Hosea
INTRODUCTION
Hosea began his ministry near the end of the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (793-753 B.C.). At that time Israel prospered economically, but was marked by injustice and spiritual decline. Hosea’s message constitutes God’s final warning to apostate Israel, and the prophet lived to see his predictions of judgment fulfilled when the kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. The unique feature of Hosea is that prophet’s relationship with his unfaithful wife. Gomer abandoned her husband to pursue adultery, even as Israel had broken her covenant with the Lord. But like God, Hosea had a genuine love for his bride. In the end he found her abandoned, rescued her, and took her back. Today as throughout Old Testament times, the Book of Hosea testifies to the unshakable love of God for His own.
| I. | Israel’s Unfaithfulness | Hosea 1–3 |
| II. | God’s Indictment of Israel | Hosea 4–6 |
| III. | Israel’s Punishment | Hosea 7–10 |
| IV. | Israel’s Restoration | Hosea 11–14 |
