God commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer. Their three children and the resulting family difficulties become an enacted parable of God’s relationship with his straying people, specifically the northern kingdom of Israel. In the midst of this we see a picture of God’s unchanging love for His people.
Hosea 1-3
Sermon OutlinE
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” (Hosea 2:19)
Introducing Hosea
Hosea’s Family as a Prophetic Message from God (Hosea 1)
God’s Rejection, Purification, and Restoration of Israel (Hosea 2)
Restoration for Gomer and Restoration for Israel (Hosea 3)
God’s Word for Us from Hosea
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever experienced love from someone even when you didn’t deserve it? What happened?
- This weekend, we continue our series, “God in the Ruins: The Message of the Minor Prophets,” by looking at Hosea, chapters 1-3. Before you begin this study, ask God to speak to you through His word, and then read Hosea, chapter 1.
- Hosea 1:1 tells us that the prophet Hosea is speaking in the time of the divided kingdom (north=Israel and south=Judah) during the middle of the 8th century BC to the time of the fall of Samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom) in 722 BC. This was a time of great political turmoil, instability due to pressures from Assyria, and idolatry in the religious life of the people. Hosea speaks of God’s judgment and love in the midst of these situations.
- In chapter 1, Hosea’s marriage and children become a metaphor for God to say some- thing to His people. What would you say are the four parts of God’s message through Hosea’s marriage and each of the three children?
- Why do you think that God would use such a painful and difficult personal situation in the life of the prophet Hosea to speak about His relationship to His people? What does that tell you about God?
- Hosea 1:10-2:1 offers a promise of future restoration, even of the reunification of the northern and southern kingdoms. How would you summarize that promise?
- Hosea 2:2-13 speaks of the pending “divorce” of God from Israel, picking up parallels from Hosea’s family to speak more directly of God’s relationship with His people. Why will God reject His people?
- According to 2:14-23, God will “remarry” His people. What sort of things will God do to purify and restore His people?
- Hosea 3:1-5 returns to the story of Hosea, showing how his care for his wife echoes the care and love promised by God. How does Hosea’s actions parallel the care and love of God according to these verses?
- When have you experienced the care and love of God in your own life? What happened? 11. What is one thing that God is speaking into your life through our study of the first three chapters of Hosea? If you are on your own, write these things down. If you are in a small group, discuss your answers aloud together. Close in prayer. Choose one person in your life with whom you will share something you have learned about God through the story of Hosea.