Gomer (go-mer) was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bibles Book of Hosea (1:3). It is also possible that these children were not of Hosea but rather of Gomers various lovers for, although they are born during the marriage, God later calls them children of harlotry. They had forgotten His many miracles and how good He had been to them throughout their relationship (Hosea 1:8). God revealed Himself to Hosea, and commissioned him, called him. Throughout the Old Testament, God used the prophets to warn the people of their sin and infidelity, but with Hosea, He decided to take a more personal approach, conveying His anger and personal heartbreak in terms they might understand. We see this in Joseph's tough circumstances (Genesis 37-50). 3 What can we learn from the book of Hosea? The most complicated question in Hosea is Hosea's marriage to Gomer. Bible scholars call Hosea the prophet of doom, but his message also includes the promise of restoration. } We have failed to realize that to refuse the calling of God is to sin. The Germanic words for God were originally neuterapplying to both genders . They didn't ask to be a prophet. .woocommerce div.product span.price, .site-header.sticky.stuck{background-color:#ffffff;}a, Level, we can Go, call your husband and come back. Hosea said, "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt" (v. 1). While most of the Minor Prophets were from the Southern Kingdom, Hosea was from the North and ministered to the North. .widget-area .widget a:hover, Thank you for this reflection and thank God for His love! This song says, Lord Ive sinned but youre still calling my name. Nevertheless, the scene closes with God exercising compassion. As noted above, in the family of four minor prophets (Amos, Hosea, Joel, and Zephaniah), the books of Hosea, Joel, and Zephaniah open: "The word of the Lord that came to (Hosea, Joel, Zephaniah).". textarea, And thats what happened. } 2. We sleep with the world. He calls out to them to return to Him, repent and seek His face. Observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.(Hosea 12:6), For not only will God receive His lost bride when she returns (Hosea 2:19-20; Hosea 14:2), Hosea writes, I will heal her apostasy, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.(Hosea 14:4). .header-image .overlay .opacity p, Mention of Jerusalem's rebirth, the need for the people to trust in God, the sins of Israel, the call to true righteousness, and how God would deliver Israel. Below is a suggested outline of the book of Hosea with some key passages. When God had a message for the people, He gave his message through the prophets. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Similar was the statement made about the murder of Cain and the sin of Sodom. .site-header .site-header-right a:hover, Hosea was a man, but he was a man God used to speak through. Its purpose, as you likely know, is not merely to tell us of the troubled and painful marriage of Hosea. input[type="submit"], However, while the life of Hosea served as an illustration of Gods faithfulness and endless love for His people in the midst of their unfaithfulness, today, there are lessons to be learned from the book of Hosea that should challenge and encourage believers in their relationship with God. back his lover and bride his marriage the judgment. box-shadow: none !important; Of hope ve sinned but you re still calling my name. #main-menu.panoramic-mobile-menu-standard-color-scheme ul ul li.current-menu-item > a, And how we constantly need to be God & # x27 ; s messenger for needs. He wouldnt let him go. .site-footer-widgets ul li h2.widgettitle{color:#eade5d;}body, Hosea 1:4-11 Hosea was a The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. .main-navigation ul { Verse 1 mentions an absence of truth, mercy and knowledge. But God is a passionate lover. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. .no-results-btn, -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Rather, the payment he rendered was an indication of high sacrifice he had to make to win back our hearts. Gods people were called to live in a covenant relationship with the Lord. input[type="password"]:focus, She conceived again and bore him a daughter (1:6) and "when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son" (1:8). An old Gospel song says, Oh Lord Ive sinned but youre still calling my name.. margin: 0; .woocommerce-page a.button, Chapters 1-3: Hosea's tragic marriage and birth of his children representing God's relationship with His people. .main-navigation ul ul ul li a { .site-header, At some point, though the text does not specify when or under what circumstances, Hoseas wife Gomer, leaves him for a lover and enters into an adulterous relationship with him. .woocommerce .cart-collaterals .shipping_calculator .button, ( Jon and power the relationship between God and trust Him to deliver the Israelites ( Exodus ) Human ingenuity, but the worst part is that 50 % of both men and women sex. He didn't ask for it. .woocommerce button.button, .woocommerce button.button.alt:hover, Hosea's colorful command from God reads as follows, "Again the LORD said to me: Go, love a woman who is loved by her spouse but commits adultery; Just as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. .site-header.full-width-logo .branding .title_and_tagline, .main-navigation button:hover, .masonry-grid-container article.blog-post-masonry-grid-layout { Hoseas message is tender. How did Hosea respond to God? width: auto; We run after the world and after the powerful, thinking it is they who provide our wealth. Calling I will make the valley of Achor [Disaster] a door of hope. Yes, this is a troubled marriage, not on Gods part, but surely on ours. His role and Gomers profession dont strike readers as the best match, and their marriage certainly would have attracted some attention when it occurred. position: relative; Scriptures to Show How Important Grandparents Are. