I prepared this outline for Advanced Old Testament Theology I (TH 841) at Bob Jones University on September 22, 2003.
Introduction: The prophecy of Hosea is a book of rich imagery portraying the intimate relationship of love, loyalty, and faithfulness that God desires to have with His people. It unveils for us, more than any other book, in stunning imagery the pain that unfaithfulness brings to the heart of God. The jealousy of God demands perfect faithfulness from His people. Yet paganism’s pull on the people of God is strong, and idolatry is often the result. God, however, loving pursues His people—though with a strong hand of judgment—and restores them to the place of loyalty to their covenant obligations. God is a faithful God in spite of the unfaithfulness of His people.
I. The character of God
A. The loyal love of God for His people
1. God’s covenant faithfulness: The covenantal language cannot be missed in Hosea’s prophecy. The term “covenant” (בְּרִית) occurs five times (2:18 [20]; 6:7; 8:1; 10:4; 12:2). חֶסֶד, the strong covenantal love of loyalty, has a high percentage of occurrences (2:21; 4:1; 6:4, 6; 10:12; 12:6 [7]). In addition, God manifests Himself by His very personal, covenant name יְהוָה (46x).
2. God’s love: Hosea is a well-known book for the vivid imagery that it uses to portray God’s love relationship with His people (אהב; 2:19; 3:1; 11:1, 4; 14:4). He is the husband and father of His adulterous wife and rebellious children.
a. God as the husband of His people: The theme of marriage is more fully developed in Hosea than anywhere else in Scripture. God, as the husband, has chosen and loved His wife, Israel (2:2, 7, 16; 11:1). The prophet’s role was to picture this relationship so that the people would see the heinousness of their sin.
b. God as the father of His people: A second theme developed in the book that manifests the intimate relationship between God and His people is that of a father and a son (11:1–4; cf. 5:2; 7:12, 15; 10:10). God loved Israel as His son and provided for and met all their needs. Israel’s rebellion and failure to acknowledge God caused God to chasten his son and bring them to repentance.
B. The uniqueness of God
The uniqueness of God is a theme that is echoed through the book, magnifying the wickedness of the people’s failure to be singly devoted to Him. Yahweh is the only true God, and there is none else (13:4). He is called the Holy One (קָדוֹשׁ; 11:9, 12), and He emphasizes the fact that He is not like man. This emphasis is further established by the use of אֵל in contrast with אִישׁ and paralleled with קָדוֹשׁ (1:10 [2:1]; 11:9, 12 [12:1]).
C. The judgment of God
A number of images are used to picture the Lord corrective judgment on His people. He is like a moth (5:12), rottenness (5:12), a lion (5:14; cf. 13:7–8), a bird-catcher (7:12), a farmer (10:11), a leopard (13:7), and a bear (13:8). God Himself will execute these intense judgments upon His people. Their severity is great, nonetheless it is deserved (13:16; cf. 8:7).
II. The sin and failure of God’s people
Israel’s sin is a dominate theme in the book. The term “iniquity” (עָוֹן) has the highest percentage of any OT book (4:8; 5:5; 7:1; 8:13; 9:7, 9; 12:9, 13:12; 14:2, 3). It focuses on the intentional nature of their sin and its crookedness. The people are also guilty of “sin” (חַטָּאת; חטא), which constitutes a failure to meet God’s standard (4:7; 8:11, 13; 9:9; 10:8, 9; 12:8; 13:12; 14:1, 2). The term “evil” (רַע; רעה) occurs as well, always in reference to moral justice (7:1, 2, 3, 15; 9:15; 10:15).
A. Unfaithfulness to God
1. Covenant unfaithfulness: Israel’s unfaithfulness to the covenant relationship is a dominate theme. They rejected the stipulations that God had imposed upon them (4:6; 6:7; 8:1, 12). The life of the nation was characterized by perfidious rejection of the covenant, just like Adam in the garden (בגד; 5:7, 6:7). This unfaithfulness was manifested in Israel’s rejection of the knowledge of God (4:1, 6; 5:4; 6:6; cf. 2:8 [10]; 2:20 [22]; 6:3; 8:2, 7). The force of ידע is usually more relational than informational (e.g., 8:4). While God wanted the heart of His people, they were content to give Him external forms and dead rituals. Part of God’s indictment against the people was that they “forgot” Him and His laws (2:13; 4:6; 8:14; 13:6). This was a willful rejection of God and the covenant stipulations.
2. Spiritual adultery: More than anywhere else in Scripture, Hosea presents Israel’s sin in terms of spiritual adultery (2:2 [4]; 3:1; 4:2, 13, 14; 7:4) and harlotry (זנה; זְנוּנִים; 1:2; 2:2, 4, 5; 3:3; 4:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18; 5:3, 4; 6:10; 9:1). Any pursuit of another god was comparable to a women committing adultery against her husband.
3. Idolatry: The first commandment makes clear that God demands exclusive devotion and loyalty. The paganism of the surrounding nations lead the people into idolatry, which, in the imagery of marriage, constituted spiritual adultery. The object of worship was at the heart of Israel’s sin (4:19; 5:7; 8:6; 9:1–6; 10:2, 5–8). This worshipping of other gods was the main sin of the people that cause the jealous zeal of God to be aroused (3:1). The people had been offering sacrifices to Baal (2:13; 4:13, 14, 19; 11:2; 13:2). As a result, the Lord rejects the ritualistic sacrifices and offerings of His unfaithful people (2:11; 3:4; 6:6; 8:13; 9:4; 12:11). He is not pleased by such external, heartless displays of devotion. Idols were prevalent among the people (3:4; 4:12, 17; 8:4; 11:2; 13:2; 14:8; cf. 10:5–6).
4. Refusal to repent: God always gives ample opportunity for His people to repent before bringing judgment, but they would not heed the warnings and listen to His pleas (2:2; 4:16; 5:15; 7:10; 10:12; 11:5; 12:6; 14:1–2). The sin against the Lord was itself great, but the sin to accept the forgiveness of God and return to Him was even more odious.
B. Sin against their fellow man
Rather than a faithfulness and kindness to their fellow man, Israel’s behavior was a continual breach of the second greatest commandment. The sins against each other were numerous: cursing (4:2), lying (4:2; 12:7), murder (4:2), drunkenness (4:11), greed (2:5), and sexual sins (4:10, 13–14). God required righteousness and justice (5:7, 24; 6:12; cf. 2:19; 10:4, 12; 12:6), but these were absent in the land.
Conclusion: Though God’s people are unfaithful, God’s faithfulness will continue. He will win the love of His people and will not settle for anything less than total and complete devotion to Him. Judgment is a necessary consequence for sin, yet God’s correction of His people is intended to bring repentance. The fulfillment of the prophecies of Hosea 1:10 and 2:23 find their fulfillment in the grafting in of the Gentiles in the New Covenant (Rom. 9:25–26).
Sources: Andersen and Freedman (AB), Bell (BV), Bostrom (NDBT), Brown (BV), Hubbard (TOTC), ISBE, Kidner (BST), Macintosh (ICC), McComiskey, Wolff (Hermeneia).