◄ Hosea Devotional Commentary ►
Hosea 1:4
There are many stories in the Bible that God uses to paint a striking word-picture of His love for His people Israel, and the lives of various characters in Scripture are used in different ways to illustrate God's message of redemption, and teaches us some important lessons.
One of the most touching illustrations is seen in the true-life read more...
Hosea 1:6
Hosea was a prophet who foretold Assyria's invasion of the northern kingdom and the downfall of the city of Samaria. God used His life as a living illustration of Israel's spiritual adultery and gross apostasy, as contrasted with the long-suffering mercy, boundless love, and inexhaustible grace of God.
The Lord instructed His prophet, Hosea, to marry a promiscuous girl called Gomer, who was either a prostitute or had been read more...
Hosea 1:7
Hosea was used by God as a human picture of the incredible love of the Lord towards His people. The marriage of Hosea to his adulterous wife Gomer, not only paints a precious portrait of God's never-failing loving-kindness towards His people, but also portrays the unalterable justice of a holy and righteous God Who cannot look upon sin, but Whose character demands righteous judgement of the sin of the whole world.
From their read more...
Hosea 1:9
God used Hosea's grievous relationship with his wife and the names of their three children to convey an important message to Israel about their fractured relationship with God, which would initially result in their punishment and judgement, but would one day end with their restoration and redemption.
The story opens as God calls to Hosea to go and take a prostitute as a wife and to "have children from her harlotry." read more...
Hosea 4:6
What a sad indictment of the people of Israel, and how grieved the heart of God must have been when the Lord made this plaintive complaint through His servant, Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
The children of Israel had the Law, the prophets, the promises of God, and the certainty of a coming Messiah Who would save them from their sin. They received instruction on how to live in this read more...
Hosea 6:1
What a long-suffering and gracious God we have.
God rebuked the people of Israel for their apostasy and idolatry, pronouncing a severe judgement upon them and causing Amos the prophet to mourn that His people were destroyed for lack of knowledge of the God of Israel, while bewailing their disinterest in the God of their salvation. And yet the stark and serious warning broke into a comforting song of hope, that one day God would read more...
Hosea 6:6
Hosea was one of many prophets that warned the nation of Israel against unfaithfulness to the God of their fathers. He cried out for repentance from the priests and people alike, and called for the entire royal household to turn from their wicked ways, repent of their spiritual adultery, and return to serving the Lord their God in spirit and truth.
God's rejection of Israel was represented by the names of Hosea's three children: read more...
Hosea 10:12
The Bible is filled with truths on reaping and sowing, indeed the apostle Paul reminds us that, 'we reap what we sow', either to evil or to good. And like Paul, the prophet Hosea also recognised the deeper truth that is packed within these simple words - that the fruit of righteousness produced in man is only from God, and that it is due to His loving-kindness and tender-mercy, that the trusting heart is able to partake of any righteousness.
read more...
Hosea 11:1
The meaning of Hosea is 'Salvation', and in the book of Hosea we read the amazing history of a faithful prophet of God, who is instructed to marry a prostitute.. but she continues her harlotry throughout their marriage.
The shocking nature of Hosea's marriage is difficult for us to comprehend. And yet this is what happened in the life of this godly man, and is recorded for our learning.
read more...
Hosea 14:5
The early morning dew drenches the thirsty land with its refreshing life and vitality. It descends secretly, silently, slowly, and unobserved, and yet each tiny droplet gently softens the iron-hard soil which allows the joy of life to pour into the withering plant; reviving, reinvigorating, rejuvenating, and replenishing.
It was Israel to whom this promise was first made, at a time when the nation was rebelling against her God read more...