28) The Book of Hosea

HOSEA is the first prophet in a set of twelve prophets commonly called the minor prophets. He was a prophet to the northern tribes of Israel for 60-70 years. Hosea was a contemporary to Amos in Israel and to Isaiah and Micah in Judah. Hosea revealed the carnal characteristics of the Israelites prior to their captivity to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The doctrinal emphasis of the prophets is the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ and the glorious promise of the restoration of the nation of Israel during the Millennium.

The prophets were given unusual commissions as wake up calls to apostate people for their wretchedness. They were the toughest military soldiers of the LORD. God ordered Hosea to take a woman in marriage after he was told that she was a wicked woman. This was a sign to the nation of Israel of their adultery against God. Gomer played the harlot against Hosea as Israel played the harlot against God (Isa. 50:1; Jer. 3:8).

The Pharisees probably slandered the ministry of Hosea because his broken marriage disqualified him for the ministry (John 8:41), but God used the divorced Hosea in a special way. The name Hosea means God is salvation, which is synonymous with the names Joshua and Jesus (Deut. 32:44; Matt. 1:21; Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8). The book of Hosea contains 14 chapters and 197 verses.

King James Bible.