Jeroboam II

Hosea was sent to communicate God’s despair over their perpetual idol worship and dependence on outside nations.

Jeroboam in Hebrew means May The People Increase, Whose People Are Countless

“May The People Contend”

the verb (rabab), to become many, and (2) the noun עם (‘am), people.

From (1) the verb ריב (rib), to strive or contend, and (2) the noun עם (‘am), people.

Israel dedicated the land to the Canaanite God BAAL

The Prophet Hosea tells Israel there are consequences for turning away from God and worshipping the Canaanite God BAAL but there is HOPE as Israel will one day REPENT and turn back to God

In the book of Hosea has a legitimate reason to divorce Israel and Father God does ponder on this!

HOSEA sees this and tells them, he then goes on to share how much Father God loves Israel his chosen people and will pursue them and renew a covenant with them!

Hosea tells them also the future promise of MESSIAH

That he will place over them a future Messianic King from the line of David who will bring forth God’s blessing upon them!

Whoever Rules over us brings either blessings or Curses! Messiah was God’s CHOSEN!

And the theme is God’s Mercy for the future. Our Father has the ministry of Reconciliation through the Messiah. And the brings restoration.

He is a God that restores heals and delivers!

Hosea speaks of lacking knowledge of God, for if they knew him Intimately They would not have turned away and forgotten him.

The Hebrew word “Yadar” means to discern ( to know intimately so as in so close as a man or woman”

And this is the closeness we are to have with Him

Through Yeshua our Messiah we today have that YADAR both in the gift of Discerning of spirits but also In the Ability to walk habitually in closeness with the Holy Spirit the spirit of Truth!

Hosea constantly shows Israel’s hearts and hypocrisy

God says He wants to repair the deep brokenness of the sinful heart and God’s people can receive his love as they are supposed to!

It says in the last chapter

Hosea 14:9 “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in it!”

The book of Hosea doesn’t just focus on the current or past it shows the deep purpose of God’s character nature and God’s heart to heal and save the people.

It is a book of Hope, restoration and future vision and truth that only comes through a personal relationship with God’s Kingdom.

Hosea is a mighty transformational book about selflessness by the prophet of Hosea having to live out the message with an adulterous wife

He was commanded to love her unconditionally and get past his own feelings.

Sharing the consequences of turning away from Him but also that there is a promise of renewal and change.

Through rebellion and hardness of heart, God’s voice was ignored and thus a Vacuum was created.

To TURN away from God and give place to idolatry has great consequences.

We see that leadership that is evil will cause a turning away from God. They will suppress the truth and God’s voice thus furthering their own evil agenda.

Prophets are God’s emergency men and women FOR CRISIS hours when a prophet comes on the scene. We must look to WHY?

They are not there to tickle ears with great things but to turn people’s hearts back from witchcraft and rebellion.

God’s true prophets are lonely men and women. Who walk with God and stay away from distraction. Hosea must have felt lonely knowing his wife was far from him in her heart!

Hosea is a beautiful book of SELFLESS LOVE

He lay aside his own life and his own heart and feelings and lived in obedience to the very one who should love you betraying him and being unfaithful. This took endurance and courage. This took AGAPE LOVE. He knew the bigger picture although they did not!

The picture is of God with us and yet He sent his only begotten son into this earth to lay down His life on this earth and a ransom for many.

SUCH LOVE

Let us pray

Father, we call this nation back to the truth. Yeshua you are the way the truth and the life. We have been unfaithful to you many times and yet you still love us UNCONDITIONALLY

Lord expose and root out by your blood and word those things in our own hearts that may be keeping us in an Idolatrous state thus being an adulterer to you.

Lord idolatry and adultery have no place in our lives for you are FIRST. You are our first love. We give up all that is taking place instead of you.

Titles, names. Ministries, labels, agendas, root and heart issues, control, manipulations fear and Putting people in place of you!

We recognise that you alone are the one who knows the beginning from the end. You are the middle and everything should be about Father’s business.

Help us love like Hosea

Lord may we know your love more deeply to all we come into contact with and may we demonstrate that Not just in WORD BUT DEED. Thank you, your word says in Ephesians 3 that we are ROOTED, IN YOUR LOVE. Change that in our lives that needs changing today.

Baptise our hearts once again.

in your precious name AMEN

written by Soar Watchman Wall to the Nations