Text: Hosea 13:1-16 The time has come, for Hosea has the terrible duty to announce the death of a nation (vv. 1-2) . This chapter is probably written in 722 B.C., just after the Assyrians had taken the last Israelite king captive, and are now finishing off the rest of the country. Idolatry had taken[…]

Text: Hosea 12:1-14 Hosea is back in court again with another accusation against Israel: ‘You are deceitful!’ (vv.2-3). Much like that trickster and conman Jacob, Israel was deceitful and in doing so broke the covenant in many ways. In what ways were they lying? In their business and handling of money. The business people were[…]

Text: Hosea 10:1-15 To be wealthy is not a sin. But why is it so hard for us to use that wealth to glorify God and build up His Kingdom? (vv.1-2). Israel was blessed both spiritually and materially in order to be a blessing to the nations. But this is impossible if they borrow pagan[…]

Text: Hosea 9:1-17 Hosea is probably writing this after the Assyrians took many Israelites captive in 733 B.C. More raids would follow, until the country was completely wiped out in 722 B.C. The warnings have not been taken seriously; therefore, the consequences have come as promised (vv.3, 5). They can no longer rejoice as they[…]

Hosea 7:1-16 When our minds are corrupted by a dishonest system, we convince ourselves that no one, especially God, knows what we are doing (vv.2, 6). This basically is what Chapter 7 is about. But He is always fully aware of the sin that we do. And part of the specific sin that is confronted[…]

Text: Hosea 6:1-11 What we have here is the perfect explanation of God’s discipline (vv. 1-2). He whom the Lord loves, He disciplines. In this verse, we see that the discipline of the Lord is a hard thing. May be it is someone who asks you hard questions and rebukes you. But the Lord also[…]

Text: Hosea 5:1-15 Spiritual leadership is an enormous responsibility (v.1). If spiritual leaders fail, then the nation falls apart. This is why their training, mentorship, and continued accountability is vital. The root and core of the failure of Israel is their leadership at the highest levels. Israel was to be a spiritual kingdom, with the[…]

Text Hosea 4:1-19 Once again Hosea is revealing that God is accusing His people in a court of law: ‘they are unfaithful’ (vv.1-2). This language is to show how serious God is about sin. Sin is not a mistake, a brief weakness in judgement, or forgetfulness. Sin is personal and deeply offensive; for it is[…]

Text: Hosea 3:1-5 It looks like Hosea’s wife did not want to settle down into a normal life. With time, she grew bored and wanted something more exciting, like a new boyfriend. Yet Hosea was not released from his covenant, just like Yahweh. So, he buys, Gomer back from the new boyfriend, like a slave,[…]

Text: Hosea 1:1-11 Hosea’s life is complicated! (vv.1-2). Not only is his country divided, but so is his own family. The life of a prophet is strange and painful; but Hosea’s life is particularly so. Israel is at the time of his writing, divided North and South. Judah in the South on occasion will have[…]