HOSEA
(Answers)
Updated 01/2024
CHAPTER 1
- Hosea prophesied in the days
of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of
Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel
- Hosea's marriage to the
harlot symbolized the spiritual adultery of the people turning away from
God to serve other gods.
- Hosea’s first son symbolized
Israel would be scattered and the promise to Jehu that his sons would sit
on the throne of Israel only to the fourth generation. After this Israel
would be taken captive (2Ki. 10:30-31).
- Hosea’s daughter symbolized
God's position against Israel - no mercy.
- Hosea’s third child
symbolized that God would separate Himself from Israel.
CHAPTER 2
- God will cease their feast
days, the new moon celebrations, the Sabbaths, and other appointed feasts.
CHAPTER 3
- The adulterous woman
represented the love of the Lord for His people who looked to other gods.
- Israel, for a period of time,
would be without a king or priest. (They would be in captivity by
Assyria.)
CHAPTER 4
- Swearing, lying, killing,
stealing, adultery, and bloodshed were rampant in the land. There is no
truth or mercy. There were swearing and lying, killing and stealing,
committing adultery, with bloodshed upon bloodshed, and no knowledge of
God in the land.
- The prophets and the priests
rejected knowledge of God and the law of God. Truth and righteousness was
not given to the people.
- Without understanding God
and His word, God’s people are destined for destruction. Those with no
understanding (and will not understand the law) of God will be trampled
because of their sin.
- The men have set the bad
example causing the daughters to sin.
CHAPTER 5
- Our deeds should be directed
toward God and for God. Their deeds would not allow them to turn toward
God.
- Ephraim was prideful in
their strength and wealth and had forsaken God. They symbolized the pride
that God hated. Instead of
God, they sought Assyria’s help and turned to Baal.
- Ephraim must acknowledge
their sins and then seek God.
CHAPTER 6
- This prophecy parallels the
death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Literally it refers to God’s anger
with them is short-lived but His mercy will come.
- Israel’s faith lasted only
as long as a morning cloud or the dew on the ground.
- God desires their mercy to
others and to possess knowledge of Him.
CHAPTER 7
1.
Ephraim
hired among the nations for help instead of obeying God and getting His help.
CHAPTER
8
- Israel rejected the
covenant, rebelled against the law, and rejected the good. They set up
kings and princes to lead them but without consulting God and made idols
for themselves.
- Israel sought Assyria and
other nations for help instead of God.
CHAPTER 9
- God viewed Israel as a
cluster of grapes found in the wilderness and like the first fruits on the
fig tree Israel was pleasing in His eyes.
- Israel became an abomination
to God.
- Israel would have no one to
protect them from any evil because God would turn his face away from them.
God would cause them to dwindle. There would be no births, pregnancies, or
conception. If the children did survive they would be killed later.
CHAPTER 10
- The people and the priests
of Samaria had created the image of the calf to worship. It would be taken
away from them during their captivity.
CHAPTER 11
- The people observed rituals
but did not fear or love God as the mighty powerful and only God who held
their lives in His hands. They were constantly backsliding and idol
worshiping.
CHAPTER 12
- Ephraim turned to Assyria
and Egypt for help.
- God will judge Judah because
of their ways and all their deeds.
- Life is a struggle to do
right before man and God (as Jacob struggled). Jacob struggled but sought
God. He wrestled with the Angel of the Lord all night to receive His
blessing (Gen 32:24-30) and God appeared to him at Bethel and he made a
vow to God (Gen 28:10-19). We are to be merciful and just and wait on
God's help continually.
CHAPTER 13
- God will send Jesus as the
ransom for all people (1 Co 15:55).
- Their prosperity, their
land, and their riches and wealth shall dry up when captivity from the
East came upon them.
CHAPTER 14
- Prayers of repentance for
sins and praise for God’s forgiveness and salvation, and worship of God
are the sacrifice of the lips.
- God would forgive them,
heal them, and turn His anger away from doing them harm.
- By obeying God Ephraim would
be blessed and prosperous. They would grow, spread, and become beautiful.
- The ways of the Lord are
righteous. People transgress by not following and obeying God. (They
will remain in sin, conflict, and the wrath of God)