Book of Hosea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book of Hosea - Essay Example God's love is so great that it surpasses the transgressions of the Israelites. With this experience, Hosea has become an authentic and effective prophet of God. The following ideas and interpretation of the Book of Hosea are taken from various sources. The Book of Hosea is divided into two parts. The first part is about the Prophet's Marriage and Its Lesson (Hosea 1:1-3:5). The second part is Israel's Guilt and Punishment (Hosea 4:1-14:9 (New American Bible)). According to John Shelby Spong (2005), Hosea lived at the Northern Kingdom and started being a prophet in the last years of Jeroboam II (786-746 B.C.). There are several speculations about this person. Some say he is a priest while others call him a cult prophet. Spong says Hosea is "very sensitive, emotional man who could pass quickly from violent anger to the deepest tenderness." He is married to Gomer, who caused him so much trouble and pain. She is described as very beautiful and the favourite sex partner of the upper class men. When she became older, she is reduced to a slave. Spong describes it dramatically in the following passage: And one day he went to a slave market sale, and this haggard old woman with matted hair and bloodshot eyes was brought out on the slave auction block, and the crowd around there began to laugh. Who in the world would pay anything for that hag But Hosea recognized that as his wife. And in a strange and bold act he stood up when the bidding was open and he offered the highest price that anyone would pay for the strongest young male servant That's the only way Hosea knew how to begin to restore Gomer's dignity and he brought her to his home, and he installed her as his wife, the head of his household. Such sacrifice could surely not be done by an ordinary sinful and selfish person. This is indeed an impressive way of showing the credibility and sincerity of the message of Hosea to the adulterous Israelites. Got Questions Ministries gives a detailed outline of the Book of Hosea. The main points and subdivisions of the Book are outlined as follows: 1. Author: Hosea "is the only prophet of Israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life." 2. Date of Writing: "Hosea, the son of Beeri, prophesied for quite some time, from 785 to 725 B.C. The Book of Hosea was likely written between 755 and 725 B.C." 3. Purpose of Writing: The Book is written to show "a loving God whose loyalty to His covenant people is unwavering." Moreover, Richard D. Patterson, in his "Introduction to Hosea: Historical Context," details the milieu when the Book of Hosea and the events therein. The setting is said to be during the eighth century B.C. at the Northern Kingdom. Also mentioned in the Book, four eighth century kings of Judah, thus making the setting to be in Judah. The kings mentioned are: Uzziah (c. 792-740 B.C.), Jeroboam II (c. 792-752 B.C.), Jotham (732 B.C.) and Hezekiah in Judah in (729 B.C.). This shows that Hosea lived a long life and cautioned and encouraged the people of Israel. This also implies that the Israelites are a difficult people to lead and it is only God's great unconditional love that makes them survive the tests of time and pressures from the neighbouring tribes. The era is described as "a period marked by great economic and political success but growing spiritual apostasy." Patterson continues