Hosea forms an exceptional synchronization between the life of Prophet and his words. The Hosea theology starts with the principle perspective that the message of the prophet is a God’s message to mankind, and not from a common man. Hosea’s key theme is love. Hosea however goes one step ahead of explaining the love of God in that he gives new features to the meaning of true and actual knowledge of YHWH within the Israel community. There is however an end to all God’s requirement upon his covenant individuals, agreed obedience, fear, love, faith, trust served in order to open to God’s people a true and clear understanding of God. Hosea’s biographical section focuses on his marriage with Gomer. In appreciating Hosea’s marriage with a harlot the Almighty God is in fact utilizing the life of prophet in order to focus attention on His covenant, which has been severely dishonored (Nicoll, 1903, p. 237). Hosea 13 and 14 contains accurately pertinent material that is plays significant role in practical life. They describe God’s love and anger in detail.
Hosea 13 preaches the theology of love of God that most of God’s love is reflected in covenantal words and not in emotional words. Israelites have rejected God and there is nothing in them that can even stand as a worth in order to receive blessings and love of God, instead it is the love that arise from God’s pleasure for honoring his disagreed covenant. As indicated in proverb 13.4 that Israel disobeys God, but due to His love God has still pleaded with them to make them return by inviting them to avert from their own paths and traditions as done by Jacob at the brook Jabbok (Kerr, 2001). Moreover, Hosea 13 describes about the fulfillment of prophecy and about the swallowing up of death in victory. As explained in Proverb 13:14 that "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave is your destruction? (Wessel, 2001). Furthermore, God as the sole savior, His anger and judgment against Israel, the causes and results of forgetting God, and God’s sincere relationship even to unfaithful are also described in detail in Hosea 13.
Hosea 14 explicitly explains about the true wisdom, which means to understand individual’s position before the Almighty God and repent upon the sins in order to avail restoration of God. It further tells that actual repentance will help to win the love of God. As said in Hosea 14:1, “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity” (Pink, 2002). Also, it is made clear to Israel in Hosea 14: 1-9 that return to God before your sins will destroy you. Proverb 14:4 in Hosea clarifies the response of God in case of genuine and true repentance that he will heal their sickness and other backsliding. Additionally, free love of God is ensured in case of actual regret. Hosea 14 also enlighten the fact that God has also promised salvation and forgiveness and given two choices to the people living in Israel i.e., either to follow the path told by God or remain stumble in sins. The later will lead to destruction and lead them further away from God.
Finally, Hosea 14 teaches that earnest desire of God is to purify, love and restore. People should not go on their own ways as it hurts God and others. God can however even redeem in case of most excruciating sin. So, people have the opportunity to work more for the others as well as for the kingdom and for God as it is a source of bounty for them.
References
Nicoll, W. Robertson. (1903). The Expositor's Bible: The Book of the Twelve Prophets. Vol. 1. A.C. Armstrong Publishers, New York.
Kerr, Robert. (2001). Love Rejected. SermonCentral. Retrieved from:
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/love-rejected-robert-kerr-sermon-on-god-the-father-38359.asp?Page=3
Wessel, Keith. (2001). Death is Dead! SermonCentral. Retrieved from:
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/death-is-dead-keith-wessel-sermon-on-easter-resurrection-35357.asp
Pink, Arthur W. (2002). Spiritual Union and Communion. Sovereign Grace Publishers, Lightning Source Inc, United States of America.
