Hosea

God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, who proves unfaithful. His painful, persistent love for her becomes a living picture of God’s love for unfaithful Israel.

Author

The prophet Hosea

Written

About 750 to 715 BC

Chapters

1. 1Hosea 1God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, who will be unfaithful, as a picture of Israel. Their children’s names announce judgment, but God promises restoration.
2. 2Hosea 2Israel has chased other lovers, but God will woo her back into the wilderness and betroth her to himself forever.
3. 3Hosea 3God tells Hosea to love his unfaithful wife again and buy her back, as God loves Israel.
4. 4Hosea 4God has a charge against Israel: there is no faithfulness or knowledge of God in the land. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
5. 5Hosea 5Judgment on priests, people and kings, who turn to Assyria instead of God.
6. 6Hosea 6“Come, let us return to the Lord.” God desires steadfast love, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than offerings.
7. 7Hosea 7Israel is like a silly dove, flying to Egypt and Assyria instead of God.
8. 8Hosea 8They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. Israel has made kings and idols without God.
9. 9Hosea 9Israel’s joy and harvest will end, and they will be exiled.
10. 10Hosea 10Israel is a luxuriant vine that multiplied its altars. “Sow righteousness, reap steadfast love.”
11. 11Hosea 11God’s tender love: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” God cannot give him up.
12. 12Hosea 12Israel, like Jacob, needs to return to God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait on God.
13. 13Hosea 13Israel has turned to idols and forgotten the God who cared for them.
14. 14Hosea 14A final call to return: “Take words with you and return to the Lord.” God will heal their faithlessness and love them freely.