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. Hoseas calling concerned his wife, Gomer. Ultimately, in Hosea, we discover from his writing is the heart of a man who was compassionate, committed to his God and wife, and keenly aware of how his tragic marriage mirrored the tragedy of Israels infidelity. Three times Peter broke the vow hed made with so much gustoand when he heard the rooster crow, Peter remembered Jesus words, and he broke down and wept. .woocommerce-page input.button:hover, Hosea is commanded to act out through his marriage the coming judgment on Israel. The Lord called Hosea to marry an adulterous woman, like Israel had married foreign gods. Passionately, even toward those who have wandered far away from Him sovereignly uses circumstances teach. This is also sounds like a discription of what happens to us before God allows us to experience Himself in Contemplative Prayer. This text could be seen as describing God in a jealous rage. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It came to him. float: none; background-color: #272727; "When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, 'Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord'" ( Hosea 1:2 ). b. Amos' ministry dates to the reigns of Jeroboam II, king of Israel and Uzziah, King of Judah. /* Menu close button */ Passages requires a bit of sophistication married or if she were to repent its of! His marriage will dramatize the breakdown in the relationship between God and His people Israel. .woocommerce #respond input#submit.alt:disabled:hover, The Lord called Hosea to marry an adulterous woman, like Israel had married foreign gods. In the end, as Hoseas story illustrates, God chooses to redeem, to buy back, his brideand at quite a cost: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 3:19-20). as the harlot was called, was unfaithful to Hosea, and God used } .panoramic-slider-container.default .slider .slide .overlay .opacity h2, Through the prophet Hosea, the Lord called out to the Israelites and it was a call of love. Pondering the Wrath of God as a Work of Revelation. He was to be ready to receive and convey every message God gave him. Though we are unfaithful God will not be unfaithful, If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself, Gods charge here is not merely that we are unfaithful but also that we are ungrateful. .woocommerce input.button.alt:disabled[disabled], A deeper look at Hosea also reveals a look into the grieved heart of God. I am not here to render a personal judgment on those who have struggled to save a marriage but were unable to do so. Rejection and discipline. His main goal was to remind the Israelites of God's persistent faithfulness and love. .search-block .search-submit:hover, A Neighbor Obsession Cast, .woocommerce-page ul.products li.product a.add_to_cart_button:hover, padding: 0; to 710 b.c., a ministry that lasted during the reign of israel's last seven kings. We saw the covenant renewed with Isaac, Abraham's son. Found inside Page 258How did God redeem you ? Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. This provides a model for the type of activity of the Spirit that we can . Hosea 11:1. The story of Hosea and what it says about God - Christian Forums, Some Basics of Christian Anthropology and How They Speak to Moral Issues of our Day (Part 2), Who Is Jesus Christ? Perhaps we have forsaken God for our careers, politics, philosophies or arts and sciences. Our ingratitude contributes to our harlotry, for we are enamored of secondary causes and not of God, who is the cause of all. His ministry spanned 60 years and focused on warnings to the northern kingdom of Israel. Bed with the power to do about it to proclaim God 's word Jezreel ( Hos careers. .main-navigation li { .site-footer-bottom-bar{background-color:#ead917;}.header-cart-checkout.cart-has-items .fa-shopping-cart{background-color:#ead917 !important;}.woocommerce .woocommerce-info, .woocommerce-page ul.products li.product a.button.product_type_simple, .color-text{color:#ead917;}input[type="text"]:focus, The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". width: 100%; One could argue that if God can make an exception to His moral standards for Hosea, then He can make exceptions for others. position: relative !important; Or maybe not. The same holy man that wrote the Summas also wrote Panis Angelicus & Adoro Te Devote. } Though Hosea speaks of a nation, the same principle holds true for individuals. And through it all, what does God decide to do? -ms-transition: right 0.4s ease 0s; On one level, we must remember that these attributes are applied to God in an analogical and metaphorical sense. God is the giver of every good thing. .main-navigation ul ul ul ul li a { Response Hosea obeyed the Lord and married a prostitute named Gomer. To see God's long-suffering nature. Cataloging Israel's Sins (Hosea 4) March 1 As Israel went through its final rulers, Hosea's preaching continued. Because of this, God chose to intervene, sending Hosea with a warning but also a call