Hosea 2:14-23      Love to the Loveless

Rev. David Holwick B

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

January 13, 1991

Hosea 2:14-23


LOVE TO THE LOVELESS



  I. Introduction to the Minor Prophets

      A. "Minor" due to length, not importance.


      B. Hosea very significant.

          1) Prophesied in the North.

              a) (Their Civil War did not end like ours)

          2) Time of strength and prosperity.

          3) Spiritually rotten at core.

              a) Whole society, top down, was corrupt.


      C. Two opposing views.

          1) People - God doesn't seem close anymore.

          2) Hosea - Guess who moved? God's side given.


II. Hosea's unique ministry.

      A. His family life was the illustration for his message.

          1) Married a prostitute/adulteress.              1:2

              a) Shocking!       Comparison with pastors' wives.

              b) Gomer probably went bad after marriage.

                  1> First son said to be Hosea's.         1:3

                  2> Others are questionable.

          2) Had children.

          3) Gomer walked out.


      B. Distress of a bad marriage (and divorce).

          1) One of worst experiences.

              a) Only death of spouse is worse, according to stress studies.

              b) It is never easy.

              c) Compared to dying.

          2) More than half of all Americans will be unfaithful.

              a) Often secretly, so that only God knows.


      C. How could God ask Hosea to do such a thing?

           God sometimes leads us to do things that will bring us

              distress, in order to bring about a greater victory.

           He may be giving us a chance to show the love and character

              of Christ in our situation.


III. Hosea experienced the humiliation of being betrayed.

      A. We can empathize with his getting burned.

          1) We put ourselves in his position as the victim.


      B. But can we see ourselves as the adulteress?

          1) From God's perspective, we are.


      C. Spiritual adultery in Hosea.

          1) Theft, murder, sexual adultery, bloodshed.       4:2

              a) Note ecological disaster!                    4:3

          2) Drunkenness.                                     4:11

          3) An avalanche of lawsuits.                       10:4

          4) Wealthy, and thus sinless.                      12:7-8

          5) Corrupt religion.                               13:2


IV. Judgment follows sin.

      A. Israel experienced punishment in conquest and exile.      10:13-14

          1) God's judgment revealed in names of Hosea's children.

              a) Utter destruction prophesied.

              b) Alternates with passages of hope.

          2) Harsh judgment is one of proofs of accuracy of Hebrew

               prophets.  Preserved only because it come true.


      B. Judgment is inevitable consequence of sin.

          1) When we reject God we get into trouble.

          2) Hosea is a story of God's faithfulness and love, but one

                expression of God's love is punishment.

              a) Similar to a parent punishing a child out of love.


  V. Judgment is not God's last word ... unfailing love is.

      A. Harlequin romance - Gomer would return.

          1) Parable of "Prodigal Son' turns out that way.


      B. Hosea is realistic.    She doesn't come back.

          1) Instead, he goes  after her.          3:1

              a) He has to buy her back.             3:2

          2) He is ordered to love her.            3:1

          3) Hard story about minister named Charles...


        Divorce certainly seemed inevitable when Ellen returned

           from a trip abroad.

        Charles could tell from her distant coolness that something

           had changed for the worse and that the marriage was over.

        That was over five years ago.

        Charles still doesn't know if Ellen was unfaithful to him on

           that trip.

        But whatever had happened had caused Ellen to turn on him

           and blame him for all her bad experiences and turbulent

              emotions.


        Charles, hurt though he was, decided to exercise covenant

           faithfulness, to act like a husband even though Ellen

              wouldn't let him be a husband.

        Over the next few years, Charles insisted that she see a

           counselor and face her inner turmoil.

        He insisted that they come to an agreement about their

           property and avoid expensive and upsetting legal wrangles.

        He helped Ellen get launched on a new career (she now makes

           significantly more than his ministerial salary).

        And when she wanted to save money for a down payment on a

           new house for herself and their son, he invited her to

              move back in with him so she could set the money aside.


        Over five years passed between their separation and their

           divorce.

        But those five years where a time of growth for both and, in

           a curious kind of way, faithfulness for Charles.

        Ellen's midlife turmoil could have spelled emotional and

           financial disaster for them both.

        Charles's Hosea-like commitment avoided ruin even when he

           could not single-handedly avoid divorce.

                                                               #4252


      C. We are Gomer.

          1) God wants to be tender with us.           2:14

          2) Very moving picture of God, who keeps on loving us.

              a) Hard for us to swallow pride.

              b) Different for God.                     11:9


      D. One difference between Hosea and God is the price.

          1) Hosea paid 15 pieces of silver.           3:2

          2) God paid his son Jesus.


VI. Have you taken this God as your God?

      A. You may not be as bad as Gomer.

          1) You haven't unfaithfully denied God and worshipped others.

          2) But you have flirted with other gods.

              a) You are half-hearted in your love for God.


      B. Acknowledge God               2:10


      C. Return                       12:6

         "But you must return to your God; maintain love and Justice,

            and wait for your God always."                12:6



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