Scripture Reading: Hosea 1:2, Hosea 4:1-3, Hosea 6:1-11, Hosea 7:1-2, Matthew 9:10-13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Hebrews 10:5-7
This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll continue looking at the genres of Major and Minor Prophets.
The Book of Hosea: The book of Hosea recounts how God used the prophet Hosea’s personal life as a representation of Israel’s repeating cycles of sin, repentance, and redemption. This book contrasts the relentless faithfulness of God with the repeated unfaithfulness of His people.
How Hosea Fits Into the Story: Hosea compares the relationship between God and His people to the real-life marriage of Hosea and Gomer, drawing a parallel between spiritual and marital unfaithfulness. In buying Gomer’s freedom, Hosea pointed ahead to God’s love perfectly expressed in Christ, who bought the freedom of His bride, the Church, with His own life. Like a marriage partner, God is deeply involved in our lives and pained when we go our own way. Often, God’s people have failed to demonstrate wholehearted love and faithfulness to Him, but nothing can quench God’s love for us.
Reflection Questions:
1. Look back to your reading on day 25. How does the portrayal of an ideal relationship in Song of Songs inform your reading of Hosea 6?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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37 thoughts on "Hosea"
I love (and highlighted and wrote down on my journal) how in in three separate parts of the bible, God repeats: “I desire mercy not sacrifice.” AND in Matthew 9:13 JESUS says it! I wasn’t here for the reading of day 25. BUT this is the thought I have this morning! THREE times we read this! JESUS wants our “YES” to Him. Come as we are, HIS arms are open wide to accept and forgive us. I am reminded of the scene in the movie inspired by the book “Redeeming Love” written by Francine Rivers. The last seen when Angel (aka Sarah in the movie portraying Gomer) comes to Michael Hosea (portraying Hosea) and asking for forgiveness, just the way WE would to JESUS and He is more than ready to forgive. I get teared up knowing how much I am wonderfully and fearfully made and LOVED by my JESUS!
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Dear Sisters, thank you for praying for my husband yesterday. He feels like the interview went well, but you never know. This was one of four interviews. Please pray for me, too, as June 30th is nearing, I’m finding myself worrying, fearing, and getting anxious a lot more. That is when our severance package ends and we will be left with no insurance or pay coming in. Filling my mind with His truth at that moment. Please pray for God to send a miracle job. That’s what we need at this point. I’m so grateful for each of you and this community here. May God bless you all!
Prayers Marina.
Praying hard Marina that Gods provision is in this mix of waiting and uncertainty..
He is nearvto all who call on Him in truth..❤️
Could you even imagine being Hosea? Oh my! I think I had that comment when we studied a Hosea as a community.
And he was a mortal Adrienne, how much more God and what we do to Him everyday..disrespecting, wandering, worshipping other gods, lack of thanks and gratitude, you name it, if it’s negative we do it to God daily..ughhh! ❤️
Song of Songs shows the beauty of faithful, committed love, while Hosea reveals how often God’s people failed to love Him in return. It reminded me that God desires a real relationship with us, not just religious acts.
Shows redemption through God’s unwavering love. Even when His people were unfaithful, He continued to pursue and restore them, pointing us to the perfect love and redemption we find in Jesus.
Oh Hosea! I remember the first time reading it being so confused of why he would be told to marry such a woman. Even told to go find her and forgive her when she left him! Us women, that are taught to stand up for ourselves and not let anyone mistreat us (an unfaithful spouse), decided as a whole decades ago, that we deserve better, and to divorce. (I didn’t put that quite right, but you get the gist). And so reading that decades ago, it was like, she doesn’t deserve him. And he doesn’t deserve a woman like that, why would God make him chase her down and bring her back. I would say Good-riddance you cheating woman! You are the one that did the wrong, I have no responsibility to the marriage anymore. Oof! But we do. God chased my unfaithfulness down many, many….many times. He came after me. Pursued me. Forgave me…over, and over, and over again.
My spouse, although not ever to that extreme, seemed to do the same thing over, and over…and over again the last 4 years. It was like I was on spin cycle, repeat. Around and around. It would be triggered, yell, ignore me…say sorry. And then again. I realized it stemmed from so much stress at work and just being tired from the days…and then I would say something critical (when he needed building up—words of encouragement is what his language is!) I kept thinking why should I keep saying “forgiven” over and over. I want change. I want repentance (an acknowledgement and turn from those actions)! But unfortunately we CAN’t change overnight. I can’t change overnight. It takes a lot of work.
With patience and diligence to the relationship—making it a priority to forgive and heal, forgive and heal…we create something that’s precious and lasting. Strong. Weaved together like a strong braid (Me, him, and Christ).
We want a marriage like SOS…passionate like the beginning, when we couldn’t get enough of each other. And see such beauty.
I have to choose to do that with my spouse. And him with me. And it works. I am happy to report that we have seen less and less of the damaging arguing that goes nowhere except to divide us. We are quick to stop it, and try to turn it around. I am still not good at saying “I’m Sorry,” though, God help me to own my part and do better.
Have ya’ll seen the movie out 4 or 5 years ago “Redeeming Love?” I love visuals for the scriptures that bring it more alive and “real.”
Of course the main point of Hosea is to show God’s amazing, steadfast love for His Israel! They have been stiff-necked, self-serving, wayward country/people since the beginning, just as today, but God’s promise remains. They are his, and he will forgive them when they repent and “come to him” in the tribulation! Hallelujah! Pray for them, as we pray for our own wayward, self-serving nation. We are so fortunate to be grafted in. The gentiles are his too. I am his.
