Over the years, I've heard a lot of teaching on Hosea. That's likely because of the harlot wife, who may or may not have been real. In the Thompson Chain, there is a book summary before each book, and I've found that very helpful for a variety of reasons. For Hosea, there is a question of whether or not the book is allegorical or fact. I don't think it's important because the actual point of the book is how it reflects the behavior of Israel and God's judgement of them because of it.
The book describes the nation of Israel as corrupt, a harlot who has failed to remain faithful to her husband. He points out that there is no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God left in the land. The level of sin has literally polluted the land. Because of their sin, everything in the land will waste away. He says the land will mourn and that all the animals and bird life and life in the sea will die.
That sounded quite familiar to me. We're seeing this happen to the planet now. And from scripture, we know that the earth is suffering under man's evil. Don't think for one second you can hide your actions. The earth will testify against you.
When I reached chapter 4 of Hosea, I had a revelation of sorts, in fact, a couple of them. In this chapter, Hosea is recounting the lack of faithfulness in the nation of Israel. He details how they have prostituted themselves with pagan gods. And that even the Hebrew priests are corrupt because of this mess.
When the people sin, they must present offerings in repentance. These are for the priests to consume. When they commit more sins, they have to bring more offerings to the priest. The priests don't condemn them because that would stop the flow of offerings, and they wouldn't be getting rich off the sins of the nation. The priests profit from more sin.
This too sounded familiar to me. As long as you bring those offerings, you are going to be just fine. God forgives you. And He wants you to prosper. So, the more you give, the more God will bless you.
Oh. My.
I do not believe in the prosperity doctrine. All my life I paid tithes and supported building funds and missionaries. I've never gotten rich. In fact, I've had times when I could barely pay the bills. There have been times we couldn't go to the doctor because we couldn't pay the copays.
Hosea was warning Israel about their lack of obedience and faithfulness to God in their daily living. That would be their downfall and bring about the destruction of the nation. They were bringing offerings to the temple, but it didn't matter.
I believe God blesses faithfulness in our walk with him. I believe that worship and honoring God are the highest praise. Hosea was warning Israel about their lack of obedience and faithfulness to God. This was what would be their downfall and bring about the destruction of the nation: swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery, and murdering.
My final insight from Hosea was in 4:13. Hosea claims the people chose mountains because trees gave them shadows to sin in. I also found this suggested in other places. "Men love darkness because their deeds are evil." Darkness, in the minds of men, can hide the sins they commit.
It's ironic because Exodus 20:21 says: "And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."
There is no protection in the darkness. God is there, watching you. He brings light to the darkness and exposes everything.
