BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Hosea 1
Hosea’s message is primarily directed toward Northern Israel (aka Ephraim), during the
reign of Jeroboam ll, the king of Northern Israel. Jeroboam reigned from 793-753 B.C.
(40 years), and according to 2 Kings 14:24, “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Hosea
ministered during a very turbulent and violent period in the history of Northern Israel,
prior to the Assyrian Captivity. The major issue Hosea dealt with was the worship of
Baal among the people of God. Baal was a weather god. One major aspect of this
pagan religion was its appeal to human sexuality. (ttt) Isaiah 57:7-10
The worship of Baal was not just a violation of the first of the Ten Commandments “You
shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3), but it was a betrayal of an intimate and
endearing union which God had with His people. Their idolatry – spiritual adultery –
was a transgression against the “marriage” between the Lord and Israel (Exodus
34:11-16; Leviticus 17:7; 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 31:16). God’s desire was for His people
to repent of their spiritual fornication and return to the One who first loved them!
This is also His desire for His church today.
(v.1-3) “Go take yourself a wife of harlotry” – this is not exactly an “E-Harmony” Lord!
It’s recorded in Chapter 1 that Gomer gave birth to three children. The name of each
child represented God’s impending judgment against Northern Israel. At the same
time, each one of these names also serves as a reminder of three of God’s divine
characteristics: His justice, mercy and grace – three essential aspects of salvation.
The first child is Jezreel. (v.4, 5) Jezreel means, “God will scatter (sow),” or “seed of
God.” Jezreel’s name speaks of justice on two counts. One is God’s just judgment
against Israel, due to their wicked rebellion; as a result, the Assyrians, under the
leadership of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:5-6) would invade Northern
Israel and scatter them. Secondly, and primarily, it also speaks of God’s judgment
against the house of Jehu (Jay-Hoo).
Jehu was used by God to judge the wicked king of Northern Israel, Ahab, along with his
even more wicked wife, Jezebel (2 Kings 9, 10). Together they had shed the blood of
the prophets and the servants of the Lord, and robbed the just man Naboth of his
vineyard in the land of Jezreel (1 Kings 21; 2 Kings 9:7). However, after destroying the
house of Ahab, Jehu did not walk in the ways of the Lord (2 Kings 10:28-31). Thus, in
Hosea, God promised to “soon” bring judgment upon the household of Jehu.
There’s a great lesson here regarding Jehu: How we respond after a victory is just as
important as how we respond before it. After winning the appeal hearing before city
council, I reminded myself that gloating would only rob God of His glory! This appeal
was not about us, it was all about Jesus! Jehu, after his victory, became prideful,
robbing God of His glory and believing he, having been so successful, could actually
get away with sin! Do not rejoice when your enemy falls And do not let your heart be glad when he
stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17-18)
The second child was called Lo-Ruhamah: “no mercy.” (v.6). Judgment is coming by
the hand of the Assyrians, a vicious army, who will show no mercy. Yet in the midst of
His wrath, God extends His mercy (v.7a). Although Northern Israel will be carried away
into captivity, Judah (Southern Israel), will be delivered. This will take place in 2 Kings
19:35, when God unleashes one angel to slaughter 185,000 Assyrian troops who were
encamped around the city of Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. The spiritual lesson
here is that despite the coming judgment, God will be our deliverer! (v.7b). He alone
can save us from the tyranny of sin, by His mercy! …not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit. (Titus 3:5)
The third child’s name is Lo-Ammi: “not My people.” (v.8-9). Yet, in (v.9-11), we see
the grace of God. In “the place,” or where it shall be said, at the first, “you are not My
people,” it will then be said, “You are sons of the living God!” This is a prophetic
reference to those who will place their faith in Christ! But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12) (v.11) “Then,”
Judah and Israel will not be divided north-south as in the days of Hosea. They will
“appoint” for themselves one head; some believe this may be a reference to perhaps
Zerubbabel, or Ezra, who led Israel back from the Babylonian Captivity. In a prophetic
sense, it could also refer to Christ as the “one head” over His church. “…but, speaking the
truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)
(v.11b) “…the day of Jezreel” (again) means “God will scatter (sow),” or “seed of God”
(seed singular). This could be a reference to the “great day” of Christ. "The hour has come
that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground
and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12:23-24) He
is the seed which has
produced justice, mercy, and grace for all who will call upon His name!
APPLICATION: Hosea’s obedience here is amazing; God has him marry a known harlot,
with kids, to illustrate His great love for His people. It is a true manifestation of the
famous tale of beauty and the beast. In fact, GOMER means “completion or ripeness,
namely of consummate wickedness.” Hosea would have been hard-pressed to find
another woman whose lifestyle was as licentious (loose) as that of Gomer. HOSEA
means “deliverance, help, or salvation.” (Fausset's Bible Dictionary; Nelson, Int. Standard Bible Ency.). We
were lost in sin, living as a beast according to our corrupt nature, separated from God;
but “beauty” came to cleanse the beast! (ttt) 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Jesus touched the
leper – the beast alienated from God – and declares you cleansed!
Communion reminds us that His broken body is a thing of beauty; it is hope for the
lost, representing our everlasting forgiveness and reconciliation in God.