Hosea is the first book in the last section of the Old Testament known as the minor prophets—12 books in all. Consequently, it is also the longest book of the minor prophets. Hosea was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom—Israel (remember, Israel divided into two kingdoms after King Solomon). Hosea prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26–27) and Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23ff) from around 792 to around 724 B.C. During this time, the Assyrian empire was a major power, but with limited control over Israel. Jonah and Amos were also prophesying during this time.
Reading the prophets can be challenging, and Hosea is no different. Chapters 1:2–2:1 and 3:1–5 are narrative, which means they tell the story of Hosea. The rest of the book is poetry, which means it uses figurative language and images to relate God’s message to Israel and to us. This challenge can be seen when looking at Hosea marrying Gomer—did Hosea really marry her or is this just a story carrying a message? While there are images and figures of speech, God often uses prophets to carry out literal tasks that serve as illustrations to God’s people, such as Jeremiah never getting married or when God commanded him to buy underwear, wear it, and then hide it under a rock near the Euphrates river (Jeremiah 13). It is plausible then, that God called Hosea, to marry a woman as an illustration of God’s covenant relationship with the community of Israel.
The other aspect to this illustration is the fact that God called Hosea to marry a prostitute. Some struggle with that command and see that maybe Gomer later became a prostitute or an adulteress. But a straight forward reading of the passage shows that God did indeed call Hosea to marry a prostitute, and raise a family with her. This marriage would symbolize God’s relationship with Israel. This relationship would also express why the theme “Knowing God” is so prominent in the book of Hosea. The term “to know” appears in many Old Testament passages that relate to a relationship between a husband and wife.
Theme: God gives His people one last chance to repent and see their covenant relationship with God restored.
| Check | Date | Text/Estimated Read Time (ERT) |
| 3/1/18 | Hosea 1–4
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/2/18 | Hosea 5–8
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/3/18 | Hosea 9–12
(ERT: 9mins) |
|
| 3/4/18 | Hosea 13–14/1–2
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/5/18 | Hosea 3–6
(ERT: 7mins) |
|
| 3/6/18 | Hosea 7–10
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/7/18 | Hosea 11–14
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/8/18 | Hosea 1–4
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/9/18 | Hosea 5–8
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/10/18 | Hosea 9–12
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/11/18 | Hosea 13–14/1–2
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/12/18 | Hosea 3–6
(ERT: 7mins) |
|
| 3/13/18 | Hosea 7–10
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/14/18 | Hosea 11–14
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/15/18 | Hosea 1–4
(ERT: 10mins) |
| Check | Date | Text/Estimated Read Time |
| 3/16/18 | Hosea 5–8
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/17/18 | Hosea 9–12
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/18/18 | Hosea 13–14/1–2
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/19/18 | Hosea 3–6
(ERT: 7mins) |
|
| 3/20/18 | Hosea 7–10
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/21/18 | Hosea 11–14
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/22/18 | Hosea 1–4
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/23/18 | Hosea 5–8
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/24/18 | Hosea 9–12
(ERT: 9mins) |
|
| 3/25/18 | Hosea 13–14/1–2
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/26/18 | Hosea 3–6
(ERT: 7mins) |
|
| 3/27/18 | Hosea 7–10
(ERT: 10mins) |
|
| 3/28/18 | Hosea 11–14
(ERT: 8mins) |
|
| 3/29/18 | Hosea 1–5
(ERT: 12mins) |
|
| 3/30/18 | Hosea 6–10
(ERT: 12mins) |
|
| 3/31/18 | Hosea 11–14
(ERT: 10mins) |
Total Times Read through Hosea: ____ (9xs)
Total Time in the Bible in March: _________ (4hrs and 42mins ERT)
