Hosea Part 6
Hosea 3:1-5
God’s Covenant Lawsuit Against Israel
Meeting Purpose
To analyze Hosea chapter 3 and its prophetic themes of restoration.
Key Takeaways
- Hosea's Core Message: A covenant lawsuit against the Northern Kingdom for its 180-year apostasy, beginning with Jeroboam I's golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
- Chapter 3's Prophetic Act: Hosea reclaims his unfaithful wife, Gomer, for a symbolic price (15 shekels + 1.5 homers barley). This represents God's unconditional love and future restoration of Israel.
- Symbolism of the Price: The price's low value (half a slave's price) signifies Gomer's utter degradation and Israel's spiritual bankruptcy, making God's act of redemption all the more powerful.
- Israel's Future Restoration: Prophecies in Hosea 3:5 and Romans 9–11 describe a future return to God, which will include a remnant from all tribes, not just the Southern Kingdom.
Topics
- Historical Context: Israel's Apostasy
o Hosea's prophecy (c. 750–722 BC) is a covenant lawsuit against the Northern Kingdom for breaking the first commandment.
o Origin: Jeroboam I's rebellion (c. 930 BC) → golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent worship in Jerusalem.
o Duration: 180 years of apostasy, including Baal worship and child sacrifice.
o Judgment: The kingdom was destroyed by Sargon II of Assyria in 722 BC.
o Contemporaries: Amos (c. 760–722 BC) also prophesied against the North.
- Hosea Chapter 3: The Act of Redemption
o God commanded Hosea to reclaim his unfaithful wife, Gomer, as a parable for Israel.
o The Price: 15 shekels of silver + 1.5 homers of barley.
o Significance: The price's low value (half a slave's price) signifies Gomer's utter degradation and Israel's spiritual bankruptcy, making God's act of redemption all the more powerful.
o The Command: Gomer must live in isolation ("many days") without a man.
o Parallel: Israel will live "many days" without a king, prince, or temple.
o The Promise: "Afterward, the children of Israel shall return to seek the Lord their God and David their king."
- Discussion: Israel's Future Restoration
o Question: Does God's restoration include the "lost" Northern tribes?
o Perspective 1: A remnant from all 12 tribes will be restored (e.g., the 144,000 in Revelation).
o Perspective 2: Many faithful from the Northern tribes joined Judah after the split, preserving a lineage.
o Perspective 3: Hosea's act of "buying back" Gomer symbolizes God redeeming Jews who have completely lost their identity.
o Schofield Bible Note: Its claim that Christ's purchase price was "for Israel" was challenged as too narrow, as it applies to all who are "grafted in."