Day 257 of the podcast, reading Hosea 1-7 NET, read along at:
https://netbible.org/bible/Hosea+1-7/
This is day 257 of our journey.
The prophet Hosea is given a hard mission by God. He is called to speak against the spiritual prostitution of the people of Israel and Judah. But, in order to do this, God tells Hosea to marry a prostitute, Gomer. God warns him, that Gomer will continue to be unfaithful and will even bear children through her prostitution. Regardless of this, Hosea continues to show love to Gomer, buying her back out of prostitution. In the same way, Israel has been unfaithful to God and defiled themselves in countless ways. God wants to show love to his people and to deliver them, but they have been unfaithful and have lied. Destruction will come to descipline them and bring them back to him so that, one day, they will love God and serve him fully!
Join me in Hosea 1-7 and let this powerful story of love overwhelm you!
Key verses:
Hosea 1:2
When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, “Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the Lord.”
Hosea 2:16
“At that time,” declares the Lord, “you will call, ‘My husband’; you will never again call me, ‘My master.’
Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the Israelites will turn and seek the Lord their God and their Davidic king. Then they will submit to the Lord in fear and receive his blessings in the future.
Hosea 4:17
Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him!
Hosea 5:5
The arrogance of Israel testifies against it; Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. Even Judah will be brought down with them.
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.
Hosea 7:13
Woe to them! For they have fled from me! Destruction to them! For they have rebelled against me! I want to deliver them, but they have lied to me.
All Scriptures are from the NET.
Check out these links for more thoughts on the topic:
https://thebibleproject.com/explore/Hosea/