Lord, forgive me for my own stiff-necked, self-serving, prideful, indifferent, self-pursuing ways. You correct us, poor out judgement for our good. May we recognize it to straighten up! All I needed was a stern talking to from my dad and I knew I was about to suffer the wrath if I crossed that boundary. It was his love for me to keep me safe and protected physically and otherwise. You Lord, are a good, good Father, and love your daughter. Your forgiveness and mercy, grace and redemption is so overwhelming and makes me weep in gratitude and thankfulness. May we wake in the Joy and sleep in the peace each night. Walk step by step daily on your path, the light at our feet guiding us. When we fall, may we be convicted quickly, and know you pick us up over and over.
I love going to jail and tell them “Jesus loves you black sheep..” The words to that Ben Fuller song is so good and true. We try to do it on our own, but it never will work. Zach Williams new song “Wait for Me” is good too for the wayward people ready to come home.
He is pursuing his prodigal children..they have not lost their “family name” they are just trying to live on their own for a while. They will come back when they realize it is futile and the Father is always there and will meet them when they return. He does not disown a repentive heart.
I think of showing up to the marital relationship with apathy. I’m guilty of this frequently. Life gets busy, kids, stress, money all makes us numb to our partner. Same with my relationship with the Lord. But when God talks about His true desires, He speaks directly to my apathetic heart. I am going through the motions. Not giving the true sacrifice of my heart.
This is so true! I am guilty of this also.
1) The shared passion, respect, and oneness in Song of Songs represents what a relationship with God should look like. Hosea shows us what results from infidelity, lack of love honor, and respect.
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2) Jesus saves us from the pit of promiscuity (sin), drawing us back to God, forgiven- as Hosea forgave Gomer (redeeming her through his love).
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Reading Hosea always reminds me of “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. A wonderful book.
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Update on Friend of friend. Thank you to those who are praying! She is home, but very weak and still not eating much. I offered to make some chicken noodle soup, but instead my friend asked for my recipe so she could make it. Praying she (the ailing friend) will like it enough to eat a healthy amount!
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
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SONG SHARE:
On That Wedding Day- Casting Crowns
Can’t add anything, sister, great points.
Or maybe just one thing … the soup won’t have your special touch, that little sprinkle of CEE GEE love, hopefully still delicious :) ❤️
Awww, thanks, SEARCHING! ❤
Yes, it would have blessed my heart to make it. ☺
Continuing prayers for your friend, Cee Gee
Thank you, CHERYL! ❤
Praying too ❤️
Thank you, Martha! ❤
Ahh Cee Gee I’ll send you my address so i can get me some chicken noodles soup via fed-ex! I’m well thank you, but what a treat that would be!
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Francine Rivers book.. beautiful!
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God is always ready to redeem us.. wherever we may roam, or sell ourselves, thanks to Jesus’s gift of life on the cross..
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Much love friend…❤️❤️
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One thing that stood out to me is the Song of Song and Hosea is how the relationship with God affected the land.
In Hosea 4:3 ” the land mourns and everyone who lives in it languishes.” The sins of the people are affecting the land
Song of Songs: There is this Eden vibe going on. There the land seems to be fertile.There are fruitful vineyards trees, blooming and blossoming.
The land in my opinion is God’s barometer. lt reflects the people’s relationship with God.If they are in right relationship and keeping covenant there is life.
If not the land is barren. The sin of the people. and their relationship affects the land.
A harvest comes with redemption and restoration
I am struck by what they said on the podcast, that God sent his prophets with words think Isaiah and Jeremiah, but they would not listen (ears that would not hear) so he sent prophets with sign acts (Ezekiel and hosea) so they could see but they had eyes that could not see. I have felt so many closed doors in the “light” spaces recently, places where I should be welcomed, church spaces. I am starting to wonder if I instead should be pursuing more unlikely, dark spaces. I heard a pastor the other week say if you are a light in an all light room it’s time to find a darker room..I’ve been thinking on that..
I’ve never heard it phrased like that, but makes sense! I love serving outside the church! It has brought profound blessings and richness to my life and faith! Seeing people go from dark to life truly reflects how God works. It’s one thing being overwhelmed by it in your own life, but being a part of it in others is truly what we are meant to do once we know the joy!
I was just thinking of Song of Solomon before I read them mention it in the 1st question. The woman and man in SOS both pursued each other, & remained faithful and in love with each other. There was no unfaithfulness, only
Q1 – Song of Song portrays a true love relationship, built on mutual love and affection. It is a picture of how a relationship is meant to be, specifically the relationship between Christ and his bride (the church/us). In Hosea, we see the exact opposite. This is a broken relationship, with Gomer being continually unfaithful to Hosea. Q2 – But Hosea never stops pursuing her, giving us a “living picture” of what Christ does for us. No matter how far we fall, He is always there waiting with open arms. He loves us too much to leave us where we are, and like Hosea for Gomer, he bought us back through the blood of Christ.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen
The relationship of mutual affection between the between the man and the woman found in Song of Songs is in sharp contrast to the faithless wife in Hosea. She is always looking to other men to giver her what she should be looking to her husband for.
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Today’s reading shows that in God’s plan, our full redemption includes changing our hearts to be loyal to Him above all others so that He “will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence” (Hos 6:2).
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KIRA H – praying for you to have a quick recovery and relief from the pain. Safe travels too!
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WENDY B – praying all goes smoothly with the rest of the testing this week. May the doctors get all the best results to determine a good plan for next steps.
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RHONDA J – thanks for sharing the praise report on Shalan.
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MARINA S – continued prayers for your husband’s job search.
thank you ❤️
Writing Mathew 9 in my devotional today because He was the Doctor I went to when I got sick in January ❤️
Yes, Dr God is who we should consult with first rather than Dr Google.
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