Key word: Faithfulness
We begin our travel today through the most neglected portion of Scripture – the minor prophets. This collection of 12 Old Testament books (known as the twelve by the Jews) are minor only in the sense that they are shorter, not that they lack significance. Each book has a unique perspective to offer the reader, and Hosea starts us on our journey.
Hosea is the last prophet to address the nation of Israel before Israel fell in 721 B.C. to the Assyrians. The first three chapters illustrates the Lord’s relationship with Israel through the tragic marriage of the prophet Hosea and his wife Gomer. The Lord commands Hosea to marry a prostitute and have children by her (1:2). The hope at this point is that Gomer would recognize that she had been rescued from a life of sin and degradation and become a faithful and loving wife to her husband. But it was not to be. She was drawn to her former life of immorality and returned to it (2:5b). But Hosea does not give up on her. By Chapter 3, Gomer has apparently sold herself as a slave prostitute, but he goes to the salve market and purchases her, takes her home, and demands faithfulness (3:2-3). But it was ultimately not to be, and she returns to her sinfulness.
The story serves as an accurate picture of what Israel has done to the Lord. Despite the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from slavery, and the many blessings bestowed on her, Israel proved incurably unfaithful. The rest of the book fleshes out both Israel’s sins and rebellion, and God’s undying love for her. As bad as she was, the Lord could not let her go. She was unfaithful but the Lord remained faithful.
Which is harder – to demonstrate faithful love to a loving spouse, or to an unfaithful one? The Lord shows us what true loving faithfulness looks like. Therefore 6:6a is our key verse (cp 1 Samuel 15:22).
Key Verse: Hosea 6:6a – “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice.”
