Sermon Tone Analysis

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*I.                   **HOSEA*

 

A.

Introduction

1.      Date

a.

During reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah

-          Jeroboam II of Israel (793 – 753 BC)

 

b.

Uzziah (790 – 739 BC) to Hezekiah (728 – 686)

-          (inclusion of Jeroboam II of little help because time of Hezekiah would indicate other kings of Israel)

 

c.

Contents of book suggests excess of 40 years of ministry

1)      The first portion of the book (Chapters 1-3) refers to Jeroboam’s reign (coregengt 793-782, King 782-753) and the subscription would place the beginning of ministry at the latter year of Jeroboam’s reign after the beginning of the reign of Uzziah (767).

Thus approximately 760 for start

2)      At least to the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign, 715

 

2.

Authorship

a.       Hosea, same as Joshua, meaning “salvation”

b.

From Israel

-          familiar with northern kingdom, cf 5:1, 6:8-9

-          speaks of Jeroboam as “our King” (7:5)

 

3.

To Israel (See #2 above)

 

4.

Historical background

a.       Jeroboam’s II reign had been time of outward prosperity but idolatry remained.

The land was filled with carnal luxury, oppression, and moral degeneracy.

b.

With the death of Jeroboam anarchy prevailed

-          Jeroboam’s son Zechariah reigned 6 months

-          Assassinated by Shallom- reigned 1 month

-          Assassinated by Menachem, one of his generals

-          Their wicked tyrant ruled 10 years

-          During his reign, Tiglath-pileser invaded and made tributary

-          His son Pekahiah reigned 2 years- murdered by Pekah

-          Assassinated by Hosea who paid tribute to Assyrians at first then aligned with Egypt

-          Shalmaneser V seized Samaria 3 years

-          After 3 years fell to Sargon in 722 B.C.

 

5.

Historical Setting

a.       Time of division

b.      Emphasis to Judah’s Kings even through Hosea from Israel-Davidic line

 

 

B.

Hosea’s Marriage

 

1.

Marriage ended (v.2)

a.       “Beginning”Tehilath  same word “pierce through”

-          thus an opening a a beginning (G.

281)

-          thus the opening, piercing through of God’s word “in Hosea”

 

b.

/thizeneh/ “goes whoring”)

-          basic lexical meaning is “commit fornication”

-          used figuratively of idolatry- “the prophets shadowing for the  relation in which God stood to the people of Israel by the marriage union”

-          away from Jehovah suggests Israel had strayed from being rightly related to God

 

c.

Four suggestions concerning end of God

1)      Hypothetical

 

2)      Literal marriage to a prostitute

-          For:  most natural meaning; “take” goes with children also, suggesting already had; only priest were forbidden to marry an unchaste woman

 

3)      Spiritual Infidelity

-          Gomer’s infidelity was spiritual rather than physical.

She like Israel generally was a worshipper of false gods

-          hardly fits the text

 

4)      Literal marriage with Gomer later adulterous

-          adulterous used proleptically

-          fits parallel of God and Israel

-          Israel at the beginning was chaste and later became adulterous

 

2.

First son born

a.       Jezreel named after deity where Jehu slaughtered the “house of Ahab”, 2 Kings 9:7-10:28

b.      conflict with 2 Kings 10:30 where God is said to commend Jehu

-          Resolved:  though carried out the instructions of God (2 Kings 9:1-10), sinned in killing more people than God intended

 

c.

bow symbolic of power

d.

Valley myth of Jezreel- fulfilled mainly Tiglath-pilser III 733

 

3.

First daughter born and named, vv 6-7

a.       God’s mercy toward Israel had run out; symbolized by “No-Mercy”

b.      God is still merciful to the house of Judah but this mercy will not be manifest by military strength (implications supernatural~/providential)

c.       Apparently indicates the military strength as the source of Israel’s hope

 

4.

Third child born and named, vv 8-9

a.

Not a divorce of nation; the remainder of the book  indicates

b.

Not God’s people because they are not regenerate

 

 

C.

Israel’s Hope

1.      Promise to Abraham of many descendants is yet to be fulfilled

 

2.

“Clues” to millennial reign of Christ

a.       Regenerate people (/sons of the living God/)

 

b.

United people- Israel and Judah

 

c.

One head

-          never so since Solomon until May 1948

 

d.

Will come up from the land~/ earth

-          many hold that land refers to Egypt and symbolizes the nations of the world

 

e.

Day of Jezreel

“in contrast to the former day of Jezreel when Israel was brought down by Assyria, the coming day would be “great” because it would see the nation reformed for a time of glory.”

3.

Note of triumph in 2:1 as Hosea sees the conclusion of the ages

-  for all the sin and betrayal, a glorious day is coming

 

 

D.

The Adulterous Israel, 2:2:13