Take Two: Hosea 1, Proverbs 4

The book of Hosea is pretty difficult for us (Westerners) to grasp because the very thoughts of it are somewhat reprehensible in our minds. The story takes place around the mid to late 700s BC (Possible 760-710BC). The timeframe would be during the period of the divided Kingdom (Northern--being Israel and the Southern-- being Judah which took place in 922BC). The fact that the Kingdom was divided was itself the fruits of sin and judgment...so the imagery that we will see of being reunited is a prophesy consistent with God's covenant promise and is Messianic in nature.

One of the most difficult parts of the story (for me as a pastor) is the command to the prophet (preacher/pastor) to marry a wife of harlotry and bear children with her. Her background is not the greatest issue...it is that God directed the prophet to become a living parable to the people and to marry a woman who had given herself to another (v.2). (Ministry is not supposed to be an easy undertaking...but seriously, this is a hard concept.)

Some scholars deal with this tension by stating that Gomer (a very attractive name for a wife, by the way) may have been faithful at first and became an adultress later. I personally take no special comfort in that assessment and there is no evidence from the text that this was the case. Either way, the big picture that is being offered here is that God (pictured in the story/parable as the prophet) takes to Himself a wife who is unfaithful and she bears children for Him who are also unfaithful. Ultimately, God (through the picture of the prophet) will demonstrate His mercy and grace by taking her back after she experiences the consequences of her sin).

One other comment: It is not enough to simply see the story as about Hosea and Gomer. There are children involved. One scholar commented that he saw in this a picture that Gomer was the religious and civil systems of the time and these systems produced unfaithful children. While this may be so, I don't want to "overcook the grits" by finding symbolism where it may not be. What we can be sure of...is that the prophet took a wife to himself who was unfaithful. She was not the last one in the family to be unfaithful...yet there would come a time when they all would be restored to the prophet who was merciful to take them back at the appropriate time.

The children's names are a bit unusual (even for the culture).

Jezreel: judgment against the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel (v.4) is a prophetic statement about the coming fall of Israel (likely a reference to the fall fo Samaria, the capital city, in 722BC.

Lo-ruhammah: (Lit: she has not obtained compassion). A daughter (v.6) who is a prophetic statement that God gave Israel over for judgment.

Lo-ammi: (Lit: not my people) A son (v.9, who is prophetically a symbol of God's giving over of the people to judgment.

Sounds pretty bleak but the chapter concludes with the foresight that their current circumstance is not the end. In the midst of this judgment, God has not ultimately abandoned them. In v.10 we see that the people will continue to exist and not be utterly destroyed. In fact, they will be taken back (v.10), reunited with the Southern Kingdom (v.11) and restored to greatness under a single leader (v.11). [To the audience that heard this message, this would be considered a great statement of redemption, grace, and blessing.]
[More to come tomorrow]

Proverbs 4:7 is my takeaway. "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding." Knowledge without application simply leads to pride and a false sense of piety. The writer tells us that we must acquire wisdom (the truth of God's will/purpose/and instruction) and understanding (the implications of the wisdom along with the personal application to our lives and the world around us.) This is only the beginning of wisdom(becoming wise) since what we acquire and understand today becomes the foundation for what we acquire and understand tomorrow.