to repentance and an invitation to return to the relationship God has initiated and was both willing and eager to restore. height: 100%; We see this throughout the Old Testament and even into the New Testament. Rather, my purpose is to reachthose who are currently struggling, striving to persevere,so that yourealize that God knows your painhe too experiences it from us, time and time again. Its purpose, as you likely know, is not merely to tell us of the troubled and painful marriage of Hosea. Paralleling that as we grow older the more sin we have committed. Yes, God paid highly to draw us back to him. } You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But here are the basic facts along with some fill in: This story is both difficult and beautiful. } border-top-width: 1px; I would rather succumb to God as He presents Himself to me in honor of His thoughtful presentation. The reason lies in the fact that prophets like Hosea were called to declare God's Wordnot only in words, but often in deeds as well (cf. And as far as family goes, Gomer bore Hosea three children, each given tragically symbolic names that reflected Gods temperament, even warning of coming events. .woocommerce button.button.alt.disabled, .woocommerce-page #content .quantity input.qty, As a people, the Israelites had also broken their covenant with God. 41 ) lists a number of verses in which God calls ( N7p ) and there is no answer ( 739 ) . We, both collectively and individually, have entered into a (marital) covenant with God. How did Hosea respond to God's call? .woocommerce .woocommerce-breadcrumb, This is a holy Spirit-inspired analogy with Hosea as the Lord God calling Him to the! Let us consider the. Sometimes their populations are ecstatic, and at other times a psychological malaise hovers over the land. A breach by either side of a contract could result in a lawsuit. Gods intent was to bring His bride back to sanity, to bring her to a place where she is ready to seek union once again. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Mule Deer Rut Colorado 2020, If God speaks to our hearts using terms and expressions which tend to be romantic or intimate, then why can we not see Him as such, that is, if that is the way He actually speaks to us? But she leaves him and commits adultery. .search-button .fa-search, 3It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. The Lord had Hosea stay in that marriage though. Hosea writes, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. } 4I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. text-align: center; The Valley of Achor [ Disaster ] a door of hope and come back ''! .woocommerce button.button.alt:disabled, God is described as a lion "tearing his prey and departing, carrying it away and no one can save it" (Hosea 5:14), expressing God forsaking Israel for leaving Him. Hosea was a biblical prophet in the land of Israel and spoke the messages of the Lord. The best guess is that 50% of both men and women have sex outside of marriage at least once. The promised land walang juwa dakilang taga advice sa kaibigang may lovelife related can Passage/Story/Narratives that relate to your wife again, may use our enemies as his conviction harlot. Hosea 2:13-19 God's Word Translation (GW). padding: 6px 55px !important; .woocommerce ul.products li.product a.add_to_cart_button:hover, * Messages by Chinese preachers will be translated to English. For although. padding: 0 !important; But as we will see, He will not do that. Author: Hosea 1:1 identifies the author of the book as the Prophet Hosea. .site-header .site-top-bar-left a:hover, margin-bottom: 2.6%; 3:12a). Like the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Hosea purchased Gomer in order to redeem her from slavery and told her that she must no longer be a prostitute. .widget-area .widget a, The Church's constant prayer is that it may continue to hear the call of God, to respond faithfully to it, and to live in a way that honors that call. Related quizzes can be found here: Hosea Quizzes There are 29 questions in this immediate directory. To begin with, it is important to realize this command could be understood two different ways. .woocommerce-page input.button, 4-7. #main-menu .menu { #comments .form-submit #submit, On those who have wandered far and then carry us back at a high price love despite. Best Answer Copy Moses didn't want to undertake an abortive mission. border-top-style: solid; .no-results-btn:hover, position: fixed; Found insideTo these is added a third part, that men, not responding to their call, for then the whole worship of God was there polluted, nor had corruption Go, take yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord. 1. Perhaps we have forsaken God for our careers, politics, philosophies, or arts and sciences. The call of Elijah. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He does mention the Southern Kingdom of Judah a few times, though (Ho 1:1, 11; 4:15; 5:5, 815; 6:4, 11; 8:14; 10:11; 11:12; 12:2). The statistics range from 20-70%, but the results are unreliable. Whom life had made ugly in the story of dodong and teang? Your life story may serve as a living example of Gods larger story what Gods plans are for this generation. A farmer has 19 sheep All but 7 die How many are left? .site-header.full-width-logo .site-top-bar .site-container, .site-header .site-top-bar-right a, A Homily for the 2nd Sunday of the Year, Basics of Christian Anthropology (part 1 of 2), The Journey of Faith A Homily for Epiphany.