Hosea 3:1-5

God’s Covenant Lawsuit Against Israel

Meeting Purpose

To analyze Hosea chapter 3 and its prophetic themes of restoration.

Key Takeaways

- Hosea's Core Message: A covenant lawsuit against the Northern Kingdom for its 180-year apostasy, beginning with Jeroboam I's golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

- Chapter 3's Prophetic Act: Hosea reclaims his unfaithful wife, Gomer, for a symbolic price (15 shekels + 1.5 homers barley). This represents God's unconditional love and future restoration of Israel.

- Symbolism of the Price: The price's low value (half a slave's price) signifies Gomer's utter degradation and Israel's spiritual bankruptcy, making God's act of redemption all the more powerful.

- Israel's Future Restoration: Prophecies in Hosea 3:5 and Romans 9–11 describe a future return to God, which will include a remnant from all tribes, not just the Southern Kingdom.

Topics

- Historical Context: Israel's Apostasy

o Hosea's prophecy (c. 750–722 BC) is a covenant lawsuit against the Northern Kingdom for breaking the first commandment.

o Origin: Jeroboam I's rebellion (c. 930 BC) → golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent worship in Jerusalem.

o Duration: 180 years of apostasy, including Baal worship and child sacrifice.

o Judgment: The kingdom was destroyed by Sargon II of Assyria in 722 BC.

o Contemporaries: Amos (c. 760–722 BC) also prophesied against the North.

- Hosea Chapter 3: The Act of Redemption

o God commanded Hosea to reclaim his unfaithful wife, Gomer, as a parable for Israel.

o The Price: 15 shekels of silver + 1.5 homers of barley.

o Significance: The price's low value (half a slave's price) signifies Gomer's utter degradation and Israel's spiritual bankruptcy, making God's act of redemption all the more powerful.

o The Command: Gomer must live in isolation ("many days") without a man.

o Parallel: Israel will live "many days" without a king, prince, or temple.

o The Promise: "Afterward, the children of Israel shall return to seek the Lord their God and David their king."

- Discussion: Israel's Future Restoration

o Question: Does God's restoration include the "lost" Northern tribes?

o Perspective 1: A remnant from all 12 tribes will be restored (e.g., the 144,000 in Revelation).

o Perspective 2: Many faithful from the Northern tribes joined Judah after the split, preserving a lineage.

o Perspective 3: Hosea's act of "buying back" Gomer symbolizes God redeeming Jews who have completely lost their identity.

o Schofield Bible Note: Its claim that Christ's purchase price was "for Israel" was challenged as too narrow, as it applies to all who are "grafted in."