Bible readers: what are the benefits you get from reading the Book of Hosea?

Question

"Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up." Hosea 6:1

Answer 1

Hosea's life was a microcosm of God's relationship with his children. Hosea married an adulterous wife and he suffered long before he was reunited with his wife through Godly patience, humility and understanding.
Likewise, God has suffered the failings of his children but having loving patience with them, he has provided a future and salvation through Christ Jesus. There is power in the word of God.

Answer 2

We just got through studying the book of Hosea a few weeks ago in Sunday School.
There are powerful lessons in Hosea. Read it from the perspective of God being the Husband and Isreal being the Wife. Hosea is speaking, but it is God's words. Hosea was a prophet called of God to the tribe of Israel (not to be confused with the tribe of Judah). The tribe of Israel at the time was the more wicked of the two. Also, remember that all of the names in the book of Hosea have meaning to those the book was written to. Use the following as a study guide when studying the book of Hosea.

34
“I Will Betroth Thee unto Me in Righteousness”
Hosea 1–3; Hosea 11; Hosea 13–14

Study the following scriptures:

a. Hosea 1–3. Using the similitude of a faithful husband and an adulterous wife, the prophet Hosea describes the relationship between the Lord and Israel. In these chapters Hosea represents the Lord as the husband, and Gomer represents Israel as the wife.

b. Hosea 11; Hosea 13–14. Because of his love for his people, the Lord continues to invite Israel to repent and return to him.

• What does the comparison in Hosea 1–3 teach us about the level of commitment and devotion the Lord expects from us?

• Who or what were Israel’s “lovers”—the things that caused the people to turn from the Lord? What things may divert us from our dedication to following the Savior?

• What did the husband promise his wife if she would return to him? (See Hosea 2:19.) What does the Lord promise his people if they will repent and return to him? (See Hosea 2:20, Hosea 2:23.)

Additional reading: The rest of Hosea.
© 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Answer 3

Hosea and his relationship with his family is kind of like a parable to God's relationship with his chosen nation of Israel. His wife left him and cheated on him and yet he took her back. Israel kept following false god's (cheating on God) and yet God was willing to take them back. That scripture you quoted says "let us return to the Lord" - The nation had chosen of their own accord to leave God, and things didn't go very well for them so Hosea was pleading with the people to repent and return to God because He could heal them. It shows God's merciful attitude to his people.
We can also see that later on others quoted from Hosea, like Jesus, (Matthew 9:13;12:7) Paul and Peter (Romans 9:25,26;1 Peter 2:10;1 Corinthians 15:55) These all show that the book of Hosea was well used in Jesus' time.
Should also note that he prophesied that if the people didn't repent they would get what they deserved and everything he prophesied concerning the nation of Israel and Judah came true - even the part about God showing them mercy later on and saving their booties. (Compare Hosea 1:7 with 2 Kings 19:34,35)

Answer 4

It is true Hosea is what we are studiying in sunday school. THAT scripture is powerful because First of all they all had to rely on their faith in the lord because he wasnt yet born. I have great respect for the prophets of the old testament. They never even seen jesus and new he was the lord. I hope we all can learn from the example of Hosea and other Old Testament prophets, in proclaiming the saviors divinity. That he is the christ not having seen him either we know that Jesus is the Son of God and Redeemer.

Answer 5

If you are discerning and wise you will get a great deal out of Hoseas Book as is strengthens our faith in Jahs inspired Prophesies everything in Hosea's prophesies concerning Israel and Judah cme true israel was deserted by her lovers among the idolatrous neighbor nations and reaped the whilwind of destruction from Assyria in 740 B.C.E. however it was foretold that Jah would show mercy and save her but not ny military might this was fullfilled when Jah angel slew 185,000 of the assyrian troops in one night that were threatning jerusalem however Judah was included in the prophesy of Hosea 8: 14 when Nebuchadnezzar lais siege to Judah and jerusalem in 609-607 B.C.E. and later when they went out of the land of their exhile in 537 B.C.E. all was fullfilled down to the smallest detail now doesnt that make you more confident in Biblical prophesies Gorbalizer

Answer 6

I am not sure what your point is in your additional info portion of your question. My initial feeling is that you are asking a rhetorical question then backing it up by quoting a verse from the bible as if to point out that ridiculousness of the bible, I could be wrong and I am fine with that.

So I will answer your initial question disregarding the additional info since it doesn't add to or further explain what you are asking.

The primary theme of the Book of Hosea is that God loves Israel, just as a man loves his wife. This is shown by the extended metaphor of Hosea's own marriage.

In conjunction with that theme, however, are the twin themes of Israel's sin and the coming retribution. Although Yahweh loves Israel, Israel has not returned His love. This has been shown by the continued idolatry and acts of violence, oppression, and sexual sin among the people. Because Israel has not returned God's love, He will put them away from Him, just as Hosea did his wife, and send them into exile.

This introduces the fourth theme, which is the restoration of Israel from exile. The country will be conquered; the people will be sent into exile; but some will return and build the land up once more. God will embrace them as His people, and they will be loyal to Him as their God.

As was mentioned before Hosea was a prophet in the Old Testament. In chapter six of that book, Hosea talks about Israel, God's chosen nation who was always rejecting God. The nation was going to be torn apart, but verse two says: After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. What does this mean? When Jesus came, Israel rejected Him as their messiah, so God scattered the nation of Israel all over the world. For 1900 years there was no nation of Israel, but God says that after two days, or two thousand years, I will revive thee, and you, Israel, will live in my sight.


The scattered Israel became a nation again in the year 1948. This is important because God is reviving the nation of Israel and they are about to live in His sight, when Jesus comes back to set up His Earthly kingdom. Have you ever met a Canaanite? How about an Amorite? No. Because these were Israel's enemies and they have not been preserved. The Jews have been preserved because they are God's chosen people, and He must fulfill and keep the promises He made to them. But the Jews are still rejecting Christ. For how long? After two days (or two thousand years) I will revive thee, and in the third day you shall live in my sight. The second-coming events are about to begin.

How this benefits a Christian is that it gives them an overview of God's plan for not only His chosen people, but for the world in general. God is revealing how His plan is laid out and the timeline to which it follows. It also indicates His love for us. Gentiles are no different than the Jews in how they have rejected God and turn their backs on Him, but God is still here and still loves us. At times that love is a tough love and we are allowed to go through trials and tribulations, but these are with the sole purpose of bringing us back to God just as a parent punishes their child. Not because they want to punish them and make their life miserable but because they love them and the punishment is a form of protection that is not always or easily seen through the eyes of the child.

Answer 7

Faith ("comes by hearing & hearing the Word of God").

I love the imagery of the unending patience & forgiveness of Hosea despite the vileness of his wife. The book definitely shows a beautiful picture of God's love for us despite our vileness. Praise be to God!!

Answer 8

I'm reminded of UNCONDITIONAL love. Also try reading a book called Redeeming Love. It is a fictional novel that is based on the book of Hosea, a great read!

Answer 9

Hosea to me means that even if we fail God still loves us and seeks to restore us to a right relationship with him, no matter what.

Answer 10

Yeah,
This is God intention towards the lost world,
This is why Jesus Christ came
So there is hope for all of us
less click to it
and follow through
for our hope is in Him

Thanks
By reading all these, my hope comes alive again and again

Thanks once more